MBA student attempts land speed record
MBA student Anthony Keating has designed and built one of the fastest land speed production cars, the Keating TKR.
With speed record attempt driver, Mike Newman and the Speed of Sight team, Anthony aimed to break the world land speed record by a blind man, at Pendine Sands, Carmarthenshire, on Saturday. The goal was to exceed 193mph.
And, if conditions were right, Anthony also planned to attempt the land speed record of 268mph, currently held by the Bugatti Veyron.
Pendine Sands is a seven-mile long firm, flat beach that creates a race track surface, straighter than any available road. In 1924 Malcolm Campbell in V12 Sunbeam Bluebird averaged 146.16 mph there and in 1927 Parry Thomas was killed trying to breaking 175mph.
There were high expectations as Mike has previously held the record at 155mph, but lost it recently to Turkish singer, Metin Senturk in a Ferrari F430 that reached 193mph. Mike had high ambitions for the weekend, wanting to achieve 200mph in the Keating TKR Supercar. Two attempts last year had failed.
But mechanics struggled with the effects of sea water, sand in the engine and water leaks. These problems continued to reduce the time Mike and Anthony had to master the car on the sandy wet conditions.
By 5pm Anthony decided to do a high speed practice run, aiming for 200mph, but the soft sand conditions proved troublesome, creating a slippery surface. Anthony floored the car down the sand, reaching 180mph when it spun out of control, blowing up plumes of sand and ripping bodywork.
As Anthony Keating made his way back to the waiting crowd, he was fine. But he made the decision that Mike would not be attempting a record in TKR. Tony said: 'I'd rather me spin it than Mike, as he would be going another 30- 40mph faster than me. It's just one of those things. That's racing.'
Mike attempted the world record in a Nissan on Sunday but failed to break 174mph. However, another attempt in the Keating TKR will be made in the near future.
For more information about Keating Supercars go to www.keatingsupercars.co.uk