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01/07/2009
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A British steam car has arrived in Los Angeles in preparation of its World Land Speed Record Attempt. The team will commence testing and subsequent attempts from 10th to 24th July.
The primary aim of project is to establish an FIA sanctioned Land Speed Record and break the 103-year-old FIA record of 127mph achieved by American, Fred Marriott, driving a Stanley steam car in 1906.
From its inception, the British Steam Car was designed to achieve an FIA record, where the average speed of two runs is calculated over a set mile. This is reflected in many of the design decisions such as 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 steam turbine. Weighing 3tonnes and starting in top gear means that the car accelerates very slowly toward its top speed. It means the team need a minimum of 6miles to make the record attempt, 2.5miles to accelerate, measured 1mile then 2.5miles to decelerate.
Engineering administrator and strategic planner, Matt Candy, says: "There are no runways or manmade flat surfaces six miles long so it has to be a natural feature. We have chosen Rogers Dry Lake Bed in southern California as our venue for the record attempt, as it is a suitable surface with sufficient length.
"It has another advantage for us, low altitude. Being only 2300feet above sea level, the air at Rogers Dry Lake Bed is denser than at higher altitudes providing more oxygen for the car's burners."
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Author
J Cunningham
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