An ambitious attempt to set the world record for the fastest garden shed came to an abrupt halt on Friday when the vehicle, humorously named “Ed the Shed,” suffered a mechanical failure at Elvington Airfield.
Oxfordshire-based builder Brian Cade, who drew inspiration from Britain’s legacy of land-speed legends like Donald Campbell, was attempting to smash the current record by a significant margin. His goal was to pilot his wooden creation to a blistering 130 mph (209km/h), easily topping the current official speed of 114.7 mph (184.6 km/h), set by competitor Kevin Nicks in his “Fastest Shed.”
However, during the high-speed run on the runway at the Yorkshire airfield, Mr. Cade’s quest for glory was cut short. His unique vehicle only managed to achieve a top speed of 96 mph before its clutch gave way.
The mechanical failure means that while Mr. Cade proved his shed is a serious contender, he will have to return to the workshop to reinforce his drivetrain before making another assault on the speed record.
Staff at the event noted that despite the disappointing result, the sight of a wooden shed travelling at 96 mph was a spectacle that continued Britain’s bizarre and illustrious history of speed challenges.
