Wednesday 8th June 2011

Want To Help A Bluebird Break A Record?

Electric record car needs PHers' help to crack 500mph

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Bluebird is undoubtedly one of the most famous car names in the world, and Don Wales, grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell MBE and therefore a member of perhaps the most famous land-speed record dynasty, is hoping to put Bluebird back in the record books.

On Saturday 2 July and Sunday 3 July at Pendine Sands, Carmarthenshire, Wales and his team will conduct speed trials at Pendine Sands with an electric car he hopes will crack 500mph in 2013.

In 1924, Malcolm Campbell achieved his first World Land Speed Record of 146.16mph at Pendine Sands, beginning a long history of record breaking by the Campbell family that was taken up by Don in 1998 when he broke the UK Land Speed Record for an electric car.

Wales subsequently raised the electric record to 137mph at Pendine Sands in 2000 and in 2009 he broke the world speed record for a steam car at 148mph.

Wales also hopes to establish new UK electric car records in his July run - but he needs your help.

Malcolm Campbell's records at Pendine Sands would not have been possible without the generous help and support of the local community, and Don is now appealing for similar support during the weekend of 2/3 July 2011.

"I have a team of up to 30 people requiring accommodation and feeding," he says, "and volunteers are needed to help as course marshals and fodders (people who remove debris from the sands). Without a principal sponsor as yet, the development of the car is taking all of what limited budget we have. I hope people will revive the spirit of the 1920s and volunteer to help."

Fancy playing your part in a new land-speed record project? If you do, then you can get in touch with Rebecca Nicholls on 01452 260063, and via e-mail at [e-mail].

Supporters and enthusiasts can follow the progress of Don Wales and Bluebird by signing up on the website www.bluebirdspeedrecords.com to receive the latest news.

 

 

[Sam_68]

I'm interested in knowing what makes them think they can achieve 500mph, when even the petrol engined technology that was going faster at Pendine in the 1920's than they have managed so far hasn't yet reached that target?

[JSquaredJim]

The simple answer to the above question would be "maths". They have done some and that is the theoretical top speed of the vehicle that they have built. Clever stuff that maths you know.

[MX5guy]

It sounds more like a long term goal for the 500mph, whereas this year they want to improve on the record a bit with new technology.

[Corsair7]

Instead of chasing pointless top speed figures, they should invest in improving recharge times or improving other aspects of the technology.

Whats the point in developing an electric car that can achieve speeds that can only be done on salt flats? The world doesnt need that.

Hope they dont get their electric from Scottish and Southern, as they'll need another 20%...

[GFWilliams]

Corsair7 said:

Instead of chasing pointless top speed figures, they should invest in improving recharge times or improving other aspects of the technology.

Whats the point in developing an electric car that can achieve speeds that can only be done on salt flats? The world doesnt need that.

Hope they dont get their electric from Scottish and Southern, as they'll need another 20%...

Because challenging boundaries in life is an interesting and challenging thing to do. Top speeds are not easy to get up to!

[detomaso]

Corsair7 said:

Instead of chasing pointless top speed figures, they should invest in improving recharge times or improving other aspects of the technology.

Whats the point in developing an electric car that can achieve speeds that can only be done on salt flats? The world doesnt need that.

Hope they dont get their electric from Scottish and Southern, as they'll need another 20%...

What a boring, 21st Century reply - good luck to them, as a kid I was fascinated by land speed records and would love to witness something going 200mph+ on the sands, I see these are trials but it reads like they are aiming to break a few records in July

[grant3R]

Corsair7 said:

Instead of chasing pointless top speed figures, they should invest in improving recharge times or improving other aspects of the technology.

Whats the point in developing an electric car that can achieve speeds that can only be done on salt flats? The world doesnt need that.

Pistonheads - Speed Matters. (recharge times don't....so much!)

[P9UNK]

detomaso said:

Corsair7 said:

Instead of chasing pointless top speed figures, they should invest in improving recharge times or improving other aspects of the technology.

Whats the point in developing an electric car that can achieve speeds that can only be done on salt flats? The world doesnt need that.

Hope they dont get their electric from Scottish and Southern, as they'll need another 20%...

What a boring, 21st Century reply - good luck to them, as a kid I was fascinated by land speed records and would love to witness something going 200mph+ on the sands, I see these are trials but it reads like they are aiming to break a few records in July

yes good luck to them... some people really need to get out more and enjoy life. Why on earth do a team from Bluebird need to worry about re charge times, Bosch are doing this. If there is no need for breaking the top speed for an electric car than PH may as well pack up because logically there is never any point in top speed above national speed limits.

[scubadude]

Corsair7 said:

Instead of chasing pointless top speed figures, they should invest in improving recharge times or improving other aspects of the technology.

Whats the point in developing an electric car that can achieve speeds that can only be done on salt flats? The world doesnt need that.

Hope they dont get their electric from Scottish and Southern, as they'll need another 20%...

WHAT? Least Pistonheads answer ever?

They are trying to break a Land SPEED Record! Recharge time records are not yet a recognised speed catergory so leave that to the battery manufacturers who have some value in that field.

Good luck to them I say, the UK holds several LSR's so why not the electric one too? Irrespective of the power source/motive power a target of 500mph is impressive, if they can bag a UK record in testing (which is what this sounds like) then all the better.

[disco1]

scubadude said:

WHAT? Least Pistonheads answer ever?

+1
What next? Pistonheads, because saving fuel and fluffy bunnies matters!

[Lord Flathead]

Shouldn't this be on Armature Heads - Battery Matters?

[beetroute]

... or more likely Armature Heads - Battery Flatters

[Rumblestripe]

Corsair7 said:

Instead of chasing pointless top speed figures, they should invest in improving recharge times or improving other aspects of the technology.

Whats the point in developing an electric car that can achieve speeds that can only be done on salt flats? The world doesnt need that.

Hope they dont get their electric from Scottish and Southern, as they'll need another 20%...

Ignoring for a moment the fact that you do not understand the nature of the website you are using (clue - SPEED MATTERS). Research into improving electric car performance may well produce just the results you desire. Like efficiency research into producing a higher power internal combustion engine gave us the more efficient engines of today.

[Mork of Ork]

Corsair7 said:

Instead of chasing pointless top speed figures, they should invest in improving recharge times or improving other aspects of the technology.

Whats the point in developing an electric car that can achieve speeds that can only be done on salt flats? The world doesnt need that.

Hope they dont get their electric from Scottish and Southern, as they'll need another 20%...

[Efbe]

Corsair7 said:

Instead of chasing pointless top speed figures, they should invest in improving recharge times or improving other aspects of the technology.

Whats the point in developing an electric car that can achieve speeds that can only be done on salt flats? The world doesnt need that.

Hope they dont get their electric from Scottish and Southern, as they'll need another 20%...

tool

[ctallchris]

Sam_68 said:

I'm interested in knowing what makes them think they can achieve 500mph, when even the petrol engined technology that was going faster at Pendine in the 1920's than they have managed so far hasn't yet reached that target?

Because it is easier than driving the wheels with petrol?

I suspect they will be going for the Driven wheel record (470 mph turboshaft, 415 mph ICE ). Drive will probably be turbine -> generator -> motor setup (vagely similar to the jag concept / Vauxhal ampera concept if you switch the turbine for a 4pot)

They'll stand a good chance because with electric drive they won't have any gearbox problems and can probably make it 4WD more easily.

It won't exactly be green but it will help advance ultra high power electronics a bit which will assist electric cars. The power output will probably be limited by the power of the turbines which will probably be many thousands of horsepower and the electronics (which will probably be cooled possibly using superconducters if they have the cash to splash.

Best of luck to the team i say.

[Tyre Tread]

I thought this place was called PISTONheads and that we hate electric cars

[Hunky Dory]

Corsair7 said:

(Abridged version)
Whats the point.....

GET OUT NOW!!!

Seriously, go and sit in the corner and think about what you have said.

If, after that, you still cannot see the merit in pushing the boundaries of what has been previously achieved by others, aside from the obvious "We just want to prove it can be done" then you may wish to reconsider the websites you are a member of as, for that matter, the world doesn't really "need" motorsport, supercars or performance vehicles of any sort

Oh god - there goes my blood pressure up again!

ETA - Rage induced mis-quoting!

Edited by Hunky Dory on Wednesday 8th June 13:52

[M666 EVO]

beetroute said:

... or more likely Armature Heads - Battery Flatters

Flattery Batters.

[soad]

Good luck to them with a test run.
2013 is still far away to reach their big goal, anything could happen