In 1997 at Black Rock Desert, Nevada, he drove Thrust SSC to become the first person to break the sound barrier in a car and set the existing land-speed record of 763mph.

ECONOMIST: The land-speed record

The Mojave Desert and the Black Rock Desert are both featured in the film, the latter known in recent years for being the site of the annual Burning Man festival, a week-long event during which thousands of people camp out in the desert with the goal of creating a temporary city based on principles of community and self reliance.

BBC: James Bond��s Diamonds are Forever