Official World Record at Beachy Head

16th September 2008

A team of gravity racers entered the world record books this weekend after reaching 62mph in their Nimbus gravity car on the super fast newly resurfaced road at Beachy Head, Eastbourne.

Formula Gravity broke speeds of 62mph yesterday afternoon, equalling the unofficial record set by Lotus at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. With the International Gravity Sports Association (IGSA) on site to verify their speed with electronic recording equipment, it means that David Ackroyd and his team have officially set a new world record and hold the title for the fastest speed ever reached by a gravity car.

Eastbourne Borough Council Spokesperson for Tourism, Cllr Steve Wallis said "What a fantastic weekend in Eastbourne and we even made the world record books thanks to the innovative Formula Gravity team in their soapbox car. Spectators had plenty to watch at Beachy Head this weekend, with the World Cup downhill skateboarding event plus Formula Gravity's time trials and their official world record drive!"

Formula Gravity is an organisation headed up by David Ackroyd to increase young people's interest and skills in engineering, science and technology and they work with schools and colleges to construct soapboxes and run the gravity racing project.

This weekend David and his two drivers, James Oakley and Jonny Ackroyd joined the street lugers, downhill skateboarders, and gravity bikers at the International Gravity Sports Association (IGSA) World Cup event in Eastbourne.

The team used Friday and Saturday to practice in their VXR Nimbus soapbox before attempting the world record on Sunday 14 September. With good weather conditions, Formula Gravity set off from the racing ramp and broke last year's speed of 54mph and set the official world record.

David Ackroyd of Formula Gravity said "The track provided by Eastbourne Borough Council was absolutely perfect giving our drivers a track that most F1 teams would envy. The organisation of the course and the safety systems in place gave us the ideal setting for the record and I hope that we can set a bench mark for the growing sport and encourage others to take up the challenge."

This weekend's world record run was the last outing for the four-year-old VXR Nimbus and Formula Gravity are gearing up to start their new project building a gravity racer to replace their retiring soapbox.

For more information and photos from Go Fast! Speed Days in Eastbourne, visit www.visiteastbourne.com or www.formulagravity.co.uk .