WORLD LAND SPEED RECORD




Progress Report No34 and Briefing

Roy S. Peters

-Page dated 4 June 2005-


NEW RECORDS in AD2001-2-3-4 ?


I'll still appears that the major contenders for the WLSR were:

Aussie Invader 3
Spirit of America
North American Eagle

[As at the latest browse - none of them appear to be doing ANYTHING positive-
- indeed, two of them have gone 'off the air'!!]

THRUST project DISPLAYS are also covered here!

The previous 'LATEST info' that I had on each was:-

ROSCO (McGlashan) and Paula Elstrek on AUSSI INVADER 3

Now 'off the air', Rosco's site used to be at Aussie Invader Web-Site.

In 2000, Rosco ran by taking 'Aussie Invader' to 600km/h - 375 mph

It is only envisaged, now, as for the 'single-engined' record attempt!

Paula was successful in attaining her Jet License for Drag Racing through ANDRA (Australian National Drag Racing Association) on 10th March 2001 at Calder Park Raceway.

After Paula's first run with the 'Invader', the team then turned her around and let her have a run on full after burner, on her first full pass she did an amazing ....575 km/h - 360 mph

So Paula became the fastest woman in the Southern Hemisphere!

Then the rain fell once again at Lake Gairdner but, hopefully, it would all come together to get the World Records in March 2001.

Well, No Actually!! My latest info from the team was:-.

"We had to postpone the Land Speed Record attempt until Dec - March 2002. We did not get the funding to run the event and once again the weather was threatening. We could not afford to take the chance. I would like us to work really hard and try to make the next visit to the lake a memorable one like 93, 94 and 95."

CRAIG BREEDLOVE..

Now 'off the air', Craig's site used to be at Spirit of America website!
He's got over his operations from late1999/early2000 and having missed his Mar2000 opportunities to run, it is now clear that he didn't intend to run until SEPT 2000!!
I notice that Craig had arranged a get-together for Saturday (16 Sept 2000) for friends and supporters at the "Spirit of America" shop in Rio Vista (South West of Sacramento), where 'fans' can see the future "fastest car in the world"!

On a reference from the "Official S of A" pages, I found the quote that:
"They have a line of commemorative items including a die-cast replica of Spirit of America which they are selling, with all proceeds going towards the costs of making the run for the record in September 2001."

So now we know - unofficially!!

But - on my latest info, published by their Cherie Danson on Sept 18 2000, I found them saying:-

WHERE  WILL THE ATTEMPT  be made?

This question is a little tricky because there are a number of factors that affect the decision.
As it stands right now, it appears as though the Black Rock Desert in Gerlach, Nev. will not
be useable for a 2001 attempt. LARGE DUNES have appeared on the surface and it is unlikely
that nature will have corrected all of them by next year. Additionally, the Burning Man
festival, which takes place one week prior to our runs, has been granted permission to use
the area adjacent to the speed record course as the site for their event for the next three
years. The heavy traffic traveling over the course would essentially render the course
useless. If the dunes do clear, then we will have to find another course on Black Rock. If no
course can be found, we have another venue in mind.

To compound this problem, you will notice that the team has competition for use of the Black Rock Desert over the next three years! His official website has not been updated since AD2000 and there seems no signs of 2001 or 2002 activities!!


NORTH AMERICAN EAGLE project.

Apparently, the only WLSR project in a 'current' status, to obtain news direct, try the American Eagle Web-Site. It has been reactivated over the 2003-Xmas recess.
The 'Eagle' is claimed to be for a 800 mph Land Speed Record Attempt!!

They had taken delivery of a large mobile shelter. The 30 by 60 tent will be invaluable when the team takes to Rogers Dry Lakebed this year (?) when test runs commence..

Ed Shadle is the Project Manager and Owner.
The NAE Team is currently building their newest entry for the bid to challenge the world land speed record. They are in the process of converting a military surplus Lockheed F-104A-10 (ser # 56-763) into the next world record holder. This is an aircraft that was designed for sustained Mach 2 flight. It should be the perfect platform for this endeavor.
The Project comes with no known time-scales. Ed has 30 years experience in Project Management - but clearly isn't anywhere near as good as Richard Noble! I see that they will be displaying (just statically) their 'beastie' in September 2002.

THRUST project DISPLAYS.

Both THRUST2 and THRUSTSSC are in the COVENTRY museum with excellent AUDIO-VISUAL displays!! Because of the technological advances between those records - the visitor can now traverse, supersonically, BLACK-ROCK desert with Andie Green's pre-run comments and the actual recorded data from his record run.

This is all in the refurbished TRANSPORT museum with its FREE entry!! Visually and physically, the application of the afterburner as well as the parachute deployment are quite exciting, - as well as Andie's lateral departures from the straight course!!

IN ADDITION TO THE WLSR (proper)

there are some interesting attempts on other CLASS RECORDS.

Thus we have :

(a) The Electric BLUEBIRD
(b) The Steam Car attempt (ex-ThrustSSC members involved)
(c) Richard Brown's ROCKET BIKE attempts
(d) The SONIC WIND rocket-sledge (a long-term, slow project!)

Return to Roy's home page for full list of writings, travelogues etc either finished or under preparation or the WLSR index page