Eat those words!

Voice and Vision Ltd., Public Relations Consultants, in a hand-out dated October 8th inviting the Press to meet Craig Breedlove, claimed that this American holds the World Land Speed record and stated that “the previous record belonged to John Cobb.”

No, Sir! Breedlove used a 3-wheeled jet-propelled vehicle, timed at 407.45 m.p.h., reaching 428 m.p.h. in one direction. The rules governing motor-car speed records insist on at least four wheels, a reverse gear and drive taken through the wheels. So the late John Cobb and the Railton Mobil Special still hold the motor-car “land speed record,” with a speed of 394.2 m.p.h. (Cobb exceeded 400 m.p.h. in one direction) put up sixteen years ago. Cobb has never been beaten and we ask Voice and Vision Ltd. and Mr. L. R. P. Landsberg who compiled the hand-out to give Britain the credit due to her; in fact, to eat their words. If they like to give Breedlove the “fastest jet-propelled land projectile” accolade, that’s another matter. . . A jet aircraft touching down along a runway would probably be faster, however.