Who needs gas to go fast?
10.) Lightning Motorcycle Superbike
How Fast? 218 MPH
Fuel: Electricity
Their claim to be the fastest bike in the world might be challenged by that Kawasaki death wish machine but 218 MPH is still incredibly impressive.
Suggested By: Spacegrass, Photo Credit: Lightning Motorcycles
9.) Killajoule
How Fast? 270 MPH
Fuel: Electricity
This insane motorcycle was built by a husband and wife in their garage and set a record 270.244 mph at Bonneville.
Suggested By: Neon - Smart Afficionado, Photo Credit: KillaCylce Racing
8.) Top Alcohol Dragster
How Fast? 280 MPH, 5.1 sec 1/4 Mile
Fuel: Methanol
Even though it's an alcohol, you can't drink methanol. You can, however, put it in a dragster for serious speed. It was also used in Indycars from the mid '60s all the way to the late '90s
Suggested By: tromoly, Photo Credit: ANDRA Drag Racing
7.) Buckeye Bullet 2
How Fast? 303 MPH
Fuel: Hydrogen Fuel Cell
You want to feel like you've wasted your time at college? Read up on this vehicle that was designed by students at Ohio State that hit 303 at Bonneville.
Suggested By: manifold engines, Photo Credit: Buckeye Bullet
6.) Maglev
How Fast? 310 MPH
Fuel: Electromagnetic Suspension
These amazing trains use electromagnetic fields on the tracks and guide walls to propel the trains to a regular operating speed of 267 MPH and a top speed of 310 MPH. So cool.
Suggested By: AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs, Photo Credit: Getty Images
5.) TGV Train
How Fast? 357 MPH
Fuel: Electricity
These French trains typically travel at a slower operating speed than the Chinese Maglev, but a modified TGV set the world record. And I thought the L train was fast when it went under the East River...
Suggested By: BATC42, Photo Credit: Alfenaar
4.) Vanishing Point
How Fast? 386 MPH, 3.58 sec 1/4 mile
Fuel: Hydrogen Peroxide
The record set by this rocket powered dragster in 1984 with Sammy Miller at the helm is still the best 1/4 mile time recorded in history.
Suggested By: manifold engines, Photo Credit: vetechnet.com
3.) Dynamic Soaring RC Sailplane
How Fast? 498 MPH
Fuel: Wind
Dynamic soaring is a technique used by RC glider pilots to achieve insane speeds. I can't briefly tell you how it works, but I can tell you the top speed record is a staggering 498 MPH.
Suggested By: woosh, Photo Credit: Kirk Crawford
2.) Space Shuttle
How Fast? 17,320 MPH (in orbit)
Fuel: Hydrogen, Ammonium Perchlorate Composite Propellant
Suddenly, Elon Musk's "D" doesn't seem so fast.
Suggested By: jnecr, Photo Credit: reynermedia
1.) Voyager 1
How Fast? 39,050 MPH
Fuel: Hydrazine, Plutonium, Gravity
The Voyager 1 uses a simple propellant system and fuels to carry out its missions. It's so fuel efficient that the craft, launched in 1978, should run out in 2020.
Suggested By: DennyCraneDennyCraneDennyCrane, Photo Credit: NASA
Welcome back to Answers of the Day - our daily Jalopnik feature where we take the best ten responses from the previous day's Question of the Day and shine it up to show off. It's by you and for you, the Jalopnik readers. Enjoy!
Top Photo Credit: ANDRA Drag Racing