Test: Fastest man on Earth

The Blueyonder team were the only team not to break a world record during the week.

Nevertheless, they were bullish about what they had achieved, having broken the European record and become the fifth fastest HPV of all-time. But the unambiguous reality of the recorded speeds revealed they were a long, long way short (more than 15mph) of Whittingham's final world record.

And they would not have got where they did without the advice and assistance of their fellow competitors, testament to the camaraderie and sportsmanship that exists in this nascent sport.

As they confessed, their learning curve was nearly vertical – but it's no use citing 'learning curves' when you're competing at the highest level.

No one expects to go to the Olympics or the World Cup with no experience in that sport and win the ultimate prize. Many of the Blueyonder team expressed their wish to keep working on the project but that will depend on sponsors.

 

	Markham: Double Gold Rush ©John Cassidy Photography

The subplot to the week was the grippingly fluctuating battle between the tandem teams of the Double Gold Rush ('Fast' Freddy Markham and Chris Springer) and the unheralded collegiate Bearacuda team (Andy Jaques-Maynes and Lance Doherty).

The week started with the Double Gold Rush improving their own fastest speed record on the very first day with a speed of 66.87mph. But this was nearly snatched from them midweek by the Bearacuda team, who fought back with 67.96mph only for the wind speed to be confirmed as marginally illegal.

However, the very next day Markham and Springer came back with a new record of 68.36mph, which finally proved sufficient to see off the Bearacuda challenge.

Even Tania Markham, the 15-year-old daughter of Markham, kept record-breaking in the family by breaking two female world records on the final day.

After all the new fastest speeds, the fastest of them all, Whittingham, now has a keen eye on the future as he attempts to hold on to his title.

He admitted that the bulge for the cockpit in his vehicle Varna Diablo meant it was not as aerodynamic as it could be and that he would consider the development of a new vehicle navigated by video camera, as used by Weaver.

 

Fast company: Whittingham and co ©John Cassidy Photography

However, he also admitted that the team's current designer, Bulgarian sculptor George Georgiev, would struggle with the technology involved. Then there would be the problem of money, as Whittingham observed, now is hardly the ideal time to approach companies for sponsorship.

But the overwhelming feeling at the end of the event was one of triumph. Triumph by the athletes and other team members at what they achieved, and triumph by the organizers at putting on the most successful event in HPV history.

Only two years ago, 70mph had seemed a distant barrier. Now 80mph has fallen, sights are set on 90mph – and perhaps, one day, the magic 100mph barrier.

Perhaps one day when it is eventually broken, more people will be there to see it happen.

- Ash Potterton