Ken Warby

Ken Warby ( born May 9, 1939 in Newcastle, Australia) is an Australian racing boat driver who holds the current world speed record on water. On 8 October 1978 he reached on the reservoir Blowering Dam near Tumut in New South Wales in Australia with his boat Spirit of Australia a speed of 317.596 miles per hour ( 511.13 km / h ). He is still the only man that the hour was on the water faster than 300 miles.

His boat, the Spirit of Australia, was designed and built by Warby itself, only the jet engine from a decommissioned military plane had Warby purchased for $ 69 at an auction. The boat consisted of fiberglass reinforced plastic and balsa wood.

His world speed record on water was achieved up to now not nearly despite numerous attempts with better technology and more money. This may be because that driving is extremely difficult and dangerous to water at such high speeds and only a few people in the world have enough experience for it. In previous attempts to set a new world speed record on water, died every second driver.

Warby developed and is currently building a new boat, Aussie Spirit with which he wants to improve his world record continues despite his advanced age.

As a child, Donald Campbell was, at that time held the world speed record on water, his great idol.

• Motor boating enthusiasts
• Born in 1939
• Man
• Australian