Documentary backdrop image for 1978: Driven by Obssession with Speed (2024)

202419 minPGdocumentary

1978: Driven by Obssession with Speed

202419 minPGdocumentary

Barry Bowles, an eccentric English amateur, is determined to break the Land Speed Record with his rocket-powered vehicle on Pendine's six-mile beach.

Genres

Channel: BBC Archive

1978: Driven by Obssession with Speed

2024• 19 minPG

Synopsis

Barry Bowles, an eccentric English amateur, is determined to break the Land Speed Record with his rocket-powered vehicle on Pendine's six-mile beach.

Synopsis

Barry Bowles, an eccentric English amateur, is driven by an obsession with speed as he attempts to break the Land Speed Record. On the six-mile beach of Pendine in Wales, he plans to test his rocket engine-powered vehicle, the Blonde Bombshell. Lacking substantial funding or support from a major organization, Bowles faces significant risks. The pursuit of his passion raises questions about the sacrifices he is willing to make in the name of speed and ambition.

Comments

What are people saying?

Play More Like This

Singlehanders (2015)

Singlehanders

2015•50m•★9.0TMDB

Bob Lush completes the 1980 Observer Singlehanded Transatlantic Race in 39 days, one day faster than the winning time of the inaugural event.

The Devil at Your Heels (2010)

The Devil at Your Heels

2010•1h42m•★5.9TMDB

Ken Carter, a Montreal-born stunt driver, spent five years preparing for a daring attempt to jump a rocket-powered car across the St.

The Devil at Your Heels

The Most Dangerous Speed Record Ever Attempted on Sand (2026)

The Most Dangerous Speed Record Ever Attempted on Sand

Zeph Eisenberg attempts to break the flying mile record on sand at Pendine Sands, facing mechanical failures and challenging beach conditions.

The Most Dangerous Speed Record Ever Attempted on Sand

Building a Car to Break 200 MPH... On Sand (2026)

Building a Car to Break 200 MPH... On Sand

Zef Eisenberg assembles a team to engineer a car capable of reaching 200 mph on Pendine Sands, testing the limits of performance and safety.

Building a Car to Break 200 MPH... On Sand

Engineering A Microvan Into a Monster Drift Car (2026)

Engineering A Microvan Into a Monster Drift Car

Zeph Eisenberg prepares for a 200 mph land speed record attempt on Pendine Sands by transforming a Daihatsu microvan into a drift car to enhance handling skills.

Engineering A Microvan Into a Monster Drift Car

The Fastest Motocross Bike in the World (2023)

The Fastest Motocross Bike in the World

Two speed enthusiasts, Maurice Fowler and Phil Johnson, build and test a motocross bike aimed at breaking land-speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

The Fastest Motocross Bike in the World

Out of Nothing | 🏍️ Motorcycle (2024)

Out of Nothing | 🏍️ Motorcycle

Four men from the Pacific Northwest risk everything to break motorcycle land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

Out of Nothing | 🏍️ Motorcycle

Turbocharging a 1.1L Fiat to Its Limits (2026)

Turbocharging a 1.1L Fiat to Its Limits

Zeph Eisenberg attempts to break the 200 mph barrier on Pendine Beach by transforming a 1.1L Fiat into a high-performance racing machine.

Turbocharging a 1.1L Fiat to Its Limits

Turning an Mazda MX-5 Into an Off-Road Beast (2026)

Turning an Mazda MX-5 Into an Off-Road Beast

In a challenge to achieve 200 mph on sand, Zeph transforms a Mazda MX-5 into an off-road vehicle, focusing on traction, tires, and suspension.

Turning an Mazda MX-5 Into an Off-Road Beast

James May Tries To Make An Action Figure Break The Sound Barrier (2025)

James May Tries To Make An Action Figure Break The Sound Barrier

Action Man faces an unprecedented challenge as James May attempts to make the toy travel faster than the speed of sound, pushing engineering limits.

James May Tries To Make An Action Figure Break The Sound Barrier

Explore 1978: Driven by Obssession with Speed

Browse more like this

The Devil at Your Heels (2010)

The Devil at Your Heels

2010•1h42m•★5.9TMDB

Ken Carter, a Montreal-born stunt driver, spent five years preparing for a daring attempt to jump a rocket-powered car across the St.

The Devil at Your Heels

No digital watch option in your country

The Most Dangerous Speed Record Ever Attempted on Sand (2026)

The Most Dangerous Speed Record Ever Attempted on Sand

Zeph Eisenberg attempts to break the flying mile record on sand at Pendine Sands, facing mechanical failures and challenging beach conditions.

The Most Dangerous Speed Record Ever Attempted on Sand

No digital watch option in your country

Building a Car to Break 200 MPH... On Sand (2026)

Building a Car to Break 200 MPH... On Sand

Zef Eisenberg assembles a team to engineer a car capable of reaching 200 mph on Pendine Sands, testing the limits of performance and safety.

Building a Car to Break 200 MPH... On Sand

No digital watch option in your country

Engineering A Microvan Into a Monster Drift Car (2026)

Engineering A Microvan Into a Monster Drift Car

Zeph Eisenberg prepares for a 200 mph land speed record attempt on Pendine Sands by transforming a Daihatsu microvan into a drift car to enhance handling skills.

Engineering A Microvan Into a Monster Drift Car

No digital watch option in your country

Out of Nothing | 🏍️ Motorcycle (2024)

Out of Nothing | 🏍️ Motorcycle

Four men from the Pacific Northwest risk everything to break motorcycle land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

Out of Nothing | 🏍️ Motorcycle

No digital watch option in your country

Turbocharging a 1.1L Fiat to Its Limits (2026)

Turbocharging a 1.1L Fiat to Its Limits

Zeph Eisenberg attempts to break the 200 mph barrier on Pendine Beach by transforming a 1.1L Fiat into a high-performance racing machine.

Turbocharging a 1.1L Fiat to Its Limits

No digital watch option in your country

Turning an Mazda MX-5 Into an Off-Road Beast (2026)

Turning an Mazda MX-5 Into an Off-Road Beast

In a challenge to achieve 200 mph on sand, Zeph transforms a Mazda MX-5 into an off-road vehicle, focusing on traction, tires, and suspension.

Turning an Mazda MX-5 Into an Off-Road Beast

No digital watch option in your country

James May Tries To Make An Action Figure Break The Sound Barrier (2025)

James May Tries To Make An Action Figure Break The Sound Barrier

Action Man faces an unprecedented challenge as James May attempts to make the toy travel faster than the speed of sound, pushing engineering limits.

James May Tries To Make An Action Figure Break The Sound Barrier

No digital watch option in your country

Out of Nothing (2015)

Out of Nothing

2015•1h30m•★8.3TMDB

Four motorcycle enthusiasts attempt to break land speed records on the Bonneville Salt Flats, facing technical challenges and testing their endurance.

Speed (1984)

Speed

1984•25m•★6.1TMDB

24,791 miles per hour is the speed reached by astronauts returning to Earth from the Moon, illustrating humanity's obsession with velocity.

Guy Martin: The World's Fastest Electric Car? (2021)

Guy Martin: The World's Fastest Electric Car?

2021•1h9m•★7.2TMDB

Guy Martin collaborates with the Leicestershire Fire Brigade to evaluate electric vehicle safety and constructs a record-breaking electric drag racing car.

Guy Martin: The World's Fastest Electric Car?

Battle Mountain: Graeme Obree's Story (2016)

Battle Mountain: Graeme Obree's Story

2016•1h44m•★7.0TMDB

Two decades after his last record, Graeme Obree constructs a unique speed machine in his Scottish kitchen to compete in Nevada's Battle Mountain.

Battle Mountain: Graeme Obree's Story

In Car 956 (1987)

In Car 956

1987•1h10m•★8.0TMDB

Seven of the world's greatest circuits are featured as Derek Bell drives the Rothmans Porsche 956, reaching speeds up to 220 mph.

Group B - Riding Balls of Fire (2016)

Group B - Riding Balls of Fire

2016•1h40m•★8.0TMDB

500 bhp supercars raced through treacherous terrains during the Group B rallying era from 1983 to 1986, pushing the limits of speed and engineering.

Group B - Riding Balls of Fire

Bannister: Everest on the Track (2016)

Bannister: Everest on the Track

2016•1h10m•★7.0TMDB

Roger Bannister trained during his lunch breaks as he aimed to break the four-minute mile barrier, a feat achieved on May 6, 1954.

Bannister: Everest on the Track

Seduced by Speed (2020)

Seduced by Speed

2020•40m•★5.8TMDB

Scandals involving major automotive companies like Volkswagen and their emissions cheating scandal highlight the risks and consequences of pursuing speed over ethics.

Seduced by Speed

Madness on Wheels (2012)

Madness on Wheels

2012•1h•★8.0TMDB

By 1986, the thrill of Group B rallying ended abruptly, following a series of tragic events that exposed the sport's recklessness.

Madness on Wheels

One Man's Dream: The Britten Bike Story (1995)

One Man's Dream: The Britten Bike Story

1995•1h30m•★5.5TMDB

John Britten builds the Britten V1000 Superbike in his backyard workshop in Christchurch, testing it at the Daytona 200 and Isle of Man TT races.

One Man's Dream: The Britten Bike Story

Is this your film?

If you made this film or hold the rights to it, we'd like to talk. We can license it and pay you a share of what it earns.

License it with us →