The project to secure the world steam car speed record is on
track, with everything focused on the record attempt at Bonneville
Salt Flats, USA in August 2008. This will follow the unveiling
of the British Steam Car at the 60th Bonneville Speed Week
from 18 to 24 August.
Having overcome numerous challenges and setbacks in the past eight
years, the British Steam Car Team has demonstrated remarkable
resolve and fortitude – in true British Bulldog fashion. This is by no
means a lavishly funded project and most of the work developing
and building the car has been undertaken in a modest wooden
workshop at Lymington in the New Forest.
Project manager, Frank Swanson, who sadly died in 2007, instigated much of the engineering groundwork. Since then, the British Steam Car Team has regrouped and was boosted by the recruitment of Don
Wales as test driver. Wales is the nephew of the late Donald Campbell
and grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell – who between them
established more than 20 land and water speed records. Wales
himself set an electric vehicle land speed record in Bluebird Electric
in 2000. At Bonneville, the British Steam Car will be housed in the
same hangar used by the Campbells for their record attempts.
The British Steam Car Team was started when Lord Montagu of Beaulieu saw a project undertaken by students at Southampton
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Steam Car Team. Charles Burnett
III will be the principle driver of the steam car and has previously
achieved several land and water world records.
Before attempting the world steam car speed record, the British
Steam Car Team expects to secure the British steam car record at Elvington, near York, during early July. It is 70 years ago (3 July 1938)
that the last famous British steam powered vehicle secured a world
record when the Mallard steam train reached 126mph. It is also 40
years since the end of mainline steam on British railways – an
anniversary being celebrated by the National Railway Museum at
York in May.
The British Steam Car Team schedule is as follows:
During May, final testing at Thorney Island, Portsmouth with a
media launch
Early July, British steam car speed record attempts at Elvington, near
York
Mid July, despatch of British Steam Car to the USA
18 to 24 August, official unveiling and preparatory testing at Bonneville
Speed Week with test driver, Don Wales
From 25 August, world steam car speed record attempts at Bonneville
Salt Flats by Charles Burnett III
September return of British Steam Car to UK and then on permanent
display at National Motor Museum Trust at Beaulieu
Monthly updates are available at www.steamcar.co.uk (which
includes profiles of team members and technical specifications for
the British Steam Car |
