On the 29th of April 1899 the La Jamais Contente (translated as “The Never Satisfied”) became the first car to go faster than 100 km/h. Camille Jenatzy (from Belgium) drove the car. The car reached a top speed of 105 km/h, breaking the land speed record. The La Jamais Contente broke the previous record (92 km/h) which was held by Count Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat. The La Jamais Contente was an electric vehicle with a light alloy torpedo shaped bodywork. The high position of the driver and the exposed chassis underneath spoiled much of the aerodynamics of the car. It’s hard to believe that we take driving over 100 km/h for granted nowadays in South Africa. Back then it was actually an achievement.
