The British Steam Car team announced that it will attempt to set a new speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats, USA in August 2008. The unveiling of the British Steam Car will take place at the 60th Bonneville Speed Week from 18 to 24 August.
In July the British Steam Car will try to set a new British steam car record at Elvington, near York. The current British steam car speed record was set 70 years ago (3 July 1938) when the Mallard steam train reached 126 mph.
British Steam Car Press Release:
British Steam Car Team
The project to secure the world steam car speed
record is on track, with everything focused on the record attempt at Bonneville Salt Flats, USA in August 2008. This will follow the unveiling of the British Steam Car at the 60th Bonneville Speed Week from 18 to 24 August.
Having overcome numerous challenges and setbacks in the past eight years, the British Steam Car Team has demonstrated remarkable resolve and fortitude – in true British Bulldog fashion. This is by no means a lavishly funded project and most of the work developing and building the car has been
undertaken in a modest wooden workshop at Lymington in the New Forest.
Project manager, Frank Swanson, who sadly died in 2007, instigated much of the engineering groundwork. Since then, the British Steam Car Team has regrouped and was boosted by the recruitment of Don Wales as test driver. Wales is the nephew of the late Donald Campbell and grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell – who between them established more than 20 land and water speed records. Wales himself set an electric vehicle land speed record in Bluebird Electric in 2000. At Bonneville, the British Steam Car will
be housed in the same hangar used by the Campbells for their record attempts.
The British Steam Car Team was started when Lord Montagu of Beaulieu saw a project undertaken by students at Southampton University. His nephew, Charles Burnett III, was inspired by the proposed steam powered record car and assembled the British Steam Car Team. Charles Burnett III will be the principle driver of the steam car and has previously achieved several land and water world records.
Before attempting the world steam car speed record, the British Steam Car Team expects to secure the British steam car record at Elvington, near York, during early July. It is 70 years ago (3 July 1938) that the last famous British steam powered vehicle secured a world record when the Mallard steam train reached 126mph. It is also 40 years since the end of mainline steam on British railways – an anniversary being celebrated by the National Railway Museum at York in May.
The British Steam Car Team schedule is as follows:
During May, final testing at Thorney Island, Portsmouth with a media launch
Early July, British steam car speed record
attempts at Elvington, near York
Mid July, despatch of British Steam Car to the USA
18 to 24 August, official unveiling and preparatory testing at Bonneville Speed Week with test driver, Don Wales
From 25 August, world steam car speed record attempts at Bonneville Salt Flats by Charles Burnett III
September return of British Steam Car to UK and then on permanent display at National Motor Museum Trust at Beaulieu
Monthly updates are available at www.steamcar.co.uk (which includes profiles of team members and technical specifications for the British Steam Car
There is still plenty of time for members of the public to become involved with and support the British Steam Car Team. The official website, www.steamcar.couk include a link to a special Pound a Pixel website. Here, individuals and companies can buy space on the site and will get their names on the car for just £1.
