Britain has a new land speed record.
Not overall -- it’s held that one since the rocket-propelled Thrust SSC hit 760 mph in 1997, breaking the sound barrier in the process – but the one for monowheel motorcycles, which is nearly as old, but not quite as fast.
Kevin Scott built one that’s 59 inches tall and powered by a 200cc engine from a go-kart, according to Road & Track. The motor is positioned inside the wheel and propels it via its inner rim. Scott sits astride the engine as one would on a motorcycle, but the ride he is along for is a lot wilder.
The only way to steer is by leaning, and acceleration and braking result in partial loops around the wheel. Scott says he’s still trying to figure it out, but that didn’t stop him from breaking a record set by American Kerry McClean in 2001.
That one was a blistering 57 mph, which Scott crushed by hitting 61.18 mph.
Hey, you try riding that thing.
Scott actually accomplished the feat in October of last year, but it will be officially included in the 2017 edition of the Guinness World Records book.