Today's the first of a series of big days for the Bloodhound Supersonic Car; a rocket-powered car designers hope will break land speed records by going 1,000 mph. Today, the Bloodhound SSC team is testing the car's 12-foot-long, 18-inch diameter rocket engine at an airfield in rural Southwest England.

Imagine a rocket car that can scream across the Earth's surface at 1,000 mph.

The team behind Thrust SSC — the world's fastest land vehicle — have been working hard to ready their even faster 1,000+ mph BLOODHOUND SSC. And they have the 3D drawings to prove it'll be the fastest hybrid car ever conceived.

Socks, Hawaiian shirts and Chili's gift cards? If your holiday haul left you wanting, consider this $76 print from Stefan Marjoram of all top land-speed record holders, a benefit for the Bloodhound SSC project. Inquire here.

Before his death in 2007, adventurer Steve Fossett was readying an attempt to break the land speed record of 763 mph, using a vehicle from famed designer Craig Breedlove. Mothballed for two years, it's now up for sale.

When Bloodhound SSC makes its 42 second run for a 1000MPH land speed record, it'll use a Rolls-Royce EJ200 jet engine and hybrid-rocket to deliver 47,500 pounds of thrust. Somehow, former fighter-pilot and driver Andy Green hopes to survive.