Sir Henry O’Neal de Hane Segrave, a Baltimore-born British national, already had a successful Grand Prix career under his belt when he turned to record-breaking.
The car that allowed him to take the first of his three land speed records was Sunbeam’s Ladybird, later known as Tiger, designed by engineer Louis Coatalen.
This compact, supercharged V12 car would be the last holder of the ultimate speed record.
It had also built a successful career away from the beaches and on the race circuits.
Only a year after his success at Southport, Segrave along with Coatalen’s twin engine Sunbeam 1000 hp, now a part of the National Motor Museum collection at Beaulieu, would be the first to take the record to over 200mph at Daytona Beach in America.
The Segrave 100 Southport Celebration event, organised by Aintree Circuit Club, takes place on Ainsdale Beach between 10:00 – 12:30 GMT.
