RE: Bloodhound SSC project enters administration

RE: Bloodhound SSC project enters administration

Author
Discussion

Sandpit Steve

9,983 posts

74 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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Come on rich people, this is huge publicity that money can now buy.

This project has been a decade in the making, and the public engagement in schools has been fantastic for recruiting the next generation of engineers.

There’s so much goodwill waiting for a sponsor to step up and fund the record attempt, let’s hope that someone does.

Hello Richard Branson, Dietrich Mateschitz, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, tobacco and gambling companies banned from more conventional advertising, here is a massive opportunity for your brand to lead the news for a week,,,

Collaudatore

1,055 posts

202 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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daddy cool said:
For 25M I wouldn't just want my name on the thing - i'd actually want the whole vehicle & project renamed from "Bloodhound SSC" to "Daddy Cool's Feckin Amazing 1000mph Ultra Dildo".
And painted pink smile

I'll put a fiver in that deal, if you can get it up

and running


Jon_S_Rally

3,400 posts

88 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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CharlesA said:
How many readers does Pistonheads have? I googled and found that in 2009 there were 2.5m unique subscribers, so presumably there are more now. On that basis, that is a tenner a head to fund it to 1,000mph.

I don't have the time to coordinate, so I am going to abdicate responsibility, but rather than moan about it, why not solve it? I'd be more than happy to contribute a financial equivalent of a tank of fuel (£80 as of last night) - how about it?
Surprised this hasn't already happened to be honest!

ash73 said:
They've taken way too long over it. I'm surprised it even turned a wheel, tbh.
Too long? It's a fairly ambitious job I should think. Not exactly something you nail together in a shed.

Foggy748

318 posts

160 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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CharlesA said:
How many readers does Pistonheads have? I googled and found that in 2009 there were 2.5m unique subscribers, so presumably there are more now. On that basis, that is a tenner a head to fund it to 1,000mph.

I don't have the time to coordinate, so I am going to abdicate responsibility, but rather than moan about it, why not solve it? I'd be more than happy to contribute a financial equivalent of a tank of fuel (£80 as of last night) - how about it?
Good shout. Imagine the entire car with Pistonheads written along the length! I’m up for it.

LotusOmega375D

7,601 posts

153 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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The new McLaren Speedtail will be faster than this ever manages, so a bargain at 2.1 million quid. You could bring a couple of friends along for the ride too.

steve2

1,772 posts

218 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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Mr L Hamilton, where are you??

AmosMoses

4,041 posts

165 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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Playing devils advocate here, hasn't the project already ran through the cash raised via crowd funding and other deals? I would expect 25mil is a drop in the ocean compared to what is actually needed.

It's a real shame as I really want this car to top 1000mph but without a severe cash injection I doubt this will ever happen frown


rtz62

3,360 posts

155 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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AmosMoses said:
Playing devils advocate here, hasn't the project already ran through the cash raised via crowd funding and other deals? I would expect 25mil is a drop in the ocean compared to what is actually needed.

It's a real shame as I really want this car to top 1000mph but without a severe cash injection I doubt this will ever happen frown
^This,

Did they really bumble along and think, like Mr Micawber, that 'something will turn up'?
If so, and seeing how they've burnt through £millions and only pushed it at a relatively low speed, was there no plan in place as to exactly how much it would cost' at what point the funds would run out or need a massive top-up?
I'm all for seeing the Union Flag blasting along at 1001mph or whatever, and creating a new world record, but this smacks not of professionalism but as being rank amateur 'men in long brown workcoat's,working out of a little shed in Druids Bottom, using slide-rules and sharpened HB pencils'...
If it had been pitched on Dragons Den, I fear that the phrase 'Im out' would be heard.....

Pothole

34,367 posts

282 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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paulyv said:
So time for the accountants to compare 25m spent here as opposed to 25m spent in something like football. I suspect that despite the amazing technology and grit displayed here it is viewed as something of a niche venture, amazingly. Fingers truly crossed as part of me was considering heading out and watching this if the opportunity arose.
Why is it amazing? It's viewed as a niche venture because it's exactly that, surely?

The comparison with football is fatuous, as they mostly are. £25m spent in football, at least in the Premier League is likely to provide a return on investment. What return does Bloodhound SSC offer?

This is a bit of a shame, but kind of inevitable. Maybe I'll bung em a few million when my Euromillions win comes in.

livinginasia

849 posts

110 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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Come on @redbull and @petronas what a chance for some great branding !

C70R

17,596 posts

104 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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paulyv said:
Cold said:
The investment would be having "Your Name Here" being displayed worldwide if/when it does the 1000mph run and being associated with the project for some time.
So time for the accountants to compare 25m spent here as opposed to 25m spent in something like football. I suspect that despite the amazing technology and grit displayed here it is viewed as something of a niche venture, amazingly. Fingers truly crossed as part of me was considering heading out and watching this if the opportunity arose.
Exactly this. Companies treat Marketing opportunities as "investments" - for instance, Red Bull didn't know the first thing about F1 when they went into it, but now it's a brand synonymous with high performance motor-racing. That's a good "investment" on their behalf.

AmosMoses

4,041 posts

165 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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ash73 said:
Thrust SSC cost <£3M apparently, whereas they spent £30M building Bloodhound over the last 10 years. Would be interesting to see where it all went.
I suspect a big portion is the raw engineering costs, going 700mph is probably a lot easier than 1000+mph

livinginasia

849 posts

110 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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Come on @redbull and @petronas what a chance for some great branding !

SpunkyM

250 posts

244 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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30.3 million taxpayers in the UK at the moment. I strongly suspect that if HMRC asked each of them for a 1 off 82.5p donation on their income tax for the year then the vast majority would oblige!

997s

85 posts

228 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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£25 million to do 1000mph? The local oik probably did that speed in his £500 nova last weekend.

deckster

9,630 posts

255 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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CaptainRAVE said:
A real shame, but a lot of money for something that will be obsolete and beaten before too long.
I seriously doubt that. The Bloodhound project has taught us many things, but principal amongst them is just how ridiculously hard it is to get a vehicle to do 1,000 mph on the ground.

If they get there, and I seriously hope they do, I expect this record to stand for many, many years.

RemyMartin81D

6,759 posts

205 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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deckster said:
CaptainRAVE said:
A real shame, but a lot of money for something that will be obsolete and beaten before too long.
I seriously doubt that. The Bloodhound project has taught us many things, but principal amongst them is just how ridiculously hard it is to get a vehicle to do 1,000 mph on the ground.

If they get there, and I seriously hope they do, I expect this record to stand for many, many years.
No one even bothered to beat the Thrust SSC. So I doubt anyone will get a sniff at bloodhound.

Also the costs are to be expected as said. It was monumentally easy to get Thrust to it's speed in comparison to 1000mph on land. People who are not in the engineering field will not understand the sheer R&D costs involved in getting project up and running let alone the development, material and staff costs involved. I sincerely hope someone steps in!

ukaskew

10,642 posts

221 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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CaptainRAVE said:
A real shame, but a lot of money for something that will be obsolete and beaten before too long.
I really, really doubt that, particularly if this does top 1000 mph. Nobody has troubled the Thrust SSC for 21 years, nothing else has gone over 500mph to my knowledge and the only other known LSR vehicle in development has been knocking around for about two decades now, and I believe will 'only' reach around 800mph if it does ever work.

ChocolateFrog

25,149 posts

173 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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Gutted.

I went to the trials and to feel the ground shake as it went past was incredible. Unfortunately it just hasn't resonated with the general public, most of which are completely unaware of the project.

I'm sure it will run, hope the investment comes from a British backer, Mr Branson would be a perfect fit I think.

Wouldn't surprise me if the record it sets stands for 50 years.

whiteonyx

368 posts

215 months

Monday 15th October 2018
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To get a new sponser onboard with an open chequebook will be extremely difficult,
first they will want their own livery / name etc, that has the potential to alienate present sponsors who may walk away and put the project further behind schedule
They may want to own the vehicle which won't go down too well with the SSC team
Will they want to run or meddle with the project rather than letting the SSC team carry on their way?
When achieved, they will want to run all the post promotion tours, talks, merchandise etc to re coup some of their investment
25 Mil won't last long and they will be asked to invest even further, if not cutting corners may bring on serious safety issues
If the project fails and god forbid a fatality occurs, would a major sponsor want that sort of brand / name negativity or backlash?
Its a British team using British tech and mainly British materials, do we really want a non UK person - company involvement? who would be happy with the Chinese, Arabic or Russian flag on the tail?