Speed Record Club

speed on wheels, water and wings

News - November 2011

... an extract from FastFacts 83

Contents:
    Record success by SRC members
    Richard Meaden - Skoda Octavia vRS
    Splinter Bike
    SCTA Electric Record Class E1
    Electric Two Wheels – 200 mph - Lightning Electric M/C
    North American Eagle
    Speed Demon – Poteet and Main
    Attempts with problems

Record success by SRC members

Fabio Montani and his team ran the GusGus streamliner at Speedweek, Bonneville in August. Fabio had presented his project to club members at the Coventry event with a PowerPoint slide show, because the completed vehicle was already on its way to the USA. Immediately after his success at Speedweek he wrote to Fast FACTS providing his thoughts on his first time on the salt. Fabio set a new record in SCTA-BNI Class E/FS at 300.357 mph and was inducted into the Bonneville 200 mph club and its 300 mph Chapter (receiving both red and blue hats). A summary of the week in Fabio’s own words is in FastFacts #83

Graeme Smith established and then raised National British class records on Pendine Sands in August. Graeme is a Speed Record Club member and was able to use the ‘network’ of contacts within the club to discuss and then join forces with the Bluebird Electric team for a joint attempt. Graeme has provided his story of why he chose the National British Diesel Class G and the Smart car. Subject to ratification by the Motor Sports Association (MSA) Council he will set the first records over the following distances – FS ¼ mile (70.19 mph); FS 500m (68.98 mph) and FS Mile (68.56 mph). Through quizzing Graeme about himself, his motor sport activities and record interests the story develops in his own words in FF #83

Richard Meaden - Skoda Octavia vRS

In Britain, the car maker Skoda became the butt of many stand-up comedians and even today the jokes may still raise a laugh. But the products of the revamped Czech factory offered under the vRS tag are proving to be better than many more expensive but similar products from their rivals. In FF 79 we reported the UK endurance records set by Fifth Gear presenter Jonny Smith with the Fabia vRS with its 1.4 litre, 178 bhp engine.

Constructed in the UK to the exacting SCTA production sedan rules the Octavia was given over 600 bhp from its turbocharged four cylinder 2 litre motor, tuned by Race Developments of Gloucester England with 28 psi of boost pressure, to show how powerful the Octavia vRS could be in its tenth anniversary year.

More in FastFacts #83

Splinter Bike

The all wooden bicycle built by Michael Thompson known as “Splinter Bike I” was taken to the Quibell stadium Scunthorpe on the 18th August for James Tully to ride to establish a new World record. However two machines were made available to James, as a second back up bike had been built by Michael – “Splinter Bike II”. The all wooden bicycle of course lacks tyres and the asphalt of the banked velodrome was deemed to be very abrasive so the speed attempt was made as a two way timed bid on the 100 metre all weather athletic track.

Full story in FastFacts #83 and at www.SplinterBike.co.uk.

SCTA Electric Record Class E1

The student team from the engineering college of Brigham Young University (BYU) Utah returned to the salt at the World of Speed meeting to continue their attempt on the US lightweight electric record. In 2010 the Electric Blue streamliner had crashed and had to be rebuilt for this year. No specific reason was given for the crash by the team as the vehicle had been re-engineered and of course the salt and Bonneville weather are continually changing (if they had played a part).

The streamliner preparation is very professional because for some of the students it will be their CV into careers and work in motorsport or electrical engineering. The driving duties were once again with Jim Burkdoll, a long time salt veteran from one of the famous Bonneville salt racing families.

Whilst there have been International Record Speeds to aim for in the lightweight class (currently held by the similar student team of Project Volta from Bexhill, England) the SCTA had not had any challengers. So the team would establish the record.

The qualifying run which they took to impound was a speed of 136.22523 mph. The following morning after a delayed start time the car achieved 175.37320 mph to set the record at 155.799 mph. The average indicates the degree of progress being achieved in this area of vehicle technology, as it is nearly 50 mph greater than the Volta FIA record. The most impressive element is that the faster run is 70 mph greater than Volta and the car was driven off the starting line with impressive acceleration.

Electric Two Wheels – 200 mph - Lightning Electric M/C

On Sunday, 14 August during Speedweek on the Bonneville Salt Flats Paul Thede rode the electric powered motorcycle to an SCTA record of 206.079 mph. Later during Speedweek, with the aerodynamic faring correctly aligned, the speed rose to a qualifying pass of 214 mph which was backed up by a 218 mph return run, leaving the SCTA electric record at 215.960 mph. Paul is the first rider of an electric LSR bike to exceed 200 mph.

North American Eagle

Ed Shadle – the leader of the North American Eagle jet car project – drove the ‘Original Fast Guys II’ gas lakester at Speedweek and entered the record books at 276.786 mph in C/GL. This record meant that Ed is now a Bonneville 200 mph club member, which is probably unique amongst those attempting the outright LSR as he has a famed red hat before achieving any records in the jet car.

Speed Demon – Poteet and Main

At the Mike Cook ‘shootout’ meeting on the salt flats at Bonneville George Poteet drove the “Speed Demon” to the fastest ever speeds recorded for an automobile with a single engine. He achieved a mile speed of 457.964 mph and the kilometre at 458.189 mph. These speeds fall just short of those of the late Don Vesco with the gas turbine powered Turbinator. Unfortunately the 347 cubic inch small block “Hellfire” turbocharged engine by Ken Duttweiler in the Speed Demon was not strong enough for another, pass having been pushed to 442 mph two days earlier, on a run when the drive system was found to be the weak link.

Attempts with problems:

Fast Facts #83 reports on several unsuccesful speed attempts.

• Bluebird Electric
• Rocky Robinson
• Reno Air races
• Silver State Open Road Challenge