Following a group of British amateur engineers who descend upon Bonneville, Utah with their vehicles, all hoping to join an elite group: the fastest men on earth.

Bill Nighy narrates a story about how, every year, thousands of petrolheads descend upon a dried-up salt lake bed in Bonneville, Utah. Men from all over the world come to this truly unique setting with their bespoke vehicles with just one plan - to drive them as fast as they can and hopefully join an elite group: the fastest men on earth.

This is a story of a group of British amateur engineers who are willing to risk life and limb on their home-made machines - six very different vehicles, six very different reasons for coming - all building speed machines in a quest to hold a Bonneville record.

The first episode looks at the men behind the machines and this obsession. Men such as Dave and Steve who have built a bike from scratch, self-confessed metalhead PJ who brings a whole new meaning to bringing your work home with you, and Chris, Great Yarmouth's beach cleaner and legendary bike builder. The film ends with them arriving with their machines at this breathtaking landscape ready to find out if they can become members of an elite group.