Land speed record car Babs returns to beach for centenary

The following month, Parry-Thomas became the first person to break the 170mph barrier.

With two runs of the beach, Babs - a 27 -itre, aero-engined car - he broke the existing record with speeds of 169.30mph (271 km/h) and 171.02mph (275 km/h).

The record was broken a year later in January 1927 when Campbell clocked in at just under 175 mph (281 km/h).

Parry-Thomas attempted to reclaim the record two months later but died after Babs rolled at high speed.

Parry-Thomas family were presented with an award as he was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame's Roll of Honour [BBC]

His family was presented with an award as he was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame's Roll of Honour.

Relative Liz Lewis said the recognition was "wonderful".

"It's emotional to see the car today, to think that he did this 100 years ago and lost his life in his second attempt a year later.

"It's wonderful to see [that] everyone thinks he's the number one race driver for Wales."

'Part of history'

Emma Parry Clements, his great niece, said stories would be told of her great uncle at family tea times.

"It's amazing to see this turnout and him honoured in this way," she said. "It was a part of history but I feel a part of it today standing here."

After the accident, the car was buried in the dunes, where it stayed for 42 years before being recovered in 1969 and restored over a 16-year period.

Racing engineer Owen Wyn Owens undertook the work at his garage in Capel Curig and Babs has since been displayed at the Pendine Museum of Speed.

His son Geraint Owen drove Babs on two laps of the beach earlier.

"It was just an idea he had to dig the car up because [Parry-Thomas] didn't have the same recognition as Malcolm Campbell and my father wanted to change that," he added.

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