Wednesday 5th May 2004

Land Speed Record Attempt

650hp Electric car capable of 300mph?

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On June 9th a British team will attempt to make history by doing over 300 mph in an electric car. The Primetime Engineering team – holders of the outright British Land Speed Record in their jet car -  will travel to the Chott-el-Jerid salt flats in Southern Tunisia to make an attempt on the 245mph World Electric Land Speed Record.

Driver Mark Newby and Engineer Colin Fallows will be taking their ‘ABB e=motion’ car to Tunisia for the record attempt. It has already achieved 146mph in just 1,000 yards (the longest distance available to the team in the UK). ‘ABB e=motion’ went faster in just over half a mile than the current 139mph UK electric record holders did after a 2 mile run up, so hopes for a new World Record are high. One of these 146mph passes was made ‘live’ as part of a special feature on the BBC’s Six O’Clock Evening News last Autumn.

The 650hp car is 32 feet long, and, according to computer simulation, should be capable of 304mph. Power is supplied to the electric motor by 58 Exide Technologies/CMP Orbital Series 800 batteries delivering a total of more than 600v and 2300amps. Final drive to the 25” tall Goodyear Landspeed tyres is via a bespoke belt and pulley system.

‘ABB e=motion’ leaves Dover on June 1st for the overland journey to Tunisia, and the Record Attempt will take place on June 9th at the special track provided by the Tunisian authorities near to the southern town of Tozeur.

[fto2tuscan]

they should try it on the toll road...

it's more than 1000yd

they'll have to go faster that ~140 or they'll be holdding everyone else up!

[user D]

It's a very worthwhile attempt and best of luck to the guys with all the new technology.

Now here's a poser; I am unable to find out what the curent UK Land Speed Record is for a piston-engined, wheel-driven car. Not a jet or anything, just a straightforward petrol engined car. Anyone know?

[fto2tuscan]

www.koenigsegg.com?

[zumbruk]

user D said:

It's a very worthwhile attempt and best of luck to the guys with all the new technology. Now here's a poser; I am unable to find out what the curent UK Land Speed Record is for a piston-engined, wheel-driven car. Not a jet or anything, just a straightforward petrol engined car. Anyone know?

www.speedace.info/

[DustyC]

600volts, 2300amps.
That is 1380KW which equals 1850HP

485KW = 650HP

so whats the other 1000+KW used for? Im guessing its got a serious sound system!

(My calculations were performed whilst lunching so they may all =arse)

[dinkel]

>> Edited by dinkel on Wednesday 5th May 21:15

[nonegreen]

user D said:

It's a very worthwhile attempt and best of luck to the guys with all the new technology. Now here's a poser; I am unable to find out what the curent UK Land Speed Record is for a piston-engined, wheel-driven car. Not a jet or anything, just a straightforward petrol engined car. Anyone know?

That will be PWIG next week on the cat and fiddle road. Above all its a Rover

[FunkyNige]

user D said:

Now here's a poser; I am unable to find out what the curent UK Land Speed Record is for a piston-engined, wheel-driven car. Not a jet or anything, just a straightforward petrol engined car. Anyone know?

This lot claim it's them at 242mph.
www.holeshot.co.uk/about.html on a 450HP Hayabusa turbo.

MCN have got a news item from 4 years ago saying it was a 226HP 'busa with nitrous.
Link

[goo-goo-gjoob]

dinkel said:

>> Edited by dinkel on Wednesday 5th May 21:15

the 300mph giant toothpick

[user D]

That's all very wonderful guys but my question still remains unanswered.
Hayabusa? That had two wheels last time I checked, not four.
I remember Tiff Needel doing something around a big circular test/proving track a couple years ago in a McClaren F1 but whether this was a speed thing or an endurance thing I can't remember.

I guess now the second McWhirter has died I will never know...