Richard Noble’s first attempt to build a record car, Thrust1, ended in a high-speed crash and the sale of the wreckage to a scrapyard. Next came the roller coaster ride of Thrust2, which was developed to attack the World Land Speed Record at Bonneville with Noble at its controls; after innumerable setbacks, including sponsor withdrawals, delays and a rebuild after a 250 mph crash, success was finally achieved with a new record of 633 mph in 1983 at Black Rock Desert in Nevada. Following that, Noble established the UK-based ARV Aircraft company to create an innovative and beautiful metal airplane with safe forward-swept wings and a special Hewland engine, all achieved in 13 months from start-up with no design and little money.