The Bandit Golf Cart Sets World Record at 118.76 MPH

November 6, 2026 Rachel Kim – Technology Editor Technology

Darlington Dragway run hits 118.76 mph

The fastest golf cart in the world reaches 118.76 miles per hour, driven by Robby Steen at the Darlington Dragway in Hartsville, South Carolina. Plum Quick Motors, a family-owned business based in Lancaster, South Carolina, built the record-breaking vehicle named the Bandit. Carson Steen and his sons, Ricky and Robby, founded the company, which has built custom high-performance electric golf carts for nearly 50 years. The run took place on October 31, 2014, breaking the previous record of 103.65 mph set by the Steens the year before.

The Tech TL;DR:

  • The record-breaking golf cart hit 118.76 mph using twelve 12-volt AGM lithium-ion batteries producing 144 volts.
  • Federal safety standards limit conventional golf carts to 19 mph, classifying vehicles maxing out at 20 mph as Low-Speed Vehicles.
  • The builders attempted to reach 150 mph in 2020 with a completely different cart outfitted with a roll cage and explosion shield, though that attempt fell short.

Under the Hood of the 2008 Club Car DS

The Bandit started as a 2008 Club Car DS. Plum Quick outfitted the chassis with their Black Ops motor. Power is supplied by twelve 12-volt AGM lithium-ion batteries delivering a total of 144 volts. The build retains a stock controller equipped with a bypass, alongside a stock Graziano rear axle fitted with a custom gear set. It also has all-wheel disc brakes and safety belts. Eighty pounds of lead weighed down the front bumper to keep it stable. Everything else on the frame remained stock, including a set of golf clubs stowed in the rear basket.

The Fastest Golf Cart In The World Has An Astonishing Top Speed: This golf cart certainly doesn
# Specifications Summary for The Bandit
Vehicle_Model: 2008 Club Car DS
Motor: Plum Quick "Black Ops"
Battery_Array: 12 x 12-volt AGM lithium-ion
System_Voltage: 144V
Rear_Axle: Stock Graziano with custom gear set
Top_Speed_Record: 118.76 mph

During the 2014 run, driver Robby Steen estimated that only about 80 percent of the battery’s available power was deployed. He thought he could have hit 130 mph, but he let off the accelerator at 118.76 mph for safety reasons.

Beyond the 2014 Darlington Run

Most standard golf carts top out at 19 mph due to federal safety regulations established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under FMVSS No. 500. Vehicles with a maximum speed of 20 mph or less are categorized as Low-Speed Vehicles rather than conventional motor vehicles. The Steen family’s pursuit of velocity extended beyond the 2014 record. In 2020, the team attempted a 150 mph run using a completely different cart. That cart incorporated a dedicated roll cage, an explosion shield, and racing harnesses to protect the driver. The attempt fell short, and the Guinness website hasn’t been updated since. The Steens aim to build the fastest Power Wheels car, power chair, and lawnmower.

Worth a look