Landracing Forum
Thrust-powered Land Speed information => Discussions on absolute land speed records => Topic started by: MAYOMAN on October 18, 2019, 10:13:47 AM
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49 years ago on October 23, the product of three young guys from Milwaukee, The Blue Flame, driven by Gary Gabelich of Long Beach, California, set the absolute world land speed record at 1,014.656 km/h (630.388 mi/h), the first land speed record over 1,000 km/h.
While, in the 1960s, hotrodders purchased surplus military turbojet engines and attempted to see how fast they could go, these three guys (Pete Farnsworth, Ray Dausman, and Dick Keller) decided how fast they wanted to go and built the rocket power plant and streamlined monocoque-framed car to achieve their goal.
Their 1970 flying start FIA-certified kilometer record was not broken for 27 years and was the last absolute world land speed record set on the Bonneville Salt Flats. It remains the last absolute world land speed record set by an American car and driver. It also was the last absolute world land speed record set using pneumatic (Goodyear) tires.
The September 15, 1970 Milwaukee Journal article illustrates we called our shot for 1970. Unfortunately, we could not continue toward our ultimate goal, Mach 1, the following year.
Next Fall the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution will feature an exhibit labeled ?A Nation of Speed?. Somehow, they have decided to ignore The Blue Flame and Gary Gabelich?s historic American speed achievement. A nation of speed? Really?
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Mayoman, sad, but seems to be par for the course these days! :-(
They would likely want to saw it in half in order to display it properly! :x
https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/controversy-over-enola-gay-exhibition
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Not including The Blue Flame sure doesn't make any sense!
For those who don't know, MAYOMAN is Dick Keller. You are remembered by those who care. :friday
Sid.
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(http://)
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Photo of jacket taken the other day at the Daytona Motorsports Hall of Fame Museum after we took the speedway tour. Also on hand both Challenger 1, Challenger 2 and Sir Malcolm Campbell's Bluebird V amongst many other machines. If in the area, highly recommend taking in.
Woz
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The Blue Flame features briefly here https://www.instagram.com/p/B3ehYyVFqtj/.
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The first ten seconds of the video states - A pencil thin rocket car without any air intakes like The Blue Flame would seem to be the optimum design for a land speed record car, so why? ?
That was MY point, above, WE decided how fast WE wanted to go and then designed and built the power plant and car to make it happen - rather than just buying an existing military turbojet and mounting it on wheels.
WE started the sponsored project to design and build The Blue Flame in August 1968 and set the absolute world land speed record in October 1970. Not too shabby! Two years!
Now the NMAH is ignoring the last American car and driver to set the absolute world land speed record even though we offered to make artifacts available. The Blue Flame, itself, is in the Sinsheim Museum in Germany where they will properly celebrate the 50th anniversary of setting the first absolute world land speed record above 1,000 km/h.
Even more galling, the NMAH will be featuring Evel Knievel in the A Nation of Speed exhibit. See the excerpted content document attached below.
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The Blue Flame and your team will always be remembered. Building everything and doing it was an amazing accomplishment. Whoever is putting this display together will never understand what it takes. Evil was a daredevil entertainer, my guess is that is the level of history that they want, no matter how stupid it is.
John
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National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution director must be dumber than Forrest Gump... Stupid is as stupid does.... typical bureaucrat... much like the guy that didn't want to display the Enola Gay on the 50th of the bomb drop.... didn't want to offend anyone....
A Nation of Speed? Well it offends me that the last US holder of the ultimate Land Speed Record is not included....
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Luckily, there are people who not forgot that racer and take care of him
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The Blue Flame & Gary Gabelich.
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Where should I be on 23 October 2020, to celebrate the anniversary?
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Mayoman. Do you have the details on the time and distance to get to the speeds?
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79... google is your friend, give it a try
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We did a couple of standing start 1/4-mile runs when we arrived at the salt flats. This was before we reconfigured the rocket motor. I always quote the 6.724 second elapsed time as an indicator of the acceleration potential. Later we only were attempting the flying start 1 mile and 1 kilometer records I1,014.656 km/h absolute LSR). Our instrumentation was primitive 49 years ago. We had vacuum tube electronics and no GPS.
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MAYOMAN. Would it have been easier/would you have preferred with the Blue Flame Car to get the top speed of the car without having to try to make the top speed during certain part of the course, for example, allow the driver to throttle up when he feels safe and not when the timing lights begin and end. How could that speed be measured then and today and be considered accurate?
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^^^ More questions: would the return run have to be on the same spot as the first? That should open a bucket of worms. We all know the reliability and accuracy of measured speed should only get better in the future. I personally think it's kind of cool to have two kind of records, measured mile for the purist (I would think this is the best) and a hot spot time (fastest speed at a single point). Why not? You can always go the NAE route and create your own timing association. Racers know who's fastest. Drag racing is cool and all but they only go a 1/4 mile. The measured mile in a single spot, two runs in opposite directions within 1 hour should always be the pinnacle.
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MAYOMAN. If the Blue Flame Car was returned to the United States, where would you like to see it located? Do you have an idea of how much money it would take to purchase the car from the current museum in Germany and how much would a United States museum pay per month to have the car in their museum?
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Regarding peak speeds in record runs, the turbojet cars as I understand it have enough fuel capacity to run several miles prior to the times measured in the mile/kilometer, usually centered in the available length of the international course for example. They usually have reached their peak speed and are no longer accelerating to any great extent in the timed distances. Rockets are much thirstier for fuel and that is also a substantial portion of the total vehicle weight. As an example, The Blue Flame's strategy was to accelerate full throttle for 20 seconds, reaching the maximum speed and burnout in the middle of the timed distances. In our case that maximum speed was 660 miles per hour indicated in the mile/kilometer timing zone, and then coasting through with the timed speeds for the mile/kilometer at 622.407/630.388 miles per hour, two way average. We were not able to return with a refreshed rocket motor in 1971, at full power, due to contractual issues with the American Gas Association.
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I really don't believe that the Sinsheim museum would ever contemplate selling The Blue Flame as it remains a top draw for visitors after 49 years. First over 1,000 kilometers per hour was a real milestone, sort of like a moon shot. Most of the world is metric, so it was a really big deal globally. The American Gas Association didn't want Pete and me to get the car back after its 2 year world tour. Actually, by then we would have likely not taken a chance on running it for fear of physical degradation.
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SKI, racers mostly know who is fastest but the public media doesn't really know and just looks for catchy headlines. Promoting peak speeds in parallel with actual record distance speeds is just confusing. The idea of setting and braking records requires the participants follow the same rules. Some of these LSR pretenders just call the FIA rules arcane or archaic so they can do whatever they wish and get the glory they crave. I could claim 700 miles per hour on my bicycle if I used the Budmobile methodology.
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MAYOMAN. Based on the $510,000 dollar selling price of the Danny Thompson Challenger 2 Fastest Wheel Driven Land Speed Record car, how much do you thing the Blue Flame would sell for in a similar auction?
Here is the moment the car goes on the Auction: 6:32:21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOhkj3KEEZM
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It is difficult to estimate the value of The Blue Flame in an auction. I guess it would be considered a cross between an antique and an artwork. It would need to fit into the theme of a collector's passion as well as the space available.
Just guessing, but the MT streamliner could still be raced for a new piston engine world record. In that case the $500K price could be cheaper than designing and building a new competitive LSR car.
The Blue Flame was retired permanently in 1970.
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MAYOMAN. Based on the $510,000 dollar selling price . . . .
Actually, $601,800 when you add the 18% seller premium.
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MAYOMAN. Have you ever been a guest speaker at the Sinsheim Museum in Germany to speak about the Blue Flame Car?
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I will be at the Sinsheim Museum for the 50th anniversary, October 23, 2020. Format is being discussed.
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I will be at the Sinsheim Museum for the 50th anniversary, October 23, 2020. Format is being discussed.
Does the Museum or you have plans to videotape your presentation and then post it online for free viewing?
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I don't have any details yet on the 50th anniversary program. I do have a few PowerPoint presentations that I have given in recent years, but the museum obviously has professionals on their staff who can do the digital dance much better. They have my digitized films and photos so I expect to be amazed.
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MAYOMAN. Can you make it part of your agreement with the Museum that they videotape it and provide you with a copy? That way you can post it on your Youtube channel and share the link with us? I'd like to watch it.
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That should be possible. It will probably consist of my copyrighted materials.
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MAYOMAN. Do you remember this rocket assisted drag car? 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 Tobacco King Rocket Car.
Youtube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkMccsMvlgk&fbclid=IwAR1VDQEpusWVux2ZYLOipeaSrOvJib7Pqs98dcoyMcb9_cz8ExvX85n6q9Q
Sold for $375,000 at Mecum Auction May 2008. https://www.mecum.com/lots/SC0508-65922/1964-ford-galaxie-500/?fbclid=IwAR2IdVyi-vDuR9BJ54vpQU4sFmWnlCOfBciljoqDE5NkYJjjVps9Tg3Codw
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Turbonique advertised in the hotrodding magazine, in the 1960s.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6l3WKPsVQcs/TeMn8WAOUPI/AAAAAAABkZQ/Y85i9T-Myas/s1600/0011.jpg)
A Turbonique Rocket GoKart.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i_AovfzNXgQ/TQg8le1lFqI/AAAAAAABY_Q/e3rw4D33WHk/s1600/CaptainJackMcclure24.jpg)
Here's the Wikipedia page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbonique
During the 1960s, thrills were more important than safety.
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My recollection is that these Turbonique products were NOT rockets, but were more akin to a turboshaft powerplant. They did not use thrust to provide performance but rather provided a torque input at the differential. The fuel was a liquid monopropellant, not requiring an oxidizer to burn/decompose producing heat.
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My recollection is that these Turbonique products were NOT rockets, but were more akin to a turboshaft powerplant.
They made rockets too.
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I vaguely recall seeing a small rocket from Turbonique that resembled a soccer ball with a tiny nozzle. Probably what was on that go-kart in the photo. I don't know what thrust was developed. Also, I believe one of them exploded at a drag strip.
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My recollection is that these Turbonique products were NOT rockets, but were more akin to a turboshaft powerplant. They did not use thrust to provide performance but rather provided a torque input at the differential. The fuel was a liquid monopropellant, not requiring an oxidizer to burn/decompose producing heat.
I vaguely recall seeing a small rocket from Turbonique that resembled a soccer ball with a tiny nozzle.
Yes, your recollection is right.
(https://images.cdn.circlesix.co/image/1/700/0/uploads/posts/2016/12/1182a58c254e8ee4fe96a025e357a2df.jpg)
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-luKfBEuAmUE/U-uBnGVo0BI/AAAAAAAAGcE/r3Wp1AK1cJA/s1600/turbonique%2Bad.JPG)
With inflation $200.00 1965 dollars is worth about $1,635 in 2020 dollars. I'm halfway surprised I didn't buy one
Axle with Tubonique.
(http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2014/08/14/1227024/723527-3ee9c18e-1d61-11e4-bde6-647c3cd935f4.jpg)
(https://bangshift.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/chevelle.jpg)
Supercharger powered by Turbonique.
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7d/9d/9b/7d9d9bd56091af04c8c851f5e7aa29b6.jpg)
What would a NHRA or SCTA inspector say about one of these?
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Was that "Snake" (Don Prudhomme) on the left?
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Not the snake. He has a "Turbonique" emblem on his shirt left side. The name on the right side emblem is not clear, but not "Don" or "Prudhomme".
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. . . and the nickname is "The Snake", not just Snake.
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OK back to topic....
Some years ago, at one of the early Cook Events I think, I spent some time under a viewing tent that was erected across from the middle of the mile. I think it was the year there were multiple 400+ cars and good salt. One of the guys was building a tall scaffolding to shoot pictures... the rest of us were just sitting in the shade bullshitting...
A couple drove up, asked if they could join us... nicest folks you could imagine... we were all talking about our cars, all cars, fast cars... and all the sudden it occurred to me this guy was talking about a fast car... then his wife mentioned "the" record... I had not met Dick Keller before... but he is an impressive guy... and a regular guy.
Wow... 50 years... last American car to hold the record...
Congrats to Dick and team...
As it happens Linda and I will be in Germany in October... a minor manipulation on my part :evil: ... and going to the Sinsheim Museum on October 23rd... :-o
So other than Pork Pie (I'm betting he will be there) anyone else going?
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Hey Stainless. I was there. :cheers: I remember the scaffold and Dick and his wife. I also remember the helicopter that would go up whenever a car ran so you couldn't hear the sounds of the car.
Wayno
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Stainless;
Enjoy your time in Germany; there is lots to see and do. I spent a couple of years there... carrying an M-14. :-) Get up to the Nurburgring if you can.
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Re: Sinsheim Oct 23
I'd like to go.
Talk is cheap.
We'll see.
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There is also a Museum in Speyer, not far away from Sinsheim, with a lot of cars, airplanes...
https://sinsheim.technik-museum.de/en/
https://speyer.technik-museum.de/en/
In Stuttgart you can visit the Porsche and Mercedes-Benz Museums.
In Neckarsulm is the NSU Museum with many motorcycles.
Welcome to Germany.
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So now, after 50 years, and the excited staff at the Technik Museum working hard to celebrate the occasion, the China Flu may have postponed or cancelled the Anniversary Celebration.
I am still interested in going in October, but it may not be possible with various pandemic international travel restrictions. We shall see.
Maybe I can make the next one in 2070 - if I don't catch the China Flu.
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2070? Remember your age, boyo.
John
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Hey Dick, I still have my airplane tickets... I just got a message from the US consulate in Germany saying the EU was easing restrictions on travel from outside Germany. I hope we can be there for your 50th.
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My book SPEEDQUEST - Inside The Blue Flame is now available in print or eBook:
https://speedquestbook.com/
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Mayoman, you have been Primed! :cheers:
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Ordered! Delivery "promised" on Oct 13. :cheers:
Mike
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Muchas gracias! Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.
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Just ordered, looking forward to reading more details of the project from an originator.
Ed
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My book SPEEDQUEST - Inside The Blue Flame is now available in print or eBook:
https://speedquestbook.com/
Ordered and delivery by Amazon to the UK is only ?8, I look forward to reading it!
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Ordered!
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Well I was looking forward to your presentation in Germany... but it looks like Germany will not allow us in, United cancelled the flight, so I settled for buying your book... We will try to get there to see the car and Pork Pie next year... for the 51st anniversary
:cheers:
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I almost purchased our plane tickets way early this year to get the cheapest fares. Now I am glad I waited because the airlines might not even be there to refund my tickets. Enjoy the book. It covers lots of ground with data files, interviews with key persons involved in the record, some of the correspondence with our natural gas sponsor, etcetera. It was actually written over many years, compiled and edited. I wanted to give the reader the feel of really being there, from the first napkin sketches to the final result. Not great literature, but a memoir.
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Just finished reading my copy of Speedquest: Inside the Blue Flame.
Great job, Mr Keller and Mr Tremayne!
While I was fairly familiar with the story beforehand, there were many interesting details (including in the last few chapters) which were new to me. Including the section on Joe Petrali. Flight Engineer on the (whisper it) Spruce Goose? Who knew? Had only my own high-tech engineering career been so interesting.
Having previously read, and loved, Empire: The Life, Legend, and Madness of Howard Hughes, this bit of detail was just awesome to read.
I think the book should go a long way to erasing any doubts one might have about just how remarkable The Blue Flame project and its record breaking - at the first attempt - were.
Last, as a follower (from afar) of McGlashan's efforts to construct his own rocket car, I can't help but think he took a good long look at the Flame before he started cutting and welding AI5R.
:cheers:
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Received my copy last week, enjoyed the read.
:clap
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Reviews would be appreciated. I tried to provide items of interest to a wide audience, as well as the LSR community. Lots of data for tech types. Also tried to illustrate that land speed records are a development project in real time. Would have been nice if we had even one more day at the end. We had a diverse team whose combined efforts made it happen.
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Purchased, read, learned some new words for shapes I didn't know the name of - involves pointy eggs I think.
I had an English upbringing and had heard of many of the Land Speed record characters and cars but I had not heard of the Blue Flame until I started reading LSR specific literature - I know it went on tours and things but it just didn't get to be larger than life like so many that went before or after, and it really deserved that level of acclaim.
Is it because the others were success over adversity (and my how the British love an under dog) whereas the gas people kept it low key so there was no adversity / bad press for LNG so it just came, conquered, went away?
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I received my copy a few days ago and I am looking forward to reading it- thanks.
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The primary sponsor, the natural gas industry did not know how to exploit the achievement. They had some initial publicity but even used the wrong (mile) speed in their PR. I have been working 50 years to correct that. The Blue Flame absolute world land speed record was 630.388 miles per hour (1,014.656 kilometers per hour) for the flying start kilometer.
Goodyear Tire Company would have/should have been the major publicity generator for Gary and The Blue Flame. Gary, listening to awful advice from his California posse, refused to sign a publicity contract with Goodyear. That cost him a tidy sum, continued racing sponsorship, and recognition of his driving achievement. It also cost The Blue Flame team recognition for designing, building, and record setting - the first over 1,000 kilometers per hour - the kilometer record not broken for 27 years.
Goodyear's initial short-lived publicity even erased Gary's name from the photos of the car. They continued to promote Breedlove.
Now, even the National Museum of American History's new exhibit - A Nation of Speed - has sidelined The Blue Flame's achievement as the LAST AMERICAN CAR AND DRIVER TO SET THE ABSOLUTE WORLD LAND SPEED RECORD. 50 years ago!
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Dick,
about this...
Now, even the National Museum of American History's new exhibit - A Nation of Speed - has sidelined The Blue Flame's achievement as the LAST AMERICAN CAR AND DRIVER TO SET THE ABSOLUTE WORLD LAND SPEED RECORD. 50 years ago!
they didn't found it on their smart phone so the record didn't exist...sometimes it is a sad world....
by the way....tomorrow I will be in the museum and say your baby hi from you....and celebrate the 50's
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Say "hello" to the museum staff. I just received the video interview they shot last week. I hope it is informative.
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My point on The Blue Flame's historic non-recognition is illustrated in this Goodyear ad. The text does not mention the last American driver to hold the absolute world land speed record, Gary Gabelich. His name is gone from the car. This was the only ad by Goodyear that I can recall. I have an original copy someplace, but this was on the web.
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Trying to beat that dead horse to death! Here is a clearer image of that infamous Goodyear ad with Gary's name (and Gerard Brennan's) air brushed from the image.
I'll drop this subject for now. Just don't want any doubters.
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Hey Pork Pie, take a picture for Linda and me... we had planned to be there with you... See if someone will take one with you and the car...
Maybe we can visit next year
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The Blue Flame - October 23, 1970 - 2020.
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... we had planned to be there with you... Maybe we can visit next year
Many members from the Speed Record Club had planned to be in Sinsheim this year too. If it is possible to travel more widely in 2021, perhaps a '50+1 Anniversary' for Blue Flame can be organised, with the same attendance and speakers? It will be put on an SRC Agenda.
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The Blue Flame - October 23, 1970 - 2020.
I've not seen that picture before. Is there a story behind it?
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Malcolm - I plan to go to Sinsheim in 2021 for the 50+1 anniversary if there are any airlines left to fly there, and if we are allowed to enter the EU.
TrickyDicky - that photo was taken on run 7, verifying the catalyst pack was fatally damaged, and huge exhaust cloud made that dramatic shot. After we repaired the rocket and finally achieved correct LNG/HTP ratio, the flaming exhaust diamonds weren't as dramatic.
BTW - today is "Illinois Blue Flame Day" in Chicago.
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TrickyDicky - that photo was taken on run 7, verifying the catalyst pack was fatally damaged, and huge exhaust cloud made that dramatic shot. After we repaired the rocket and finally achieved correct LNG/HTP ratio, the flaming exhaust diamonds weren't as dramatic.
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Thanks Dick for the information. Nearly every other picture (at Bonneville) seems to be from the other side, so I was intrigued there was a photographer in that position.
By the way, I am another who bought the book after you flagged its publication on this forum. Coincidentally I finished it last night, just in time to join in today's virtual celebrations! :friday
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Just found some pictures from 2014 on Flickr here :
https://www.flickr.com/photos/26329029@N06/with/15867199476/
Is this Gerard Brennan in the middle with the Reaction Dynamics patch on the jacket ?
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That is Gerard Brennan in the center of the photo. He was, of course, our reserve driver for The Blue Flame. More important, he was a master welder in the fabrication of the car. Gerard also was in the cockpit for the second round of static testing of the rocket engine at the Great Lakes Dragaway, as Gary was unavailable that week.
Gerard lives in a Chicago suburb and that photo was taken at a commemoration of the first organized automobile race in America - in Chicago. Can't recall the year since I wasn't around then.
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Glad to see that this model still exists.
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Be back from the museum, said the Blue Flame hello from all.
Well, I done some picture and had a chat with the press person in charge of the museum....
they done some picture and press releases at the place, unfortunately they couldn't work it out to add the skype interview with Dick to the "fake" record video which is normally shown on a screen on the side of the display....so only the record video could be viewed....
Do to the virus and the reduced number on active people in the museum they also couldn't work it out to get some special anniversary merchandise...
except of a limited Zero Euro note with the Blue Flame on and five stars for the 50 years.....
Tonight they will have some TV minutes about the Blue Flame and the anniversary.....
As Dick and the SRC said....next year the 50+1....sometimes you have to be flexible
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Thank you for your report, Thomas. Maybe "50+1" will be a better celebration of the record.
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Tom, I was told the problem with the museum recording was technical and it has been repaired.
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Dick,
the recording was not an issue, the techincal problem was to add the new video to the old one to get it running on the screen....and this is still not repaired.....sorry
Tom, I was told the problem with the museum recording was technical and it has been repaired.
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Dick, halfway thru the book (had to go to the end of the line), enjoying it so far.
You should have Slim make some Reaction Dynamics t-shirts for you to sell to fans. I'd buy one.
Mike
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Here is what we wore at the 40th anniversary at Bonneville. Need new artwork for the other. Vote?
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OOPS! thought I had loaded both.
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Looks like a front/back and sleeve to me....
Maybe Slim can put that on a high quality tee... :cheers:
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Yes, I can make T-shirts and put whatever art/text you want on 'em. The process is dye sublimation - NOT silk screen - and there are some important differences. The good news is that I can put photos (any text/art) in full color If you can deal with the differences - send me the art and I'll make shirts.
White shirts only. Sleeves and front and back - all okay. The shirts must be polyester - CANNOT be cotton.
That's about it. Any questions?
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PorkPie, I sent the museum 20 copies of the book for the gift shop. The EU regulations with VAT are impossible for me to deal with - so a gift works fine.
I am nearly done on a German translation of the book - for the museum et al.
It is available online at Amazon. My webpage provides a link as well: https://speedquestbook.com/
I hope Bonneville enthusiasts will enjoy this historic event, The Blue Flame and Gary Gabelich setting the last American absolute world land speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
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Dick,
the missing 19 books arrived safe and fine on Monday....so here everything is ok
About the book,
the reader had to be aware...this is not a historical book about speedrecords...
it is a very well written non-fiction book about the Blue Flame....part tells why the Blue Flame was create, build and finally became the record holder....
most and maybe the more interested part is the technical parts, which explains what was all necessary to do to reach the goal....with all the up and downs...
so as life is like a rollercoaster run...the build of the Blue Flame was not a straight line to the success.
Dick, thanks again for the copy
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Yes, I can make T-shirts and put whatever art/text you want on 'em. The process is dye sublimation - NOT silk screen - and there are some important differences. The good news is that I can put photos (any text/art) in full color If you can deal with the differences - send me the art and I'll make shirts.
White shirts only. Sleeves and front and back - all okay. The shirts must be polyester - CANNOT be cotton.
That's about it. Any questions?
I have a question - Where / when can I order??? :cheers:
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Jon:
When T-shirts are ready, I would like two in 3X but please get heavy tees. Too bad you can?t do cotton but is there a heavy material in polyester?
John
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Fifty years ago, October 1970, 3 young men from Milwaukee in their twenties, (Dick Keller, Pete Farnsworth and Ray Dausman) had created The Blue Flame rocket-powered automobile which set the world land speed record at 630.388 miles per hour, the first over 1,000 kilometers per hour.
Speedquest, Inside the Blue Flame is the story of our dogged determination to realize our goal. Each member of the team worked tirelessly to create a vehicle that would not only beat all land speed records, but our ?secret? hope was to beat the sound barrier too!
After 5 years? effort we were finally able to bring The Blue Flame to the Bonneville salt flats and show the world what we had created.
At the end of 5 weeks on the Bonneville Salt Flats, we shattered the world record with a top speed of 630.388 mph (1,014.656 kph), and were prepared to go even faster the next day when a snowstorm prohibited us from trying again. The Blue Flame and Gary Gabelich was the last American car and driver to hold the world land speed record.
Lastly, included is all the technical data as addendums, so even the most technically advanced readers will learn something from this book.
It is a moment of American history that shows what can be accomplished when brains, energy and commitment are directed toward a goal, and still stands as of one of the great efforts of the late 20th century.
The book is available from Amazon in softback and eBook formats.
The web page is: https://speedquestbook.com/
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Hi all, are plans for the 50th / 51st anniversary event moving forward, or is it too early to tell?
Thanks,
Tim
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So far I have no information regarding the Sinsheim Museum plans regarding the 51st anniversary of The Blue Flame's setting the world land speed record above 1,000 km/h. It looks like the EU is still having problems with the Wuhan Virus and things are locked tight. Pork Pie has also kept me up to date as well, since he lives close by over there. My schedule remains open for October 2021.
I was privileged to give a keynote address at the virtual 2021 SAE World Congress [WCX] on ZOOM on April 13th. It was a virtual global SAE event and quite an experience working remotely doing a PowerPoint remotely. I don't think I can make it for the centennial celebration in Sinsheim.
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Looks like Yurrup is going to reopen...
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/19/world/europe/eu-vaccinated-visitors-travel.html
Tim
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October 23...
No one today to celebrate the record broken by the most beautiful rocket car ever made?
I'm going to open a bottle by myself while watching the videos posted by Mayoman. A special thanks to him !
Thanks to everyone who was involved in this fantastic project.
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As Mayoman wrote, I'm living close to the place...a little bit more than 15 miles...means a very short drive for me...
the two museums, one in Speyer and the other in Sinsheim, where the Blue Flame stands, are owned by a owner group, it's a society in kind of a fellowship....
as this is a private group there is no big money sponsoring..
as both places are always tough hotspots with the virus issue they going through a very hard time....bills still have to be paid...but visitors are not allowed due lockdown or only limited...
currently you have to buy your tickets online and you have to tell when you will be in museum and how big the party is....so that the number of visitors stays inside the limitation...
with this situation the museum got other issues than thinking and planning an anniversary for the Blue Flame....currently the goal is to survive and to get back to normal...
for myself....if I like to be there it wouldn't be an issue....I only have to contact the office in the museum Sinsheim...I go there, say hello, getting my free ticket and sometimes someone from the
curator department shows up and we talk about the newest update....but now, as the 23rd is a Saturday...the museum will be busy and I let them do their job.....
As the borders for tourists will be now open in November the chance to travel is given again....albeit we have currently a extreme increase of positive tests with more in the near future...
so what counts today can be restrict again to the end of the year....
Dick, whenever you like to see your baby, let me know....meanwhile stay on the wild side of life.....
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Pete Farnsworth is hosting a 50+1 anniversary party today in Wisconsin. I believe around 150 persons have reservations to attend. He will have some videos to share at the party, plus the sound track from Gary's CB radio calling out the speeds as The Blue Flame cruised through the mile and kilometer - reaching peak speed of 660 mph in the middle of the timed distance. 20 seconds of rocket-powered acceleration narrated by Gary Gabelich in real time. Gives me shivers every time I hear that.
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https://eu.jsonline.com/story/communities/northwest/news/2020/09/09/milwaukee-built-blue-flame-car-set-land-speed-record-50-years-ago/5685678002/
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Mayoman....A question I have had since age 12...Was the Blue Flame's engine mounted level with the ground, or was there downward angle to provide down force?
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https://eu.jsonline.com/story/communities/northwest/news/2020/09/09/milwaukee-built-blue-flame-car-set-land-speed-record-50-years-ago/5685678002/
Mayoman -
Is that audio file publicly available?
I looked on YT, found this: https://youtu.be/rQW_XJLURxQ There is no audio (at least not for me), nor indication it was a record run. The film features a young Craig Breedlove (with a woman on his arm, naturally) talking to Gabelich starting about 15 seconds in.
Thanks
Tim
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Floydjer, The Blue Flame was running with a negative angle of attack of -1.5 degrees. We also had small canard wings located near the front wheels axle centerline. Measured nose lift (suspension instrumentation) was near zero, so the canards were set for no lift throughout the runs at speed.
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TD, there is no sound for that film clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9zZSoqP8PE has sound.
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Since we are asking questions from long ago ..... How was the was the steering done up front ?
Thank You,
Eric
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Steered wheels mounted in a cradle suspended by 4-bar linkage.
+/- 1 degree steering. 1/4 mile turning radius.
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very small bit of trivia about Blue Flame: I met a fellow one morning, in the McDonalds (here in Sutherlin, OR) who told me he was a photographer for those runs. He said the car was so fast, that other photogs couldn't get set up properly to get good pics. He told me he noticed there was "mirage" in the sky that he could see an inverted image of the car coming, which allowed him to time his snapshot moment.
Amazing to think that one through.
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Floydjer, The Blue Flame was running with a negative angle of attack of -1.5 degrees. We also had small canard wings located near the front wheels axle centerline. Measured nose lift (suspension instrumentation) was near zero, so the canards were set for no lift throughout the runs at speed.
Interesting and informative........So, With 1 1/2 degrees of rake was the engine's centerline of thrust parallel to the ground or was it also at 1 1/2 degrees negative?
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Good question. I should have made that more clear. The rocket motor was aligned with the chassis centerline, so it was inclined at -1.5 degrees also.
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Why weren't the rear wheels enclosed?
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Testing in the transonic wind tunnel at Ohio State University we found the rear wheel fairings caused pitching instability. We tested several configurations before we decided on the design we built.
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Thanks Mr. K...Like Eric, I wonder how the steering was accomplished. Did the carriage the wheels were mounted in pivot at one end ? And how was it connected to the driver's compartment? And, Are there any photos from the cars construction? Those would be very interesting . Thank you, Jerry
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I wish that I had better photos of the steering mechanism. It is a 4-bar linkage operated through a drag link from the steering wheel, which ran the length of the chassis, and operated a double bell crank to pivot the cradle holding the front wheels. I will have to send pictures in 2 messages due to size limitations.
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Here is an image of the complete steering assembly. The steering link operates on the tab located between the 2 centering springs.
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The pics cleared that up nicely...Thanks. JB
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The aerodynamics and the steering worked perfectly through all of our runs. The Blue Flame ran straight-arrow. There was no tire wear at all due to scrubbing - or anything. Too bad it snowed overnight October 23-24. We could have picked up another 20 to 30 mph with increased H2O2 percentage the next day. We gradually overcome all of our obstacles and finally got the job done.
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You gents did a fine job...Just curious, How far down course did the car roll before coming to a stop?
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USAC-FIA laid out a 10 mile course on the salt flats running roughly from US40 (I-80) and northeast direction, toward floating mountain. Timing for both the mile and kilometer was between the 5-mile and 6-mile markers. The Blue Flame rocket was driven at full thrust with fuel exhausted at the mid-mile, then coasting through before deploying the braking parachutes. The peak speed during the 630.388mph record run was observed onboard at 660mph. We were obligated by Goodyear not to exceed 700mph in 1970. The car stopped by releasing a 7 feet diameter chute at 650mph and a 16 feet chute at 250mph. We stopped within 4 miles normally.
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Thank you...I see Amazon has your book in stock, I shall order a copy and quit bugging you😇...JB
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Not bugging - it is history. I am fortunate to have much of the information in my archives. Glad to share. Since the car and rocket motor were scratch-built, there is a lot of design information not readily available for interested parties. Enjoy the book. Don't forget the Youtube videos as well.
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If anyone is wanting to research The Blue Flame story, I have donated all of my records to the Marriott Library at the University of Utah Special Collections. The Summary and Biographical is full of my name because the collection is copyrighted at the US Patent Office. Marriott required the copyright to add to their archive. Being located in Salt Lake City, their collection of Bonneville information is amazing.
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Thanks Mr. Keller! :cheers:
I feel another day has been added to my annual Utah adventure!
Now we'll have some place to go when B'ville gets rained out! :-P
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Go fer it! That's all there is - there ain't no more!
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Trying to beat that dead horse to death! Here is a clearer image of that infamous Goodyear ad with Gary's name (and Gerard Brennan's) air brushed from the image.
I'll drop this subject for now. Just don't want any doubters.
I want to acknowledge the achievement of the Blue Flame's team. I have immense respect for all the people who came together
to achieve the success of this project. People deserve to be recognized for their impressive achievements. This one stands out
to me, in part, because it was done in an impressively short period of time.
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Yes, it was done on a fast track schedule.
In January, 1965 I wrote the first LSR proposal, "Development of a Land Speed Record Vehicle of Mach One Capability".
July, 1966 the X-1 rocket dragster was tested at the Great Lakes Dragway in Union Grove, Wisconsin.
February, 1968 I wrote the 2nd proposal, "LNG Goes Supersonic" to the American Gas Association for sponsorship.
July 30, 1968, IGT authorized sponsorship of The Blue Flame LSR project.
September, 1968 Dr. T. Paul Torda and Dr. Carl Uzgiris, professors of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at IIT in Chicago agreed to consult on The Blue Flame Design with engineering students working on Masters Degrees.
January, 1969 wind tunnel testing of scale models at Ohio State University commenced.
March, 1969 fabrication of The Blue Flame began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
July 27, 1970 final static testing of The Blue Flame at Great Lakes Dragway.
September 12, 1970 The Blue Flame and crew depart Milwaukee for Bonneville Salt Flats.
October 23, 1970 The Blue Flame set the absolute world land speed record 630.388mph in the flying start kilometer on the 25th run. Snowed the next day.
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In the timeline I should have noted that in Spring, 1965 Ray Dausman, Pete Farnsworth, and I incorporated Reaction Dynamics to design, build, and race rocket powered cars. Pete was President, Ray was Vice-President, and I was Secretary-Treasurer.
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a week ago we had two visitors in the Museum Sinsheim...very familiar with the Blue Flame
the attached photo from the FB page of the Technik Museum Sinsheim, all rights to the museum, shows our guests
left, Pete Farnsworth, right Ken McCarthy
they visit us from Friday to Monday and had lots of fun :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Dick, when you show up?
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No travel plans right now. Sinsheim has my interview from 2020.