| Follow us on Twitter |
The picture shows 'Miss Windermere in action. Courtesy MOSI'.
The propeller-driven hydroplane, which was developed by a team in Chorley, still holds the world speed record for its class – of 155 mph - and is the fastest boat in history on Lake Windermere. Driver Jim Noone, owner John Lee, and mechanic Mike Horn officially handed over Miss Windermere VI as a collection item for MOSI.
“The North West’s contribution to speed record breaking, particularly on water, has not received the recognition it deserves,” said Nick Forder, Transport Curator at MOSI. “With Miss Windermere VI at MOSI, we can at last tell some of those inspirational stories of courage and world achievement.”
Miss Windermere VI broke its first world record on Lake Windermere in 1995, when Jim Noone took the boat to speeds of 109mph. The sudden death of Peter Lee, the owner and driving force behind the project, meant the boat’s claim to fame could have ended there. But his son John brought the team together again and refitted it with a more powerful engine.
In 1997 it reached 145 mph, breaking the National and World propeller driven records, as well as becoming the fastest boat ever on Lake Windermere. On its final run in 2003, the boat was refitted again with an even more powerful engine, and reached an average speed of 155 mph.
After the 2003 attempt the team agreed to retire Miss Windermere from further record- breaking races. www.24hourmuseum.org.uk
Posted October 16th, 2007 by ruzik_tuzik
