At Daytona Beach, Florida in 1910, auto racer Barney Oldfield set a new automobile speed record. Was his speed 32, 62, or 132 miles per hour?

It may seem unbelievable for the era, but the correct speed is indeed the highest figure. In March 1910, the famous daredevil and showman Barney Oldfield pushed his monstrous "Blitzen Benz" to an unofficial land speed record of 131.724 miles per hour. This incredible feat, often rounded up to 132 mph, made him the first man to drive a car faster than 130 mph and earned him the title "speed king."

The location was just as important as the driver. Long before the famous speedway was built, Daytona's wide, flat, and hard-packed sandy beach provided a perfect natural racetrack for these early record attempts. Oldfield's car was a purpose-built beast with a massive 21.5-liter engine, designed for the sole purpose of going as fast as possible. To put the speed in perspective, the popular Ford Model T of the same period had a top speed of only about 45 mph, making Oldfield's run seem almost otherworldly to the public and cementing his legendary status in racing history.