Jabbeke

Jabbeke is a municipality locatit in the Belgian province o Wast Flanders. The municipality comprises the touns o Jabbeke proper, Snellegem, Stalhille, Varsenare an Zerkegem. On 1 Januar 2006 the municipality haed 13,572 inhabitants. The total aurie is 53.76 km2 (20.76 sq mi), givin a population density o 252 inhabitants per km².

Location o Jabbeke in Wast Flanders

Kirk o Saunt Blaise in Jabbeke

Speed records

In the 1940s an '50s it wis renouned for the number o speed records set on a measured kilometer o heich-gate. No juist absolute speed records, manufacturers wantit each model's maximum speed measured an certifee'd b the Ryal Automobile Club o Belgium. E.g. the Jaguar XK120 achieved an offeecially timed 126 mph (202.78 km/h); the "Jabbeke Speed Record" Triumph TR2 caur wis driven bi Ken Richardson; André Pilette set a Belgian record in the 2 litre class in the Veritas RS 206 km/h (128.00 mph); in 1952 the Rover JET 1 turbine driven bi Spen King set the first speed record for gas turbine caurs at 151.965 mph (244.56 km/h) ower the flyin kilometre; an the exotic Pegaso Z-102 clocked 250 km/h (155.34 mph) tae mak it the 'fastest production caur in the warld'.

Famous inhabitants

• Romain Maes, winner o the Tour de France in 1935, wis born in Zerkegem in 1913.
• Constant Permeke wis a Belgian painter who is considered the leadin figur o Flemish expressionism.