Video: Powered by laughing gas, it’s Postman Pat and his 100mph van

A CHILDREN’S supermarket ride powered by laughing gas has become the talk of the drag-racing circuit after breaking 100mph.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Sep 2013, 12:50 BST
The world's fastest Postman Pat van built by Tom Armitage, left and David Taylor, centre, driven by Ben RushforthThe world's fastest Postman Pat van built by Tom Armitage, left and David Taylor, centre, driven by Ben Rushforth
The world's fastest Postman Pat van built by Tom Armitage, left and David Taylor, centre, driven by Ben Rushforth

The Postman Pat van has achieved a quicker quarter mile time than a Lamborghini Murcielago and now holds the record for the world’s fastest coin-operated ride, Guinness has confirmed.

It was built by Tom Armitage, 25, and David Taylor, 33, from Bramley, Leeds, and driven by Ben Rushforth, 30, from Gomersal, West Yorkshire, after the trio bought the ride on eBay for £250 and did it up last year.

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“Nobody thought we would even get it to 40mph,” said Mr Armitage.

The world's fastest Postman Pat van built by Tom Armitage, left and David Taylor, centre, driven by Ben RushforthThe world's fastest Postman Pat van built by Tom Armitage, left and David Taylor, centre, driven by Ben Rushforth
The world's fastest Postman Pat van built by Tom Armitage, left and David Taylor, centre, driven by Ben Rushforth

But the team proved the naysayers wrong when they carried out their first test runs last August and set their first record at 85mph before vowing to push for 100mph.

They eventually reached 101.36mph –- and a new world record – at York Raceway in May after installing a nitrous kit.

Its 12-second quarter mile time was faster than an Aston Martin V-12 Vanquish, Porsche 911 GT3 RS and a Pagani Zonda C12.

The 500cc van has since hit 102mph. It will take on the world’s fastest mobility scooter next month and the team hope to eventually push it to 120 to 150mph.

Related topics:West YorkshireLeedsBramley