World's Fastest Production Car !!!

The Guinness Book of World Records has officially awarded the title, World's Fastest Production Car to the SSC Ultimate Aero TT. After its record run across a Washington state highway that yielded an official average speed, as determined by the Guinness Officials, as being 256.19 mph.

In order to be the worlds fastest production model car you have to meet all the safety and emissions standards that production models face, as well as run on fuel from the average pump.The Ultimate Aero TT does all that and more. It carries luxury items as well, such as a 10-speaker sound system, leather/suede upholstery, navigation system and an operable back-up camera. Also included is a front-end lift system that raises the nose of the car 4-inches to aid it in clearing rough roads. Add to all of that the fact that the Ultimate Aero TT achieved its record run with a twin-turbo V8 with 1183-hp and 1094 ft-lbs of torque while meeting emissions standards… which is another record that SSC is applying for with Guinness.

While the SSC Ultimate Aero TT now owns the bragging rights as the fastest production car in the world they still feel they have room to raise the bar a bit further. The body itself has been tested in the wind tunnel to withstand speeds of 273-mph. Since the record setting run was performed on a public road with an uneven surface it stands to reason that the Ultimate Aero TT could certainly stretch out its lead a bit further.

The "free school" concept in England

More than 700 groups say they are interested in starting a "free school" in England - half are made up of teachers. Groups can apply from today to set up a new "state-funded independent school". The government has set out what groups will need to do to get approval.

Education Secretary Michael Gove says the scheme will drive up standards, but critics say it will cause chaos at a local level and other schools will lose out. He believes "free schools" are a way of raising achievement in areas where local authority-run schools are not providing a good quality education.

The main aim is to close the attainment gap between rich and poor and teachers have been attracted to the scheme. The free schools policy is similar to the charter schools system in the USA and one run in Sweden.