What was the automobile speed record for one running mile, in 1906? Was it closer to 25 miles per hour, 75 miles per hour, or 125 miles per hour?

It may seem astonishing for the early 20th century, but automobiles were already shattering speed barriers at a blistering pace. The record for a running mile was not only well over 100 mph, but it was set by a vehicle that might surprise modern racing fans. On January 26, 1906, on the packed sands of Ormond Beach, Florida, driver Fred Marriott piloted the Stanley Rocket to an official speed of 127.659 miles per hour. This historic run made him the first person to travel faster than two miles in a single minute.

What made the achievement particularly noteworthy was the car's technology. The Stanley Rocket was not powered by an internal combustion engine, but by steam. In the pioneering days of motoring, steam, electric, and gasoline-powered vehicles were all fierce competitors. For a brief but glorious period, steam was king of outright speed, and Marriott's record proved its immense potential. His steam-powered record would stand for nearly a century, a testament to the incredible engineering of an era long before the dominance of gasoline.