Speed record breaking requires fearless compound innovation to achieve a meaningful World record. Against a background of today’s low-risk culture, Richard Noble specialises in developing high-risk ventures. Obviously, not all of them can be successful, but the Thrust2 programme which brought the World Land Speed Record back to Britain in 1983 and the Thrust SSC first ever supersonic land speed record programme are the best known. Speed record breaking requires fearless compound innovation to achieve a meaningful World record. Against a background of today’s low-risk culture, Richard Noble specialises in developing high-risk ventures. Obviously, not all of them can be successful, but the Thrust2 programme which brought the World Land Speed Record back to Britain in 1983 and the Thrust SSC first ever supersonic land speed record programme are the best known. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx