Brit's finally did it!

[PTSideshow]

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

The vehicle has been nicknamed the "fastest kettle in the world".

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.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090825/...r-dba1618.html

[aboard_epsilon]

103 years and we only do 12mph better ..

they have to try again me thinks


maybe they should run it with welsh anthracite
all the best.markj

[oldtiffie]

Perhaps they need to plug the welsh leeks - or get one of the "Men of Harlech" to push it that bit harder.

But seriously though, it is a great feat of modern engineering and dedication, but given that the modern tools and materials were not available to the previous record-holders, it says a fabulous amount in favour of that achievement as well.

[loose nut]

They should have put the exhaust from a gas turbine into the boiler that would have got them moving a little faster.

[Dawai]

There have been no real advances in steam propulsion in quite a number of years.. it hit a apex..

NOW, using hydrogen peroxide to "create" steam upon demand.. whoo wiieee.. no boiler larger than a lunch bucket needed..

Of course it'd take a computer geek to keep the pressure stable.. Or it'd run wild..

I like to see people revive something that is not quite dead.. I like steam power. Those peaker plants that run on natural gas, or fuel oil? they inject water into the flame to "make" motive steam and turn the turbine..

[Michael Edwards]

No, they haven't, not yet.

http://www.steamcar.co.uk/challenge/barber_nichols.html

I would be surprised if they don't wind up with the record, but it isn't time to celebrate just yet.

ME

[PTSideshow]

No, they haven't, not yet.

http://www.steamcar.co.uk/challenge/barber_nichols.html

I would be surprised if they don't wind up with the record, but it isn't time to celebrate just yet.

ME

You should have used the current link to days news that was posted in the first post!
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090825/...r-dba1618.html

[psomero]

NOW, using hydrogen peroxide to "create" steam upon demand.. whoo wiieee.. no boiler larger than a lunch bucket needed..

Of course it'd take a computer geek to keep the pressure stable.. Or it'd run wild..

care to elaborate on the hydrogen peroxide, uhh, method?

[boslab]

103 years and we only do 12mph better ..

they have to try again me thinks


maybe they should run it with welsh anthracite
all the best.markj

They will have to dig some up themselves, unless i can find a few bags at the back of the coalhouse.
mark

[small.planes]

google for 'High test peroxide' and youll find the info about its discomposition into steam and oxygen.
IIRC the British space program experimented with it, and it might have found its way into blue steak, the british ICBM.

Dave