Speed It Up Trivia Quiz

Answer: Chuck Yeager

Well, strictly speaking, it was the plane that broke the sound barrier.... Yeager, an Air Force pilot during WWII, accomplished the feat on October 14,1947 in an experimental rocket plane known as the X-1. He became a living legend of aviation and was the subject of the 1983 movie, "The Right Stuff." Crossfield was the first to travel twice the speed of sound known as MACH 2. John Force is a famous drag racing champion. Breedlove is a five time land speed record holder.

Answer: bus

Keanu Reeves starred as a cop trying to save the passengers of the bus, which is rigged with a bomb that is set to explode if the bus goes below 50 mph. A sequel to the hit movie was made using a boat as the speedy vehicle.

Answer: light

Although there has been no 100% accurate method of measuring the speed of light, this figure has been accepted as the scientific figure of its measurement. Sound travels just under 800 mph while comets and stars vary in speed. The speed of light is now set to an exact value: 299 792 458 meters per second (or 186,282.397 miles per second).

This is exact because the meter is now defined based on the speed of light in a vacuum; it travels at different speeds through different materials. The sound speed of under 800 mph is accurate for dry air at about room temperature (68 F); this speed also changes based on what the wave is traveling through.

Answer: pronghorn antelope

Although the cheetah is faster, it can only run full speed for a short period of time. The pronghorn antelope can survive an attack by using zig zag motions traveling at 61 mph. The gazelle and the wildebeest can run at a speed of about 50 mph. The impala is slightly slower, but can leap forward 30 feet in one bound.

Therefore all four of these bring new meaning to the phrase "fast food".

Answer: Sammy Hagar

Although Hagar's songs didn't contain the word speed, his biggest single was the 1984 hit, "I Can't Drive 55" about the refusal to obey traffic speed laws. The video and single were among the most popular of 1984. Coldplay recorded "Speed of Sound" in 2005. The country band Sugarland recorded "Speed of Life", and Billy Idol had a single entitled "Speed".

Answer: Darrell Green

Darrell Green played cornerback for 20 seasons with the Washington Redskins and many today consider him to be the fastest player in NFL history. This competition obviously was created with him in mind. Bob Hayes at one time owned the title of fastest man in the world since that title was given to the World Record holder in the 100 meter run. Dorsett and Sanders never entered the competition.

Answer: Benny Parsons

Parsons hit the mark at Talladega on May 2, 1982. His Pontiac earned him the pole with a speed of 200.176 mph. Baker was the first to pass the mark but it was in a test run in 1970. Elliott holds the all time record at 212.809 mph and that record will stand since NASCAR required restrictor plates to be put on all the cars after 1987 thus making the 200 mph barrier a thing of the past. Yarborough passed the mark a record 15 times.

Answer: Peregrine falcon

Although the peregrine falcon has a level flight speed of less than 100 mph, it can swoop down on a prey at speeds in excess of 250 mph thus making it the world's fastest animal. The other three have speeds varying between 88-106 mph.

Answer: Speedy Gonzales

Speedy was dubbed "the fastest mouse in all of Mexico" The song "Speedy Gonzales" became a Top Ten for Boone in 1962. The Roadrunner spent his days running from Wiley Coyote while Bugs continued to lose his race with the Tortoise, but neither had a pop song recorded about them by a well known recording artist.

Answer: Sailfish

Sailfish travel at a speed of about 69 mph making it a difficult challenge for the fishing industry. The others are slightly slower with speeds ranging from 44-50 mph.