Image Not Available

Warby Plans New Jet

Date12 November 1978

Object numberANMS1163[371]

NameNewspaper clipping

MediumInk on paper

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Graeme Andrews

Terms

DescriptionA newspaper clipping from the Sunday Telegraph titled ' Warby Plans New Jet - Record could be lifted to 640km'h' and written by Peter Muszkat. After Ken Warby's new world speed record, set on 8 October 1978, there was talk by Warby about a SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA II and the possibility of going beyond 400 mph.HistoryAfter years of being unknown and struggling for public attention, Warby finally got some positive publicity after setting his world water speed record and breaking through the 300 mph barrier. The world now knew who he was, especially in the United States, and people were keen to know what was next for Warby. Could he go faster? The initial answer was yes, yet Warby was already proposing the possibly that he may wait until someone broke his record before attempting the 400 mph mark. He did however have an idea for SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA II and a concept for how he would go about a future attempt: "This time, it will be a much more sophisticated operation, and it should take no more than two years to complete. This time I won’t be doing all the work on my own in an open backyard. I'll have expert help when I need it, and I be doing the job under cover with electric light when I need to keep working at night." SignificanceAustralia and the world finally took notice of Ken Warby after he set his new world speed record in October 1978. The story of his long journey to Blowering Dam was extraordinary and people were wondering what was next in the Warby story.