On March 29, 1927, Major Henry Segrave drove the Sunbeam 1000 hp—nicknamed "The Slug"—to a landmark world land speed record of 203.79 mph at Daytona Beach, Florida. It was the first car in history to break the 200 mph barrier.
Car Design & Power
- Twin Engines: Powered by two 22.4-liter Sunbeam-Matabele V12 aero-engines producing roughly 900 total horsepower.
- Layout: One engine sat in front of the driver and the second sat behind, powering the rear wheels via a chain-drive system.
The Record Run
- Location: Daytona Beach, Florida, chosen for its vast, flat stretches of hard sand.
- The Drive: Segrave battled strong winds on his initial outward pass causing a heavy skid—forcing him to briefly steer into the surf to slow down—before completing the required return pass to average 203.79 mph.
- Legacy: The historic vehicle is preserved and housed at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, Hampshire, England.
If you'd like, I can share more details on:
- Major Henry Segrave's racing career
- The mechanical challenges involved in the car's modern restoration
- Other rival land speed record cars of the 1920s
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