Gail Phillips now holds the Class E modified sports car world land speed
record of 179.624mph achieved at Bonneville on August 18, 1996. She drove a
256 cubic inch destroked Corvette V-8 engine in an Austin Healey Sprite
(modified aerodynamically) built by Doug Odom of Arroyo Grande, CA. They say
it's capable of 250mph... After breaking the record, Gail made a 3rd run.
When she reached 185mph (7200rpm), the engine practically blew apart
creating a pile of trash. One of the pit crew members retrieved a spark plug
from that "trash" and gave it to Gail as a momento.
I seem to recall hearing that she has since broken the 200 MPH barrier. I
think they also set some Australian records with the car.
There is a picture of the car at http://ado13.com/articles/fastbugeye.html
Larry Miller
http://www.ado13.com
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