The British Steam Car Challenge

[drawoh]

This is an interesting article on Slashdot about the steam powered speed record.

http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/06/25/2243241

I would be more confident about this if their 4MW boilers put out more than 300BHP.

JHG

 

[BusaJames]

That's pretty cool but I've always been a little nervous of steam power. Wouldn't want to be in that car at 200mph. My bike yes, a car with lpg and high pressure steam no

 

[GregLocock]

Given their claimed aero and so on then 200 mph on 325 hp is reasonable.

But...

Their claimed aero is ridiculous. It'll be the first (?) steam powered acrobatic aeroplane, briefly.





Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[Jordonlaw]

The bad news is that one of their new boilers recently exploded jeopardising a planned trip to Bonneville in a few months.

 

[chicopee]

I thought that I had read or heard that steam cars in the early 1900's could go at speeds of 100 mph!! so why wasn't that technology kept up?

 

[KENAT]

Many factors I'm sure but I'd expect one of the main ones to be that with a steam car you have to wait to build up a head of steam, you can't just get in and drive away.

Similar reason that early on electric cars were very popular as they were easy to operate whereas internal combustion vehicles needed a mechanics touch.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...