Jabbeke

Jabbeke (Template:IPA) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Jabbeke proper, Snellegem, Stalhille, Varsenare and Zerkegem. On 1 January 2006 the municipality had 13,572 inhabitants. The total area is Template:Convert, giving a population density of 252 inhabitants per km².

Speed records

In the 1940s and 1950s it was renowned for the number of speed records set on a measured kilometer of highway. Not just absolute speed records, manufacturers wanted each model's maximum speed measured and certified by the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium. For example, the Healey Elliott with 110.65 mph in 1946, at the time the 'fastest car in the world in series production',<ref>The Healey Story by Geoffrey Healey p35 Template:ISBN</ref> the Jaguar XK120 achieved an officially timed Template:Convert; the "Jabbeke Speed Record" Triumph TR2 (124.889 mph) car was driven by Ken Richardson; André Pilette set a Belgian record in the 2 litre class in the Veritas RS Template:Convert; in 1952 the Rover JET 1 turbine driven by Spen King set the first speed record for gas turbine cars at Template:Convert over the flying kilometre; and the exotic Pegaso Z-102 clocked Template:Convert to make it the 'fastest production car in the world'.

Famous inhabitants

• Constant Permeke (°1886 - 1952) was a Belgian painter who is considered the leading figure of Flemish expressionism, born in Antwerp.
• Steve Ramon (°1979), won two Motocross world championships between 1996 and 2011, born in Zerkegem.
• Romain Maes (°1912 - 1983), winner of the Tour de France in 1935, was born in Zerkegem.
• Hugo Broos (°1952), Belgian footballer and coach.
• Stijn De Smet (°1985), Belgian footballer for Cercle Brugge K.S.V., K.A.A. Gent and K.V. Kortrijk.

External links

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