Steam powered car world record

mike65

clicky

A British-built steam supercar has broken a 103-year-old world land speed record for steam-powered vehicles in the United States.

The 25ft-long British Steam Car - nicknamed the "fastest kettle in the world" - reached an average speed of 139.843mph on two runs over a measured mile at the Edwards Air Force Base in California.

The timing beat the previous record of 127mph set by American Fred Marriott in a Stanley steam car at the Daytona Beach Road Course in 1906.

Mr Marriott's timing was the longest-standing officially-recognised land speed record but it was beaten by the British team, based in Lymington, Hampshire, with Charles Burnett III at the wheel.

Mr Burnett piloted the car for both runs, reaching a peak speed of 136mph on the first run and 151mph on the second, a team spokesman said.

Kinda disapointed at the modest increase in the speed - they'd had a century to work on this thing!

Alun

Weren't they were predicting a much higher speed ... 170mph+ if I recall correctly.

maidhc

mike65 wrote: »

clicky



Kinda disapointed at the modest increase in the speed - they'd had a century to work on this thing!

Interesting. I guess steam technology reached maturity around the beginning of the last century! Kinda ties in with Mr. Daimler's efforts of the era.

245

Apart from being nippy in comparison with its combustion engined counterparts, the Stanley was noted for being capable of the same top speed in reverse

Run_to_da_hills

I wouldn't fancy shoveling coal at that speed. :eek:

Alun

Read all about it here .....

http://www.steamcar.co.uk/index.html

Mr Benevolent

Kind of like announcing that after 96 years they've finally worked out the problems that plagued the Wright Flyer :rolleyes: