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Last Updated: Wednesday, 29 August 2007, 11:52 GMT 12:52 UK
Man claims new luge speed record
Joel King celebrating by his jet-powered luge
Joel King has been racing street luges for four years

A man from West Sussex has claimed to have set a new world land-speed record for a jet-powered street luge.

Joel King, 27, an IT worker from Bognor Regis, clocked an average speed of 112.7mph (181.4km/h) on a disused runway in Woodbridge, near Ipswich.

He described the luge as like a modified skateboard, on which he lies face up just 2in (5cm) off the ground.

Mr King said his speed was recorded by an expert but still had to be verified by Guinness World Records officials.

A previous record of 98.5mph (158.5km/h) was set in America by Billy Copeland in 2001.

Mr King, nicknamed the Gravity King, had to abort his first attempt near Leicester last month because of engine problems.

When you've finished you turn the engine off and use your feet to brake, which at over 100mph is quite interesting
Joel King

But there were no such difficulties on Tuesday at Bentwaters Parks, an industrial estate which was formerly a US airbase.

The luge is powered by a kerosene-fuelled jet engine.

Mr King said: "It was just hold on and keep going as I accelerated down the runway.

"The sensation of the speed was second to none, you're so exposed with the tarmac whizzing past, and you're always just on the edge of control.

"Then when you've finished you turn the engine off and use your feet to brake, which at over 100mph is quite interesting."

Mr King is the reigning UK Street Luge champion, which involves racing downhill on roads without an engine.

He said the world record attempt was about "trying to kick it up a gear and take it to the next level".


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