Fred Marriott facts for kids
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Fred Marriott (born 31 December 1872 in Needham, Massachusetts, died 28 April 1956) was an American race car driver. He became famous in 1906 for setting a new world land speed record. He reached an amazing speed of 127.659 mph (205.5 km/h) while driving a special car called the Stanley Land Speed Record Car. This incredible feat happened at the Daytona Beach Road Course in Florida. Because of this record, the Stanley Motor Carriage Company was awarded the important Dewar Trophy. Fred was chosen to drive the car because he was the only single person on the team.
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Breaking the Speed Barrier
Fred Marriott was a pioneer in the world of speed. In the early 1900s, people were fascinated by how fast cars could go. Fred Marriott was at the forefront of this exciting challenge. His record-breaking run in 1906 showed just how powerful and fast steam-powered cars could be.
The Stanley Rocket Car
The car Fred Marriott drove was a unique steam-powered vehicle. It was specially designed to go incredibly fast. This car was often called the "Stanley Rocket" because of its speed. It used steam, not gasoline, to power its engine. A team of four people traveled with the car to Daytona. They all worked together to prepare the car for its record attempt.
A Dangerous Attempt in 1907
After setting the record, Fred Marriott wanted to go even faster. In 1907, he tried to break his own record at Daytona. He used an improved version of the Stanley Rocket car. During this attempt, the car hit a bump in the road. It was traveling at an estimated speed of 140-150 mph. The car flew into the air and broke into two pieces when it landed. Fred Marriott was injured in the crash. After he recovered, he decided not to try to break the record again.
The Long-Standing Record
Fred Marriott's speed record for a steam-powered car stood for a very long time. It was the longest-standing record of its kind. For over 100 years, no one could beat his achievement with a steam car.
A New Record in 2009
Finally, in August 2009, Fred Marriott's steam land speed record was broken. A British team called "Inspiration" achieved a new record. Their driver, Charles Burnett III, reached an average speed of 139.843 mph (225.06 km/h). This new record was set at Edwards Air Force Base in California. It was a huge moment in the history of land speed records, showing how far technology had come since Fred Marriott's time.
