Finally, after over 100 years in the record books, Fred Marriott's officially recognized top speed in a steam-powered car is in serious danger of being eclipsed. The British Steam Car Challenge team has reportedly already posted a two way average of 137.14 mph, which is well over the World Record of 127 miles per hour set in a Stanley steam car way back in 1906. Says Project Manager Matt Candy:
[Source: British Steam Car Challenge]
PRESS RELEASE:
British Steam Car Team on Course for World Record Success!
Edward's Air Force Base, California: Tuesday 18th August
The British Steam Car Team has 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 jubilant on Saturday having unofficially 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.
Tomorrow 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 enormous achievement on Saturday and one we hope to replicate now that the FIA timing officials have joined us today. The timing equipment is currently being set up cross the 6mile lake bed. 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 preparations 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). We will keep you posted with the team news!
Finally, the British team plans an official run today at 6 am local time with FIA officials in tow. The goal: to beat both the aforementioned Official World Record and the American National Record of 145.607mph set by the Barber-Nichols Team in 1985. Check back later to see if there's a new record on the books.It was an enormous achievement on Saturday and one we hope to replicate now that the FIA timing officials have joined us today. The timing equipment is currently being set up cross the 6mile lake bed... Since arriving in the US the team has had to do a lot of preparations 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.
[Source: British Steam Car Challenge]
PRESS RELEASE:
British Steam Car Team on Course for World Record Success!
Edward's Air Force Base, California: Tuesday 18th August
The British Steam Car Team has 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 jubilant on Saturday having unofficially 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.
Tomorrow 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 enormous achievement on Saturday and one we hope to replicate now that the FIA timing officials have joined us today. The timing equipment is currently being set up cross the 6mile lake bed. 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 preparations 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). We will keep you posted with the team news!
Sign in to post
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Continue