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Speed Record Clubspeed on wheels, water and wingsWork in Progress - August 2009Contents:
New European Union World Water Speed Record Bid - “SPEED 600”In acknowledging the inspiration of the late Donald Campbell on the Bluebird Project guest book pages, Daniel Dehaemers from Belgium let it be known that he had recently acquired from Britain an engine for his World water speed bid. In an exchange of e mails Daniel has outlined his background and offshore power boating and the jet engine that he now has for his hydroplane. Like many of us, Daniel was at school when Donald was campaigning K7 and the 1966 bid made an impression that whilst not fulfilled for over 40 years set him on a path that now allows him to pursue the adventure of a WWSR bid that he calls “SPEED 600”. More in FastFacts 74 Donald Campbell’s Bluebird K7Many SRC members will be following the restoration of the recovered Bluebird K7 on the project website, still perhaps having their own thoughts on the recovery of the remains from the lake bed in 2001. Equally contentious has been the project's published intent to prove the engineering quality of the restoration and rebuild process by taking the craft back onto Coniston Water under power. Some will have believed that this would have to be an actual speed record bid, because of the overall speed limitation of 10 mph that applies to any powered craft not taking part in a record bid at National or International level (the Coniston Bye Law 6 clause). As the engineering team is undertaking the restoration to standards set down by the Head of Conservation at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, no such speed attempt was ever contemplated for an iconic craft, being conserved at the request of Gina Campbell for the Nation, using private funding and contribution support. What the Bluebird Project undertook, starting a year ago, was the process of obtaining what has become known as the “Donald Campbell’s Bluebird K7 Bye Law amendment”. This legislation change, which the team requested from the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA), was to allow engineering trials to take place on Coniston Water above 10 mph. The amended by law would apply for this particular boat because of its status in the history of the World Water Speed Record breaking and because of its strong bond with the village of Coniston and use on Coniston Water to set World Records. Full update in FastFacts74
David Edwards - Lola T222David is one of the SRCs newest members and he is the most recent British National speed record holder. On the 17th September last year David broke the standing start mile record in Class A (cars with engine capacity over 8000cc) at an average speed of 106.08 mph (previously held by John Cobb at Brooklands) and established the flying start 500m record at an average speed of 126.49 mph. Should any reader be unimpressed with these speeds then before moving to stories of bids for substantially higher speeds just consider the story of how this record bid came about. David is a trustee of the organisation known as Aspire which is a charitable body working with people with spinal cord injuries to give then opportunities, choice and independence. Spinal cord injuries mean that the person loses muscle control and sensory control and for the vast majority they will become wheelchair users for the rest of their lives. David has been a wheelchair user since 1993 when he became involved in an automobile accident when in his own words he “was rushing to work”. Impact with a skip lorry resulted in a broken neck and the need for a wheelchair ever since. Read more about David's story in FastFacts74 Angelic Bulldog Motorcycle
As Gabriel’s supporters club (Angelic Bulldog Association) handout says: “400 mph on two wheels? Why not!”There will be few Britons reading this who will think of anything other than success for our former news editor. Success in an area of motorsport where this Country has not held the ultimate prize for over seventy two years. The project is taking great strides and the progress achieved is being demonstrated on the website and at events attended by the team. A mock up ‘skeleton’ of the bike demonstrates the narrow girth (just 24 inches at the widest point) and long body (23 feet). Press coverage on the project as always picks on the quirky elements that arise such as the riders low speed day job (as a driver transporting aged people in the City of York area) and the crash and injuries sustained in the Isle of Man. News papers pick on the safety concerns of Gabriel’s wife Angela too, without fully explaining the design regulations of the American governing body (SCTA) that are now adopted by the International governing body the FIM. For more on this project, see www.angelicbulldog.org.uk ‘Ack Attack’ - World Record HolderRocky Robinson, World Record holder and the rider of the Ack Attack Top 1 Oil sponsored machine, has confirmed that this team will wait until the “Top 1 Speed Shootout” event at Bonneville (20-26th September) to make their next bid to raise the outright record. The bike will be a static display at the BUB event at the beginning of September. Many detail changes have been made to the bike and it is clear that Rocky is confident that there is more speed to be attained. Wheeldriven Automobile land speed record breakingHardly a month goes by without news of another team planning to attack the wheeldriven fastest speed of the late Don Vesco in the Turbinator, or the International class records of Bob Summers, Al Teague or Tom Burkland. As has often been the case since the record rose above 200 mph the tyre supply situation is often critical to the success of a bid. Most of the other areas of vehicle construction are well proven and if the engines and transmissions are not over stressed, very reliable vehicles are built. The Mickey Thompson tyre company has been the supplier of choice for most people aiming to run 450 mph or above. But, for those who have read about the Dieselmax vehicle, you will know that these are tall and wide tyres that give a disadvantage in frontal area and drag. More powerful and complex duel engined four wheel drive designs have evolved. Drag Racer Doug Herbert had hoped to be running his streamliner this year but that has not been easy even for the professional racer and his build team, so postponement to next year has been announced. Shoe Company Auri Footwear has announced their bid - led by Brand President and CEO Ori Rosenbaum, but using gasoline may not give them the power needed to become the absolute fastest, but there are SCTA National records to be achieved on the salt flats. Ron Main is rebuilding the Speed Demon streamliner bodywork, returning it to pristine condition, ready for further runs in 2009. We await information as to which events it will be entered into - but expect it to be the Top 1 Oil shootout. Riches-Nelson Racing - Lightning BoltWhen the claim is made that a team of professional engineers in the field of motorcycling, supported by students from a University, are to build the “World’s fastest electric vehicle” and then speeds of 350 mph are mentioned in the press release, there may be some shaking of the head. How can a wheel driven motorcycle (for that is the vehicle under construction) go faster than any previous electric car, motorcycle, train, aeroplane? And get close to the speed of the current world record for motorcycles using internal combustion engines? Read more in FastFacts74 and on their website: www.eracebike.com |
