Hot Wheels driver Tanner Foust set a new ramp-to-ramp jump record of 332 feet in one of the greatest stunts in years. On Sunday Foust’s car almost looks like it is actually flying, reaching speeds of up to 104mph as he nears the second ramp in Indianapolis. It was Foust’s stunt before the big race that stole the limelight even though the main event was the annual Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Three-time X Games gold medalist Foust was billed as the Hot Wheels Fearless at the 500 event. He careened down a jaw-dropping, giant orange ramp before taking off from the ramp. His distance of 332 feet eclipsed the previous world record by 31 feet. The drop and the ten-storey ramp was modelled after the Hot Wheels V-Drop toy set. It was specifically for the event.
It was constructed using more than 500,000 tons of steel. It also required 500 gallons of orange paint to match the Hot Wheels toy car track set. According to reports the giant Hot Wheels V-Drop stunt track was designed by the same team that handles the design work for many of the stunts and tracks used at the annual X Games challenges.
After the stunt Foust said, ‘Any time you’re breaking a world record, you’re sort of inventing things along the way.’
Hot Wheels has a history of creating stunt tracks and obstacle courses based on its brand of die-cast toy cars and track concepts. Cliff drops and upside down tracks have been included in the previous events. The vice president for marketing for Hot Wheels, Simon Waldron said, ‘’Hot Wheels has a rich history in racing that spans over 40 years. There was no better global stage than the Indy 500 to create this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Fans witnessed not only a record-breaking jump, but also an incredible childhood fantasy come to life, which engaged multiple generations.’
