======Racing Broom======
=====Object Information=====
  * **Type:** [[Transportation]], [[Broomstick]]
  * **Owners:** Notable owners of specific models include [[Harry Potter]] ([[Nimbus Two Thousand]], [[Firebolt]]), [[Draco Malfoy]] ([[Nimbus Two Thousand and One]]), the [[Gryffindor Quidditch team]], the [[Slytherin Quidditch team]], and various professional [[Quidditch]] teams.
  * **Maker:** Various, including the [[Nimbus Racing Broom Company]], [[Cleansweep Broom Company]], [[Comet Trading Company]], and the unidentified creators of the [[Firebolt]].
=====Description and Appearance=====
A racing broom is a specialized class of [[Broomstick]] designed for high speed, maneuverability, and performance, primarily for use in the sport of [[Quidditch]]. They are distinct from standard or family brooms, which are slower, less responsive, and more utilitarian.
Racing brooms are typically crafted from high-quality, polished wood such as ash or ebony, giving them a sleek and aerodynamic appearance. The twigs forming the tail are individually selected and bound to be perfectly streamlined; the [[Firebolt]], for example, uses hand-picked and individually numbered birch twigs. Many models feature the brand name and model number inscribed on the handle in gold lettering. Unlike older, more uncomfortable brooms, racing models are enchanted for comfort and stability, even at extreme speeds.
=====Magical Properties and Usage=====
The primary purpose of a racing broom is to provide its rider with a competitive advantage in [[Quidditch]]. Their magical properties are focused on achieving this goal:
  * **Speed and Acceleration:** Racing brooms possess incredible speed that far surpasses that of ordinary brooms. The [[Firebolt]], for instance, could accelerate from zero to one hundred and fifty miles per hour in ten seconds.
  * **Handling and Precision:** They are enchanted for superior balance and pinpoint precision in turning, allowing riders to execute complex maneuvers required in [[Quidditch]], such as the [[Wronski Feint]].
  * **Braking:** Advanced models like the [[Firebolt]] are equipped with an Unbreakable Braking [[Charm]], a significant safety and performance feature that allows for sharp, controlled stops.
  * **Durability:** Built to withstand the rigours of [[Quidditch]], including collisions and impacts from [[Bludger]]s, they are more resilient than ordinary brooms, though not indestructible. Harry's [[Nimbus Two Thousand]] was destroyed after flying into the [[Whomping Willow]].
Beyond [[Quidditch]], these brooms are used for rapid personal [[Transportation]]. [[Harry Potter]] notably used his [[Firebolt]] to evade a [[Hungarian Horntail]] dragon during the [[First Task]] of the [[Triwizard Tournament]]. They were also used by members of the [[Order of the Phoenix]] during the [[Battle of the Seven Potters]].
=====History=====
The history of the racing broom is synonymous with the history of [[Quidditch]]. Early [[Broomstick]]s were crude and uncomfortable. The development of specialized racing brooms began in the early 20th century with the establishment of dedicated broom-making companies, leading to a competitive market focused on constant improvement.
  - **1926:** The [[Cleansweep Broom Company]] releases the [[Cleansweep One]], the first broomstick produced in large numbers and designed specifically for sporting use.
  - **1929:** The [[Comet Trading Company]] is founded, releasing the [[Comet One Forty]] with a patented Horton-Keitch Braking [[Charm]] to compete with [[Cleansweep]].
  - **1967:** The [[Nimbus Racing Broom Company]] is founded and revolutionizes the industry. Their models, including the [[Nimbus One Thousand]] and its successors, became the broom of choice for professional [[Quidditch]] teams for many years.
  - **1991:** The [[Nimbus Two Thousand]] is released and considered the best broom on the market. [[Harry Potter]] receives one from [[Professor McGonagall]] to play as [[Seeker]] for [[Gryffindor]].
  - **1992:** The [[Nimbus Two Thousand and One]] is released, outperforming its predecessor. [[Lucius Malfoy]] purchases a full set for the [[Slytherin Quidditch team]] to secure a place for his son.
  - **1993:** The [[Firebolt]] is released, a state-of-the-art racing broom that surpasses all previous models. It becomes the standard for international teams, used by both the [[Irish National Quidditch team]] and the [[Bulgarian National Quidditch team]] in the 1994 [[Quidditch World Cup]].
=====Role in the Story=====
Racing brooms serve as important plot devices and status symbols throughout the series. For [[Harry Potter]], receiving his first racing broom, a [[Nimbus Two Thousand]], marks his true integration into the [[Wizarding world]] and provides him with an arena where he can excel and feel a sense of freedom.
The brooms often highlight class and economic differences. The [[Weasley family]] can only afford older or second-hand brooms, while [[Draco Malfoy]] uses his family's wealth to secure his team's advantage with a gift of top-of-the-line [[Nimbus Two Thousand and One]]s.
The mystery surrounding Harry's [[Firebolt]] in //Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban// drives a significant part of the plot. [[Hermione Granger]]'s suspicion that it was sent by the fugitive [[Sirius Black]] and potentially cursed causes a rift in her friendship with Harry and [[Ron Weasley]].
Finally, racing brooms are crucial tools in major action sequences, including all [[Quidditch]] matches, the [[First Task]] of the [[Triwizard Tournament]], and the [[Battle of the Seven Potters]], where they are used for high-stakes transportation and evasion.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * Much of the detailed history of racing broom models, such as the [[Cleansweep]] and [[Comet]] series, is detailed in //Quidditch Through the Ages//, a supplementary book written by [[J.K. Rowling]] for the charity Comic Relief.
  * In the film adaptations, racing brooms are given more detailed and sometimes mechanical-looking designs, often featuring foot stirrups and intricate twig arrangements that are not explicitly described in the books (film).