** SPEED RECORDS **

WORLD LAND SPEED RECORD ThrustSSC
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Progress Report No24 and Briefing

Roy S. Peters

This page (dated 2nd July 97 - and updated 19 February 2005) is the continuation of the monthly series of reports by the same author from the beginning of 1995. This time we'll be dealing with a comparison of the current contenders (and their cars) for the title.

THE DRIVERS

Andy Green is an RAF Squadron Leader and all-round sportsman, including a high-speed winter-sport at the top level.

Craig Breedlove has been a lifelong Speed-King through several decades and is a Five-time WLSR holder.

Les Shockley has had quite a background with speed and is best known for his thousands of runs in the fearsome SHOCKWAVE triple- jet truck.

Rosco McGlashen has quite a background much of which was detailed in the previous report.

*** He currently holds the Australian Land Speed Record at 802.613 km/h, that being achieved on 27th March 1994

SUMMARY OF THE CONTENDERS.

Personal Details:
          Andy  ||  Craig || Les ||  Rosco
Age:        35     60      Unknown   Unknown (see next report-no.25!)       
Status:   Single  Married  Married  Married
Partner:  Jane    Marilyn   Donna    Cheryl

SUMMARY OF THE CARS
(I will attempt to fill missing data later)

NORTH AMERICAN EAGLE  ||  THRUSTSSC||   AUS INV 3   ||S of A
     
Goal:         700mph         850 mph      810Kph +    800mph +
MainChute at: 300mph         400 mph
DiskBrakes :  135mph         130 mph
Weight:       6500lbs       22000 lbs    11000 lbs  8000 lbs(wet)
Length:        42ft          54ft          27'3"       47'6"
EngineType :GE J-79 jet   2 *Spey 205  Snecma 9K-50  GE J79
BurnRate : 10galls/sec                 10litres/sec
Max Thrust: almost24000lbs  50000lbs     14800 lbs  24000lbs
Max BHP :    48000         105000        36000        48000 
Thrust/Dry Weight Ratio:
              3.6             4.8        1.4           3.4
Height :   61"(9'5")                    4'3"(7'3")
          Body(tail)
Width:       10ft           12ft      |          |     8'6"

FURTHER SNIPPETS:

EAGLE:

One additional safety item is used in the event of a brake- system failure:-
A safety net similar to the type used on aircraft carriers is located at the end of the run. The driver simply steers into the net, that can stop the car at speeds up to 300 mph.

SSC:-

ThrustSSC thus has the power of 1000 Ford Escorts, or 145 Formula One cars...

It, too, has reserves of braking-capacity in the event of parachute failure:-
Very high-tech materials are in the disk-brakes to enable these to be used from a very high speed (not on a regular basis, but..) in an emergency.

OVERALL:

It will be seen that the Aussie Invader is an altogether smaller, less powerful, probably less capable car than the others. Also, the NAE1 is only claimed as a subsonic beast with a 700mph goal. That leaves ThrustSSC and Spirit of America as the "two most likely cars". The professionalism, engineeering and science of the SSC team leaves it well ahead of Craig's team.
Brits should look forward to reaping the rewards from Richard's Team with Andy at the controls. Should be an interesting Autumn!!

Return to Roy's home page for full list of writings and travels either finished or under preparation.

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