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A century after its legendary land speed record, the iconic racing car Babs has returned to Carmarthenshire to commemorate this milestone. This vehicle famously achieved a world speed record on the sands of Pendine, driven by the Welsh racer JG Parry-Thomas. In April 1926, Parry-Thomas pushed Babs to an average speed of 170 mph (273 km/h), surpassing previous records set by Henry Segrave in Southport and Malcolm Campbell at Pendine the year before.
More than 2,000 people gathered at Pendine Sands on Monday to witness Babs’ return, with several members of the Parry-Thomas family among the attendees. During the 1920s, Pendine Sands was one of the few locations suitable for reaching such extraordinary speeds, becoming central to the pursuit of the World Land Speed record. Babs, powered by a 27-liter aero engine, set two solid runs on the beach clocking 169.30 mph (271 km/h) and 171.02 mph (275 km/h), breaking the existing land speed record.
The following year, Malcolm Campbell reclaimed the record with a speed just under 175 mph (281 km/h) in January 1927. Parry-Thomas attempted to retake the title two months later but tragically lost his life when Babs crashed at high velocity. In recognition of his achievements, Parry-Thomas was posthumously inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame’s Roll of Honour, an award proudly received by his family.
Family members expressed deep emotion during the event. Liz Lewis, a relative, remarked, “It’s emotional to see the car today, to think that he did this 100 years ago and lost his life in his second attempt a year later. It’s wonderful to see [that] everyone thinks he’s the number one race driver for Wales.” Emma Parry Clements, his great-niece, shared how stories about Parry-Thomas were part of family traditions, adding, “It was a part of history but I feel a part of it today standing here.” After the fatal accident, Babs was buried in the dunes for over four decades until it was excavated and restored over 16 years by racing engineer Owen Wyn Owens. Today, the meticulously restored car is displayed at the Pendine Museum of Speed, and Owen’s son, Geraint Owen, had the honor of driving Babs along the beach during the centenary celebrations
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