The Manx flag was flying as Richard Barks, dad of Les Miserables star Sam, completed the record breaking run at the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

Richard was part of a group from the Lonan Gentlemen’s Fellowship that had flow out to compete at Bonneville Speed Week on their specially designed 500 Manxman.

They were out to beat a record set in 1973 for a 500cc special construction partial streamlined blown fuel machine which had stood at 176mph.

But Richard smashed the record on board the team’s specially-designed 500 Manxman, clocking up an astonishing speed of 188.73mph and a number of trial runs.

Celebrating their success of their Facebook page, project manager Suzy Starlite said: ‘We did it!!!

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