Feel The Need For Speed Driven By Wrexham’s JG Parry Thomas

BABS, the world’s fastest car, as driven by Wrexham’s JG Parry Thomas, will be on display on 1st April at Wrexham Museum between 10.00 am and 4.00 ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

John Parry-Thomas piloted ‘BABS’ to a new land speed record at Pendine Sands in Carmarthenshire back in 1926. He was born in Wrexham in 1884, and became an engineer of luxury vehicles. He bought a car – ‘the Higham Special’ – and fitted it with a new 27,059cc engine and Benz gearbox, rechristening it ‘BABS’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In April 1926, he set a new land speed record of 171.02mph – on the beach at Pendine. He died a year later, on the same beach, in the same car, attempting to reclaim the record. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead member for Communities and Partnerships, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This is a fantastic opportunity to see this legendary record breaking car in Wrexham. I hope as many people as possible take advantage and pop into the Museum to take a look.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Also on display will be original film footage of BABS racing on Pendine Sands, the “one seat wonder car” Sinclair C5 and lots of fun and games for the whole family with Techniquest Lego Challenge. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​