Mile record improvement in "Blitzen Benz"

Date:
23 April 1911
Description:
At Daytona Beach, Florida/USA, Bob Burman betters Barney Oldfield's record of the previous year. In the 200 hp Benz, by this time already known by the memorable sobriquet "Blitzen Benz”, he clocks an average speed of 228.1 km/h for the mile with flying start. This is the highest speed ever set by a road vehicle, a world record mark which would remain unbeaten until 1919.

Pictures2

"Record" Certificate confirming the speed record in 1911.

On 17th March 1910 Barney Oldfield achieves two American records with the 200 hp/147 kW record-making car at Daytona Beach, Florida/USA. He achieves with a flying start what at that time is an absolute world record with a speed of 211.4 km/h (131.36 mph): However, because he only drives the car in one direction, the record is not officially recognised.
On 23rd April 1911 Bob Burman lines up at Daytona Beach with the car – now referred to by Americans in German as the "Blitzen-Benz". The beach at Daytona Beach is long and wide and hence eminently suited for high speeds. Burman clocks an average speed of 225.65 km/h (140.22 mph) over a flying mile and 228.1 km/h (141.74 mph) over a flying kilometre – a new land speed-record which remains unbeaten until 1919. This makes the Benz twice as fast as the aeroplanes of the day; it also beat the 1903 rail vehicle record of 210 km/h (130.49 mph). The "Blitzen-Benz" spends the rest of the season decked out in "war-paint", with a large German Impe