Ken Warby 'World Series Racing' business card

Date1970

Object numberANMS1163[378]

NameCard

MediumPaper

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Graeme Andrews

Collections

Graeme Andrews

Terms

DescriptionA business card for 'Ken Warby Executive Director, World Series Racing - World Series Challenge, Aust. 'V' USA.' HistoryAfter Ken Warby broke the 300 mph speed barrier he toured the United States and promoted SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA and the new world water speed record. Although there was general talk of a new boat and faster speeds, Warby, after ten years dedicated to the record, he found a change. In the early 1980s, Warby took up drag racing. He installed two jet engines into two drag cars - one painted in the colours of the United States and one Australian. The cars would race each other and through these exhibition races Warby had the thought of raising funds for a second boat. Tom Brown was the driver of the American jet car and the Australian tour was very successful and the tour travelled to the United States. The appeal of the race was not so much in the speed of the cards but rather in the visual thrill of seeing the jet engines fire up. After about a year Warby moved from the jet dragsters to jet cars which resembled street cars but were fitted with fighter plane engines. He travelled across Australia and the United States with two cars and was known as 'Thunder from Down Under'. Sue Ransom drove the second car and they performed until 1987 when Warby, always looking for a new challenge, moved to jet trucks. SignificanceAfter ten years of working on SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA and breaking records, Ken Warby moved his life to land based jet racing. Although not as full filling as speed on water, Warby was highly successful in his new career.