High-tech: HPV's video screen ©Paul Gracey

Lest it be forgotten, Matt Weaver is currently the second fastest man in the world under his own power.

In October 2000, he recorded a time of 6.44 seconds over 200m/220 yards, which equated to a speed of 111.8kph/ 69.46mph.

Weaver's HPV is also unique. It uses a video-visual system, which means it has no windows and the rider navigates by means of a camera and video screen.

The absence of a window makes the vehicle more aerodynamic, yet Weaver admits: "It feels a bit like a video game.

"My body doesn't quite realize it's going down the road at breakneck speeds and I have to remind myself what is happening."

Of the four rivals, Weaver is arguably the most devoted to HPVs per se, having designed and constructed them for more than a decade.

He also has big ideas about how they can evolve in the future, predicting they will one day regularly travel faster than normal cars and even exceed 160kph/100mph.

Although van Eijden and his German team are planning a record attempt for July at Germany's Hockenheim circuit, there is the enticing prospect of Weaver, van Eijden, Queally and Whittingham going head-to-head for the record in America later in the year.

With his abounding enthusiasm for HPVs, this naturally gets Weaver keyed up.

 

	Cramped: Weaver squeezes in his HPV ©Paul Gracey

He says: "I am excited by the prospect of all four of us being together. I think there's a real synergy when you have that caliber of competition - all of us will perform better as a result.

"I think the record would be broken by every athlete there, and it would be very exciting to see that sort of improvement."

Then there is the question of how it would feel if he was to become the fastest man on earth.

Weaver ponders this at length before saying: "First and foremost, I would feel very alive. Life and existence is all about motion - in a grand scale, and even in the scale of the frenetic little molecules organizing within us.

"Life is movement. Movement is defined by speed.

"If I were to achieve the greatest pure human physical speed ever - to be the fastest human alive - against arguably the world's best and through an unique expression of both the ingenuity of my mind and power of my muscles, I would feel very alive.

"That's probably why I'm insatiably drawn to this little-known event. It's a primal sport, a primal race becoming progressively recognized. No rules, just the body and mind and motion.

"I sense an opportunity looms uniquely before me and can't help but pursue it."

This is one underdog who will definitely not lie down.

- Ash Potterton