Inspiration is a British-designed and -built steam-propelled car designed by Glynne Bowsher and developed by the British Steam Car Challenge team.[1][2]
Inspiration | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | British Steam Car Challenge |
Designer | Glynne Bowsher |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Land Speed Record (steam) |
Chassis | Steel space frame |
Powertrain | |
Engine | Two stage turbine driven by superheated steam |
Dimensions | |
Length | 7.6 m |
Width | 1.7 m |
Height | 1.7 m |
Curb weight | 3 tons |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Stanley Steamer |
Inspiration holds the World Land Speed Record for a steam-powered vehicle on 25 August 2009, driven by Charles Burnett III with an average speed of 139.8 mph (225 km/h)[3] over two consecutive runs over a measured mile. This broke the and longest-standing land speed record set in 1906 by Fred Marriott in the Stanley Steamer.[4] On 26 August 2009 the car, driven by Don Wales, broke a second record by achieving an average speed of 148.308 mph (239 km/h) over two consecutive runs over a measured kilometre.
The runs were made at Edwards Air Force Base in California, United States. The car is 7.6 m long, 1.7 m wide and weighs 3 tons. It is powered by a two-stage turbine driven by superheated steam from 12 boilers containing distilled water. The boilers are heated by burners which burn Liquid Petroleum Gas to produce 3 Megawatts (10.2 million BTU/hr) of heat. The steam produced is at a temperature of 400 °C (750 °F) and a pressure of 4000 kN/m2 40 bar (580 psi). The engine is capable of developing 288 kW (386 hp; 392 PS) and consumes around 40 litres (8.8 Impgal) of water per minute).[5]
The car has been retired to the National Motor Museum Trust at Beaulieu, England.[6]
Notes
External links
Wikiwand in your browser!
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.