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In a run at Edwards Air Force Base in California onTuesday Charles Burnett III successfully broke the land speed record for a steam powered car which had stood for more than 100 years, achieving an average speed of 139.843mph on two runs over a measured mile.Burnett reached a peak speed of 136.103mph on the first run and 151.085mph on the second. The new international record, which is subject to official confirmation by the FIA, breaks the previous official FIA record of 127 mph set in, believe-it-or-not - 1906 - by American Fred Marriott, driving a Stanley Steamer at Daytona Beach, Florida
Charles Burnett III commented:
"It was absolutely fantastic I enjoyed every moment of it. We reached nearly 140mph on the first run. All systems worked perfectly, it was a really good run. The second run went even better and we clocked a speed in excess of 150 mph. The car really did handle beautifully. The team has worked extremely hard over the last 10 years and overcome numerous problems. It is a privilege to be involved with such a talented crew, what we have achieved today is a true testament to British engineering, good teamwork and perseverance."
Bravo and congratulations to the British Steam Car Challenge!
Steam power has been largely overlooked in the scramble for alternatives to the internal combustion engine, but with moderm engineering and manufacturing methods applied, it could be a very attractive alternative to gas/electric hybrids and electric cars or fuel cells and hydrogen offering many advantages including prodigious power output, economical use of less-polluting fuels, ease of refueling with existing infrastructure, quiet running, and durability.
The late Bill Lear of Learjet fame did some engineering research on closed-cycle steam powerplants sponsored by the state of California, and built a few steam powered prototype conversions late '60s and after the first oil crunch in the early '70s, but wasn't able to generate enough interest from major manufacturers or the U.S. government to carry on, and the project sort of withered away,
In 1985 one a Lear turbine was used in a land speed record attempt on the Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah, and acheived a measured speed of 145.607 MPH, but the record was not recognized by the FIA -- motorsport's international governing body.
Vehicle Details
Length 7.663 m
Width 1.700 m
Tall 1.700 m
Weight 3 tons
Engine Two stage turbine
13,000rpm max turbine revs
Transmission Rear wheel drive
Horsepower 268 kw 360 hp
Top speed 274 kph 170 mph
Fuel LPG Liquid Petroleum Gas
Burners 3 Megawatts of heat
~1500 kettles
~23 cups of tea per second
Boilers 12
Over 3km of tubing
Superheated
Steam Flow rate 40 litres per minute
Temperature 400C
Pressure 4000kN/m-2 40 bar
Chassis Steel space frame
Steering Rack and pinion to front wheels
Body Front section carbon composite
Rear section aluminum panels
Front tyres Goodyear Speed Eagles 23 X 15
Rear tyres Goodyear Speed Eagles 28 X 15
Water capacity 140 litres distilled water
1,000 litres (1ton) of water used every 25 minutes
Gas capacity 60 litres
Air system 30,000kN/m-2 300 bar
Batteries 4 X 90Ah batteries
Official Website of British Steam Car Challenge:
http://www.steamcar.co.uk/index.html
Charles W. Moore
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