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Babs (Land speed record car)
Encyclopedia
Babs was the land speed record
car built and driven by John Parry-Thomas. It was powered by a 27-litre Liberty
aero-engine
.
Babs began as 'Chitty 4', one of Count Louis Zborowski
's series of aero-engined cars named 'Chitty Bang Bang
'. As it was built at Zborowski's estate of Higham Park near Canterbury
, it was also known as the Higham Special. Using a 450 hp V12 Liberty
aero engine of 27 litres capacity, with a gearbox and chain-drive from a pre-war Blitzen Benz
, it was the largest capacity racing car ever to run at Brooklands
. Still not fully developed by the time of Zborowski's death in 1924, it was purchased from his estate by J.G. Parry-Thomas
for the sum of £125.
Parry-Thomas rechristened the car "Babs" and rebuilt it with four Zenith carburettors and his own design of pistons. In April 1926, Parry-Thomas used the car to break the land speed record
at 171.02 mph (273.6 km/h).
Babs used exposed chains to connect the engine to the drive wheels, while the high engine cover required him to drive with his head tilted to one side – the right. During a later record attempt at Pendine Sands
, Wales on 3 March 1927, the right-hand drive chain broke at a speed of 170 mph, partially decapitating him. Babs was buried where it landed, on the beach at Pendine
.
There is still controversy as to whether Parry-Thomas was literally decapitated, and whether the drive chain was responsible. Later investigation of the recovered wreckage suggested instead that the rear right-hand wheel had failed, overturning Babs.
After 40 years, the car was excavated and restored to running order over several years by Owen Wyn Owen
. Today it is on display at the Pendine Museum of Speed
.
Land speed record
The land speed record is the highest speed achieved by a wheeled vehicle on land. There is no single body for validation and regulation; in practice the Category C flying start regulations are used, officiated by regional or national organizations under the auspices of the Fédération...
car built and driven by John Parry-Thomas. It was powered by a 27-litre Liberty
Liberty L-12
The Liberty L-12 was a 27 litre water-cooled 45° V-12 aircraft engine of 400 horsepower designed both for a high power-to-weight ratio and for ease of mass production.-History:...
aero-engine
Aircraft engine
An aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...
.
Babs began as 'Chitty 4', one of Count Louis Zborowski
Louis Zborowski
Count Louis Zborowski was a racing driver and automobile engineer.-Biography:His father, Count William Eliot Morris Zborowski was also a racing driver, and died in a racing crash, in 1903 at La Turbie Hillclimb in France near Nice...
's series of aero-engined cars named 'Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Bang Bang was the informal name of a number of celebrated English racing cars, built and raced by Count Louis Zborowski and his engineer Clive Gallop in the 1920s, which inspired the book, film and stage musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang....
'. As it was built at Zborowski's estate of Higham Park near Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
, it was also known as the Higham Special. Using a 450 hp V12 Liberty
Liberty L-12
The Liberty L-12 was a 27 litre water-cooled 45° V-12 aircraft engine of 400 horsepower designed both for a high power-to-weight ratio and for ease of mass production.-History:...
aero engine of 27 litres capacity, with a gearbox and chain-drive from a pre-war Blitzen Benz
Blitzen Benz
In 1909, the Blitzen Benz was built in Mannheim by Benz & Cie. The vehicle was one of six built with a , inline four engine enlarged from the company's Grand Prix racer. The car was modified to improve its aerodynamics. At Brooklands on November 9, 1909, land speed racer Victor Hémery of France...
, it was the largest capacity racing car ever to run at Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
. Still not fully developed by the time of Zborowski's death in 1924, it was purchased from his estate by J.G. Parry-Thomas
J.G. Parry-Thomas
John Godfrey Parry-Thomas was a Welsh engineer and motor-racing driver who at one time held the Land Speed Record. He was the first driver to be killed in pursuit of the land speed record....
for the sum of £125.
Parry-Thomas rechristened the car "Babs" and rebuilt it with four Zenith carburettors and his own design of pistons. In April 1926, Parry-Thomas used the car to break the land speed record
Land speed record
The land speed record is the highest speed achieved by a wheeled vehicle on land. There is no single body for validation and regulation; in practice the Category C flying start regulations are used, officiated by regional or national organizations under the auspices of the Fédération...
at 171.02 mph (273.6 km/h).
Babs used exposed chains to connect the engine to the drive wheels, while the high engine cover required him to drive with his head tilted to one side – the right. During a later record attempt at Pendine Sands
Pendine Sands
Pendine Sands is a length of beach on the shores of Carmarthen Bay on the south coast of Wales. It stretches from Gilman Point in the west to Laugharne Sands in the east. The village of Pendine is situated near the western end of Pendine Sands....
, Wales on 3 March 1927, the right-hand drive chain broke at a speed of 170 mph, partially decapitating him. Babs was buried where it landed, on the beach at Pendine
Pendine Sands
Pendine Sands is a length of beach on the shores of Carmarthen Bay on the south coast of Wales. It stretches from Gilman Point in the west to Laugharne Sands in the east. The village of Pendine is situated near the western end of Pendine Sands....
.
There is still controversy as to whether Parry-Thomas was literally decapitated, and whether the drive chain was responsible. Later investigation of the recovered wreckage suggested instead that the rear right-hand wheel had failed, overturning Babs.
Restoration
Owen Wyn Owen
Owen Wyn Owen is an automobile restorer and mechanic. He lives in Capel Curig, Snowdonia. His working life was spent as a lecturer in engineering at Bangor University, but he is best known for his outside achievements.-Restoration of Babs:...
. Today it is on display at the Pendine Museum of Speed
Pendine Museum of Speed
The Pendine Museum of Speed is dedicated to the use of Pendine Sands for land speed record attempts. It was opened in 1996 and is located in Pendine, on the South coast of Wales....
.