Yahoo Autos SSC Tuatara driver's scare on the way to speed record: 'I had a really close call'
Two gusts of wind cut across the Nevada desert, sending Oliver Webb and the SSC Tuatara across two lanes and onto the roadside rumble strips. That’s what happens when an unexpected cross-breeze comes by, and the speedometer’s needle is north of 300 mph.
Let’s hit rewind on the drama-meter real quick, though.
SSC, an American hypercar company owned and founded by Jerod Shelby, set out about 10 years ago to build the fastest car in the world. We covered the concept’s reveal back in the early 2010s, and we’ve kept tabs on the company’s progress ever since. Just this year, the first owner’s car made its debut at the Philadelphia Auto Show. Funnily enough, it’s that same car that SSC used on October 10 to set the record for the fastest production car in the world.
This record was supposed to be set a year ago. SSC had secured an initial location months in advance, but the state decided it wanted to do some road work at the same time, meaning SSC would have to wait until Spring 2020. Just like everybody’s spring plans this year, though, SSC’s were also wrecked. Covid-19 hit; the world shut down, and SSC was forced to wait once again. Shelby and company decided to aim for a fall run, and that’s exactly what happened.
A seven-mile stretch of State Route 160 outside of Pahrump, Nevada, was chosen and completely closed down. Prior to the record attempt, Webb made test runs on multiple airstrips with shorter stretches of pavement than what he’d experience in the full run. With everything turning up aces, the SSC team and Webb proceeded to the big day with high hopes.
Three levels of “success” were possible for the crew. For starters, they could break the Koenigsegg Agera RS’ record of 277.9 mph. Secondly, they could break the 300 mph barrier. And lastly, they could meet or surpass the Tuatara’s original project goal of going 500 km/h (311 mph).
Weather was the biggest obstacle. The 5.9-liter twin-turbo V8 had been operating as it should, reaching 270 mph in one of those airstrip test runs. All 1,750 horsepower were present and accounted for. With blue skies above, an unexpected light breeze was the only worrisome roadblock. SSC had mapped the whole road previous to find every last seam, imperfection or potential trouble spot Webb might encounter. With this knowledge in hand, Webb could have total confidence in where he decided to crank up the speed.
World record officials loaded the satellite equipment into the Tuatara. Camera crews stood at the ready. It was an event, but up until now, it was also being held in relative secret.
Webb lined up for his first pass. He proceeded to hit 287 mph.
