Landracing Forum
Misc Forums => LSR General Chat => Topic started by: NS_Rider on April 21, 2009, 04:37:25 PM
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I heard talk of this project last year, and just came across a video from Daily Planet. Here's the link for anyone interested.
Craig
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-CA&brand=sympatico&vid=0422847e-224d-496b-b8a2-da8b0f59ef34
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I've just received an update on the British Steam Car at Edwards AFB. The news release is not posted on the home page of this website.
One question comes to mind, though: Who is/are the "representatives of the Southern Timing Association"?
Enjoy the article, folks. Looks like at Edwards it's so hot that they hardly need the boilers!
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I've just received an update on the British Steam Car at Edwards AFB. The news release is not posted on the home page of this website.
One question comes to mind, though: Who is/are the "representatives of the Southern Timing Association"?
Enjoy the article, folks. Looks like at Edwards it's so hot that they hardly need the boilers!
Jon,
The information is right on the front page now... :-D
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Thanks, Mr. Smarty-pants. I meant to type that the information is "NOW" on the front page, not "NOT" on the...
I'd go back and correct it -- but I will once again allow myself to provide some humor to those that need fodder for Chat night tonight. Right now I'm engaged in a treasure hunt: Where are the keys for the lock on the race trailer? I'd like to move it in the morning but can't find the danged key set. I'll keep looking. . .
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they keep saying it gets to hot to run isnt it a steam powered car willie buchta
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Willie,
Think cold fusion.... :-D
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emmmm...how do you qualify for the long course when this is what is required?...and they are shooting for 170 near as I can tell.
"The British Steam Car has fixed gearing between the turbine and the wheels. When the car starts it is in top gear and only manages to pull away because of the incredible torque available from a stem turbine. Weighing 3 tons and starting in top gear means that the car accelerates very slowly toward its top speed. The team need a minimum of 6 miles to make the record attempt, 2.5 miles to accelerate, measure 1mile then decelerate for 2.5 miles, to allow room to accelerate on the return run so, for the record attempt, we required six miles of smooth, flat ( less than 1% gradient) which immediately preclude a record attempt in the UK."
stem turbines?
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emmmm...how do you qualify for the long course when this is what is required?...and they are shooting for 170 near as I can tell.
"The British Steam Car has fixed gearing between the turbine and the wheels. When the car starts it is in top gear and only manages to pull away because of the incredible torque available from a stem turbine. Weighing 3 tons and starting in top gear means that the car accelerates very slowly toward its top speed. The team need a minimum of 6 miles to make the record attempt, 2.5 miles to accelerate, measure 1mile then decelerate for 2.5 miles, to allow room to accelerate on the return run so, for the record attempt, we required six miles of smooth, flat ( less than 1% gradient) which immediately preclude a record attempt in the UK."
stem turbines?
Think FIA and Top Speed Shootout.
J
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The real problem they got in the moment - due to the heat (what heat?) :roll: they done not the necessary fogging......they only cleaned about 3 of the 6 miles what they need for the course length.....
I have a small problem with that - in 1997 at Black Rock, it was not much colder than the temperature they got in the moment at Edwards - and we done 7 miles fogging during one day......
Looks that the Brits which was with Richard at Black Rock was some numbers thougher :-D
Hope they got the racer and the track ready, to run them the next days - to my information the timer will leave on the 7th August to make a vacation at Bonneville........mean....to do the job at the salt...... :wink:
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Slim, I "lost" my car keys for about 2 hours one morning. They were in the lock on the drivers side door. :cheers:
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The steam car will not make any record attempts until after speed week. They will not be at speed week with the car. They are having teething problems. This was on their daily e-Mail I have been getting. Anyone can sign up.
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I got today's report on the British Steam Car -- that they made a 77-mph run and quit. And -- the FIA folks have to leave Edwards to go to Bonneville for SpeedWeek. That's what the article said -- that they "have" to leave for SpeedWeek, and they'll be available again after the 17th.
So -- is SpeedWeek going to have FIA runs? It'd be unusual, I think, but maybe there's something going on I don't know about. Anyone else hear anything?
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For Immediate Release:
Edward’s Air Force Base, California: Wednesday 29th July 2009
The British Steam Car Team carries out successful run but delay World Record Attempt
<image002.jpg>
After numerous technical problems, the British Steam Car team successfully carried out its first test run on US soil, yesterday. The team has been working tirelessly to get the car ready for the record attempts to break the century-old world land speed record for steam-powered vehicles.
The team was in position by 7.00am ready for their first run. Test Driver Don Wales was strapped into the 25ft-long car that he has nicknamed “the lean, green, mean machine” – because of the technical issues the team has had to overcome. The goal was to replicate the test programme that took place in April at Thorney Island. The throttle lag was approx 5-7 seconds but it seemed longer as the vehicle accelerated slowly away.
Project Manager Matt Candy said: "We reached 77mph over a very short distance of just 1km which was comparable to our tests at Thorney. We were due to do a high speed return run but the gas rig had trouble refueling and so we had to abort it. We will replace this gas pump tomorrow and resume the testing programme. The software has since confirmed that the vehicle produced more steam on the test run than in the UK, a bypass valve was open for approximately 1/5 of the test and the majority of the steam was wasted. This can be rectified, and knowing that it not performing to its full capacity is really encouraging news, as we can utilize the steam to generate more power than we thought we had.
Despite the successful test run, the team has taken the decision to delay the record attempt to the week commencing 17th August. Candy continued “It’s important that the technical issues with the support rigs are resolved before an attempt is made, and these things can’t be rushed. In addition, the FIA officials have to leave on the 4th August to attend Bonneville Speedweek. However the FIA are free from the 17th August after they have carried out their duties at Bonneville and can join the team at Edwards to calibrate and record the attempts”
The British Steam Car Team hopes to achieve the official FIA Land Speed Record for a steam-powered vehicle. The current official FIA record is 127mph previously set by American, Fred Marriott, driving a Stanley steam car in 1906.
Notes to Editors:
The FIA is the sanctioning body and now recognizes a land speed record as the average speed of two passes made across the same measured distance in opposing directions within 60 minutes of each other. The time of the two runs is then averaged to obtain the official recorded speed.
The team acknowledges the achievements of the "Barber-Nichols Team". Their vehicle 'Steamin' Demon' is currently the fastest steam car in the world. In 1985 The Barber-Nichols Team carried out three successful passes and achieved an American National Record at 145.607mph. There was no attempt to establish an FIA record. However, the British Steam Car Challenge recognized this speed as the record to exceed.
Video footage of the Edwards run which we will upload to the teams website in due course www.steamcar.co.uk
For further information, pictures or interviews please contact Eventageous PR Tel: 01452 260063
Rebecca Nicholls Email: Rebecca@eventspr.co.uk
Or
Chris Wall Email: chris@eventspr.co.uk
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Was the Stanley Steamer the fastest car in the world in 1906? Seems I read something to that effect.
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Kat,
SS held the Auto motive record for a timed mile for almost five years... :cheers:
Steam power... :-D
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Dan Warner is a card-carrying FIAer or something. Showed me the card. Referee or inspector or something. Just because you're an SCTA official doesn't exclude you from other organizations.
Stan
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Well we have 6 miles of race track set up. The team is on the line and getting ready to make there first attempts at the record it 66 degrees and no wind just heard on the fm that he getting in the car more to comein a bit
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Well we have 6 miles of race track set up. The team is on the line and getting ready to make there first attempts at the record it 66 degrees and no wind just heard on the fm that he getting in the car more to comein a bit
Updates ! ! ! ! ! ! ! :-D
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Mile speed 129.762 kilo speed 129.835 exit speed 134.164. They have 1 hour to turn aroundand do it again
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sounds slower than the Steamin Demon... of course they had the advantage of doing it at a 3 run scta meet using the Stanley as the bar....
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Did they get back in 1 hour and what was the result of the two runs?
We do not get word back home until Don Wales completes the days efforts at AFB (test driving or FODding).
Malcolm
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Sorry for delay they had a problem with one of the boilers and a valve and they opted to abort the return run in the mean time they where able to locate a tractor and a water truck to fill in some big holes so we can move the track back and give them an extra mile so they have a total of 7.2 miles. Back to work I go I will post more in the am when they try again .
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Mike
Thanks for taking time amongst your main duties to report to the forum.
Whilst I do not know Charles Burnett except by reputation I have worked with test driver Don Wales here in the UK during his electric attempts on beaches and airfield.
I understand Don may get to attempt the kilo FIA record .... so keep everything safe for him (and Charles) as you have done for the drivers / riders at the shootout. Its good to know the Inspiration/British Steam Car Project have involved experienced US people used to the conditions.
Malcolm
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Mile 129 kilo 127 exit 120 the team has started there turn around time when asked why they went slower then yesterday they said that they just want the record in there name then they will start trying to put the steam to it 30 min left on clock..................
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Mike
Sorry I couldn't make it there, but just getting back from SW makes it hard to take more time off. Keep the post coming.
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Return attempt failed not sure will post when I here more
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I got this from an interested bystander (not THAT one), and although it's a bit dated right now -- it'll fill in some background for you all:
"British Steam Car Team on Course for World Record Success
Edward’s Air Force Base, California: Wednesday 18th August
The British Steam Car Team have now successfully carried out 5 test runs in excess of 100mph ahead of its bid to break the century-old world land speed record for steam-powered vehicles. After numerous setbacks last week, the team were jubilent on Saturday having unofficailly beaten the Fred Marriott record. The teams own calibrated equipment measured the two way average at 137.14mph, and a 48min 52 second turn-around.
Today the British Steam Car Team will commence their attempts to achieve an official record The current FIA record is 127mph previously set by American, Fred Marriott, driving a Stanley steam car in 1906.
Project Manager Matt Candy said:" it was an enourmous achievement on Saturday and one we hope to replicate now that the FIA timing officials have joined us today. The timing equipement is currently being set up across the 7mile lakebed. When we left England we knew we had a tough challenge ahead, but we had carried out all the testing we could. Since arriving in the UK the team has had to do a lot of preperations to the car with the effects of heat, altitude and the surface conditions. Compared to UK testing at Thorney, Portsmouth, the goal has been to make the car travel twelve times the distance, at double the speed and twice in within one hour. Saturday was a milestone for the team in achieving this goal".
The FIA is the sanctioning body and now recognizes a land speed record as the average speed of two passes made across the same measured distance in opposing directions within 60 minutes of each other. The time of the two runs is then averaged to obtain the official recorded speed.
The record runs will commence at 6am USA time (2pm UK time). We will keep you posted with the team news!"
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God -- I thought Team Fercockta had an old record at El Mirage. Over 100 years and Brits can't do it? Maybe they should look thru the Chunnel and get some frogs on board for assistance. All that travel -- it's hard to believe they didn't test better on the Isles. (Malcolm -- I'm not trying to p*iss you off.)
How fast did that exploding steam thing go at El Mirage 20 years ago -- Rich Fox? Kent?
Stan Back
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This effort reminds me of Jesse Owens racing a horse from first base to second base.
He ran in the 1936 Olympics.
H*ll that was only 73 years ago and he didn't have a half million budget
Go for it, Steamer.
FREUD
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124 entry speed 128 mile and 133 exit speed eveything looks good so far return run should be around 9:20
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No return cea broke again back out tomorrow
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could this be one of those "cursed" records? Fear the 1906 Stanley Steamer :evil:
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On their website they speak of the hard conditions at Edwards. 100 degrees 14 hour days. Mike and Mike Jr. must be chuckling under their breath. I'd like to forget how many 100 degree days they've been in. However across the pond they are waiting for their first one.
I believe they've made it to complicated. in 1906 how complicated could it have been. We all have the computer age to thank...........JD
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On their website they speak of the hard conditions at Edwards. 100 degrees 14 hour days. Mike and Mike Jr. must be chuckling under their breath. I'd like to forget how many 100 degree days they've been in. However across the pond they are waiting for their first one.
I believe they've made it to complicated. in 1906 how complicated could it have been. We all have the computer age to thank...........JD
You got it JD I was just thinking how the Brits. should go back to 1906 and see how he did it.
JL222
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Stan.
We do not have the space (length of tracks) to test cars that well before we have to crate them up and send them to the USA. What looks good on our airfileds may not work straightaway once it reaches America. Think 'e=motion' the electric car in Nevada and now 'Inspiration' in California. Even the rocket bike had only made four timed runs in the UK during the British Speed Attempt before it was taken to Bonneville.
I feel sure that the 'keep it simple' principle could be applied to many projects but in doing that no great progress is ever made. A Stanley boiler and engine would probably go quicker than the 1906 record in a modern construction but engineers have to push forward. This team are seeking 175 mph.
Whilst team members would have experienced watching the racing at Bonneville I think only Jerry Bliss had experienced any lerngth of time on a US desert, having been with Thruist SSC programme ten years ago at Black Rock (and testing in Jordan).
Malcolm
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could this be one of those "cursed" records? Fear the 1906 Stanley Steamer :evil:
As a Chicago Cubs fan, who haven't won a World Series since 1908, I know about cursed records.
I feel for the Brits on this one, but I suspect we'll see a new steam car record long before we see a Cubs world championship.
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Yabut --
The Cubs try every year -- maybe this hasn't been attempted since 1911 or so. The Stanley Bros. went on to make pretty-much reliable passenger cars. Maybe this "new" technology will bring back the Alvis!
Somebody please tell us what the h*ll was that car that ran at El Mirage 20 or 30 years ago was. Steam? You know, the one that kinda exploded and them hissed off to the east.
Stan Back
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The "Steam'n Demon"
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could this be one of those "cursed" records? Fear the 1906 Stanley Steamer :evil:
As a Chicago Cubs fan, who haven't won a World Series since 1908, I know about cursed records.
I feel for the Brits on this one, but I suspect we'll see a new steam car record long before we see a Cubs world championship.
You mean to tell me that the last time the Cubs won a World Series steam powered cars were rolling up and down the roads?
And I thought my Cleveland Indians were cursed! :-o
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could this be one of those "cursed" records? Fear the 1906 Stanley Steamer :evil:
As a Chicago Cubs fan, who haven't won a World Series since 1908, I know about cursed records.
I feel for the Brits on this one, but I suspect we'll see a new steam car record long before we see a Cubs world championship.
You mean to tell me that the last time the Cubs won a World Series steam powered cars were rolling up and down the roads?
And I thought my Cleveland Indians were cursed! :-o
Hell, the paint on the very first Model T's hadn't even dried.
GO TRIBE!
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Well the attempts have been called off........... Till Mon giving the team a chance to catch up on some well needed r&r and parts for the car. Every time they make a down run they go over the record speed but it seems to brake the little things before they can return. I am sure we will SE them break it before the end of the week my guess is 130 and change. Thought this was real cool got to sit and talk to sir Malcolm Campbell grandson wow wow wow very nice man and great storeys buy for now I will post more Mon.
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Thanks, Mikey. Remember, just be patient. You don't have to thrash on it.
FREUD
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Back in action at EAFB the team found what they think to be the problem. Dirty water stoping up the filtters so they have worked on it over the weekend also on mon to resolve that problem they sound really confident. About five min away from first run
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Entry speed 128.011 kilo speed 133.261 mile speed 132.755 exit speed 136 turn around has began.hopefuly everything is good back in 1 hour
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It's 26 minutes -- and we're hoping that the turnaround goes well and that the car backs up the speed -- maybe even with a faster pass. Thanks for the updates, Mike -- reminds me of what we're expected to do at the Shootout.
Jon
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( pending ) new FIA world record for a steam powered car entry 144 kilo 147 mile 147 exit 147 nice job to the entire team. 150 tomorow ?
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Does that mean a tea party tonight???
:cheers:
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Good job for the Brits!
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Hurrah! Well done!
Mike
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Congratulations!
With the leftover steam you can brew cappuccino. :-D
Regards, Neil Tucson, AZ
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Congrats! Sounds like they worked hard to get it.
Stan
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For most of the technical team the trials lasted from 11th July to 25th August with very little downtime. In a tough environment and thousands of miles from their home base I agree that it was tough and hard work.