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Blue Flame's Record Clarification - Dick Keller

The publicists for the gas industry at the time were so focused on the ‘mile’ that they released that number erroneously.  It is still being incorrectly reported in many places.  Per FIA, the ‘world land speed record’ is the fastest world record.  Up until The Blue Flame’s record, the mile had (almost) always been the faster of the two.  Most record attempts involved accelerating (as much as possible) through the mile. 

The kilometer timing traps are inside the mile.  The Blue Flame record runs involved accelerating continuously to the mile mid-point, then coasting through the mile.  The peak speed, therefore, of approximately 650 miles per hour was reached at that point and then the car decelerated the rest of the way.  The kilometer speed trap was biased towards one end of the mile, resulting in the 8 miles per hour higher speed.

Dick Keller

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