Steam challenge team from Lymington has sights set on new record

7:00am Thursday 1st January 2009

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SPEED demons from Hampshire are eyeing a trip to southern California as they look to smash a longstanding world record.

A team from Lymington is attempting to drive a high-tech vehicle more than 200mph and shatter the century-old land speed benchmark for a steam-powered car of 128mph.

Previous moves to ship the three-tonne contraption to the US stalled because of mechanical setbacks and fine-tuning.

Now talks are under way to take on the record attempt at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

A spokesman for the British Steam Car Challenge team said: “We have had a preliminary meeting with Edwards Air Force Base about the possibility of running the car on the dry lakebed, once it has dried out following winter rains.

“During the trip to Los Angeles we were able to visit a number of potential suppliers. These included locating a source of demineralised water, liquid propane, communications, rental equipment and accommodation for the team.

“We also caught up with key members of the Southern Californian Timing Association who will be instrumental in helping us with course survey, layout and official timing.”

The last official steam-powered record attempt took place in 1906, when Fred Marriott drove a Stanley Steamer at 127.659mph.

The British Steam Car Challenge team hopes to smash that record using state-of-the-art micro boilers and super-heated 400C “dry” steam technology.

The car, which has the power of 1,500 kettles and creates enough hot water to make 23 cups of tea per second, is set to undergo further testing at Thorney Island, near Portsmouth, before being shipped to America.

It will be driven by Charles Burnett III – nephew of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu.

The project has attracted a top list of British speed demons, including Wing Commander Andy Green – holder of the first ever supersonic world land speed record of 763.035mph, set in 1997 – and Gina Campbell, who holds numerous water speed records.

Wing Cmdr Green said: “This is a small British team doing the equivalent of a home science project.

“But let’s not be dismissive about home science projects.

“The Wright brothers did a home science project in 1903 and were the first powered aviators in the world.”