A MILLIONAIRE businessman has died whilst trying to break a land speed record at Elvington Airfield.
Zef Eisenberg, a 47-year-old father-of-two from Guernsey, was attempting the record in a Porsche 911 Turbo S on Thursday afternoon when he crashed and died.
During the attempt, the Porsche went out of control at high speed, motorsport’s governing body, Motorsport UK, said.
Mr Eisenberg made a fortune after setting up the fitness firm Maximuscle and was a television presenter, and a popular member of the motorsport community.
An ultra-speed motorbike racer, in the past decade he amassed over 70 land speed records for motorbike and car.
Zef Eisenberg in action on one of his bikes Picture: Danny Lawson/PA
A Motorsport UK statement said on Friday: “Yesterday at Elvington Airfield, Zef was attempting to break the British Land Speed Record in a Porsche 911 Turbo S, at an event organised by Straightliners Ltd/UKTA.
"At 4.30pm the car went out of control at high speed at the end of a run.
“Local police and ambulance crews attended, however the driver tragically died at the scene.
“Zef leaves behind his partner Mirella D’Antonio and two children.”
The organisation said a full investigation involving the police will begin.
The statement added: “The thoughts of everyone at Motorsport UK and within the UK motorsport community continue to be with Zef Eisenberg’s family, the organisers of the event, and other members of the motorsport community who were present at Elvington Airfield.”
The record attempt was organised by Straightliners Limited and the UK Timing Association, which said: “All in Straightliners and UKTA extend their condolences to Zef’s partner Mirella, the Eisenberg family, the vehicle operating and build crew and all those who supported Zef’s speed efforts with his bikes and car.”
Mr Eisenberg had previously escaped death at Elvington Airfield in 2016 when he crashed whilst riding a gas turbine engined motorbike.
Zef Eisenberg was a popular figure in the motorsports community Picture: PA
He broke 11 bones in his body after coming off his Mad Max Turbine motorcycle which reached speeds of 230mph.
Medics feared he might not survive, but a year later Mr Eisenberg was back riding at the airfield and met the paramedics who helped save his life.
In September 2019 at Elvington, Mr Eisenberg broke the world’s fastest time for an unfaired electric motorbike, and dedicated the achievement to a teammate who died at the Isle of Man TT races.
He celebrated breaking the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) record for a flying kilometre on the bike his friend and colleague Daley Mathison was due to ride in the Isle of Man TT Zero race earlier that year.
Mr Eisenberg had told the PA news agency he carried a photo of his friend in his leathers and also wore Mathison’s knee slides at the time.
At the time Mr Eisenberg said: “I made a promise to him, and to his wife Natalie, that I would take the bike to world glory.
“He was with me on every ride.
“We all felt he was there with us.
“He’s hopefully smiling down now from heaven.”
Elvington Airfield was the scene of a crash involving former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond in 2006.
The 50-year-old was left in a coma for two weeks and with brain injuries after crashing a jet-powered car.
The privately-owned venue, which is an active airfield, is also a facility for driving, driver training, filming and other testing purposes for professional organisations.
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