Steam Car Speed Recors broken after 102 years

[cmcpokey]

So it finally happened. A team from the UK broke the steam powered land speed record, setting a standard 2 pass average speed of 140 mph, bettering the previous record set in 1906 in a Stanly Steamer at 127 mph.

Steam-powered car breaks century-old speed record - tech - 25 August 2009 - New Scientist

[Dino Scuderia]

Don't they realize the only thing that matters is the 'ring time?

[cmcpokey]

another article

Steam-Powered Car Breaks Century-Old Record | Autopia | Wired.com

[Ferrer]

Don't they realize the only thing that matters is the 'ring time?

It probably can do it in under 7...

...days.

[coolieman1220]

they need bonneville salt flats!

and why does it take so long to slow? throw some brembo's on!

[demonrunning07]

they need bonneville salt flats!

and why does it take so long to slow? throw some brembo's on!

It probably weighs a lot on account of the steam engine. It also probably accelerates very slowly. Its steam engine probably produces a lot of torque relative to its power which it uses to turn a very large gear.

[cargirl1990]

I forgot about the steam engine that they tried out in cars.

[W.R.]

Hardly what I'd call progress. If they'd done 100mph more, then maybe I'd think about calling it that.

[NSXType-R]

I think the average person would say "What took so long?" but even though I know nothing about engineering, I'm sure steam at such high pressures is hard to maintain in a relatively compact and aerodynamic package. Plus it needs a fuel source that get stoked probably, or at least there's an automatic mechanism.

There's probably a whole bunch of engineering problems that they've solved using this- remember- this is a car, not a train. Trains at least don't need to worry about where they're going for the most part. They can be relatively heavy too because the rails can support it. I'm not sure how much weight the salt flats can handle.

[pimento]

I'm pretty sure they did it because it's a record they knew they could beat. Not sure steam propultion technology really needs any huge advancement.. or if it's really all that possible.