Bonneville land speed record

[ckdesigns]

I am helping my daughter with a science project about the salt flats and we need to know the fastest time ever recorded on the salt.

[C9]

Fastest man, Gary Gabelich @ 622.407 in a rocket car.

Fastest woman, Paula Murphy @277 driving Walt Arfon's jet car.

[sodbuster]

Did you want the fastest time or the fastest "Record" time? Vesco went 458mph in 01'. But I think that the Jet cars went faster in the late 60's or early 70's. If you have cable or DSL, I can send you a link to a video of the VESCO 458 run.

Chris Nelson
Kansas

[ckdesigns]

Thanks for the help. Sodbuster I would like that link. Thanks.

[sodbuster]

Check your PM's. It is at the bottom of the page. Check out some of the other video also, there is one where they go off the course at Bonneville and looks rough as heck.

Chris Nelson
Kansas

[Digger_Dave]

Because of steadily deteriorating conditions of the salt surface at Bonneville, (not enough length to do VERY high speed runs) SCTA no longer allows "thrust driven" (jet engine(s) vehicles.

Vesco used EVERY INCH of track length (available) when setting his last record.

[momentumfoto]

Has anyone been to The Blackrock Desert north of Reno? Amazing piece of land there... I think they did a land spped there as well because it is longer than the salt at Bonniville. The Brits are on the top the last I heard.

Blake

[Roadsters.com]

Here's a link to the article that I wrote about the first car to officially break the sound barrier: Richard Noble's ThrustSSC, driven by Andy Green, at Black Rock, Nevada.

http://www.roadsters.com/750/

Read the article. What the ThrustSSC team did is a great story.

Dave
http://www.roadsters.com/

[Tman]

On a sorta related note, I cought a cheezy B movie called Landspeed a while back on AMC. It stars Billy Zane and really wasnt THAT bad. Not realistic but entertaining!

[side_valve]

I love this thread! I had an opportunity to see the Thrust SCC and the Thrust II at the Coventry motor museum in the UK last month – really great display. I highly recommend it.

My own plans to go after the Bonneville M/VOT record are stalled with a cracked engine block – hopefully the “green” and “gold” V8-60s will be in better shape than the “red” (cracked) 60.

[sodbuster]

[ QUOTE ]
and really wasnt THAT bad.

[/ QUOTE ]

Trent,
Were you drinking beer?

[Skate Fink]

[ QUOTE ]
Here's a link to the article that I wrote about the first car to officially break the sound barrier: Richard Noble's ThrustSSC, driven by Andy Green, at Black Rock, Nevada.

[/ QUOTE ]

GREAT article Dave! Below is one of Dave's photos from the article... (hope this is OK Dave?)
http://www.roadsters.com/ssccrew.jpg
I work for "CYTEC" Our facility in Wrexham, Wales supplied the composite materials and our facility in Havre de Grace, MD supplied the adhesives that glued it together. I followed the project as they made the attempt. I would receive an e-mail update daily and that was the first thing I'd check when I would get in from work. Thanks for the great link..........

[AnimalAin]

Paula Murphy's record no longer stands. Tanis Hammond went faster in '02 in the lakester. Record around 300.

['Flyin' Dutchman']

I've seen that ThrustSSC machine in Germany, at the Essen motorshow a few years ago... Amazing piece of machinery!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Digger_Dave]

[ QUOTE ]
ThrustSSC machine... Amazing piece of machinery!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

There was a special on LSC's on Discovery Channel last week that showed the ThrustSSC car. The part that blows me away is the SOLID WHEELS. (no rubber!)

Someone somewhere said, "If Green had stuck his hands out the side of the cockpit; that thing could FLY!" (up!)

[Skate Fink]

Craig Breedlove and Shell were making an attempt at the sound barrier at the same time. They took a different approach. Their car was smaller and lighter. They had several problems and aborted the effort. Hope they will try again.........

[side_valve]

It would be great to see the Americans, or anybody else, go after this record. There’s not a lot of updates on Breedlove’s website – I’m sure he’d try again if they had the money. Anyone have an update? I wonder how long the Brits record will stand and if someone breaks it – will they haul out the Trust SCC and claim the record again?

[Morrisman]

I think there was a bunch of controversy when Breedlove unofficially re-claimed the record from Thrust, even though he had no official test equipment, except an onboard accelerometer. I can't recall all the details but it got pretty 'bitchy' by all accounts.

[Tman]

Actually I dont think I was Chris.