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Comments on: British steam car aims for landspeed record

Just a thought... 

Posted Wednesday 27th June 2007 09:13 GMT

If you weld up the safety pressure valves, leave the gas on, and sit on top of one of the boilers, given a bit of time for the pressure to rise, I'm sure you'd personally break 200mph without wheels. Or limbs come to think of it.

I looked at the appeal page 

Posted Wednesday 27th June 2007 09:30 GMT

Expecting to find an ElReg logo prominently displayed.

But nothing.

Can't the hacks at Vulture Central scrape together anything to support our lads (and lasses)?

steam cars outpowered their petrol and electric-driven cousins 

Posted Wednesday 27th June 2007 10:42 GMT

In 1906, yes. But in 1899 the land speed record was held by an electric car. La Jamais Contente exceeded 100 kph.

Bit pointless 

Posted Wednesday 27th June 2007 14:48 GMT

There have been cars run in Britain using hydrogen peroxide fuelled rocket motors. Hydrogen peroxide passing over a catalyst produces superheated steam.

Don't know what speeds have been achieved in Britain but such cars have achieved over 400 mph in the States.

Are these not steam powered cars?

Is this car going to set a record for steam powered cars with a boiler? Will there be a separate record for steam powered cars with a boiler and piston rather than turbine 'engines'?

Can I set a landspeed record for a petrol powered car with a specific number plate? I think I already did.....

Speed 

Posted Wednesday 27th June 2007 14:59 GMT

I've been to 301 in a top fueler and 396 at Bonneville. The latter was scary. I wish them well, they have a real challenge ahead of them.

There's also Black Rock if they can't make Bonny, although they'll have to do all the support work themselves, which is a major expense. If they don't make it this year, there's always next year.

Past and present techies unite :) 

Posted Wednesday 27th June 2007 18:59 GMT

How can you not want to support such a great cause? Especially for so little money! And you will be on the car when it (ofc it will - it is built by British engineers :P ) breaks the record and gets sent to Beaulieu....

... but El Reg... as has already been commented you look like a bunch of tight fisted ..... :o)

Hope they do it, best of luck :)

Title 

Posted Friday 6th July 2007 14:16 GMT

"The machine will be driven by Charles Burnett III, an ex-drag car racer, and Annette Getty," So which one is the stoker. I hope he/she can shovel fast.