Brit's finally did it!

[PTSideshow]

The 25ft-long British Steam Car reached an average speed of 139.843mph on two runs over a measured mile at the Edwards Air Force Base in California.
The vehicle has been nicknamed the "fastest kettle in the world".
The timing beat the previous record of 127mph set by American Fred Marriott in a Stanley steam car at the Daytona Beach Road Course in 1906.
Mr Marriott's timing was the longest-standing officially-recognised land speed record but it was beaten by the British team, based in Lymington, Hampshire, with Charles Burnett III at the wheel.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090825/tuk-british-team-smashes-steam-car-recor-dba1618.html


:D:D
(http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090825/tuk-british-team-smashes-steam-car-recor-dba1618.html)

[Alan Stepney]

I have been following this closely as they are near to me.
Although it is nice to see that they have done it, it does show how much it takes to beat an old record.

Either the Stanley was w-a-y ahead of its time, of the latest attempt wasnt using the full power available, or perhaps this IS the limit for steam technology.

[watt-steam]

I followed their writeups over the last few years. Car had multiple everything and looked really complicated. They had 10 LP gas fired boilers at one point. The British car uses a turbine engine and very fancy computer controlled gearbox. I remember reading at one time there was reportedly a huge argument with the team vs their senior adviser about adequate steam supply and insulation of the many feet of pipes connecting boilers etc. Several computers were used to keep track of it all. Usual high tech BS to do a simple job which seems to happen a lot these days.

Stanley Bros record breaking car had a reciprocating steam engine, and one simple monotube boiler fired with gasoline - all mechanically controlled of course.

Stiil, the British team's success may increase steam awareness, which would be good.

Watt