Hitting 114.5916 miles per hour. A moment that has left a lasting mark since October 2021 in the Guinness World Records Book by Brother Skylar January from Alpha Zeta Chapter at Kansas State University.
Skylar spent his free time for two years planning and constructing the world’s fastest jet-propelled go-kart. With the help of his father, Jim January, and his brother, Ryan January, the three constructed the jet-propelled go-kart that broke the previous world record.
“This was a weekend project that consumed my thoughts and free time for about 2 years. I would be working and then a thought would come in and consume the rest of my day until I could find a solution to that problem,” Skylar told Guinness World Records.
Pieces of the go-kart were put together by the team of three, which Skylar tested. He attached one of the two jet engines to a moped and took to the streets of Lyons, Kansas. Skylar checked the laws of his hometown to make sure he wasn’t breaking any by driving on a public street with a jet-powered motorized vehicle but found nothing that said he couldn’t. Despite several 911 calls from onlookers describing what they thought were rocket motorcycles and jet bikes, Skylar kept testing his equipment and preparing his go-kart.
“My favorite part is when I was going down the street and a child heard a jet noise, looked up into the sky confused and then plugged his ears as I drove past. He looked at me with disbelief and confusion. His look was priceless.” Skylar said.
In order to break the world record, Skylar had to exceed the maximum allowed full thrust time of the jet engines, which caused them to overheat when breaking the record. Even with the over-heated engines, Skylar hit 114.5916 miles per hour, earning himself a spot in the 2021 Guinness World Record Book.
To hear more about Skylar’s achievement, visit the original story at https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/391173-fastest-speed-in-a-jet-propelled-go-kart?fbclid=IwAR0sbZ1dkvHv9qwUAUz28c1_5B9vpS-QKvORk5z-KEt8y17OWUKeFXQpX84
