andygates: (Default)
andygates ([personal profile] andygates) wrote2008-12-12 08:55 am
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23 cups of tea a second

That's how much boiling the boiler in the new British land-speed steam car can produce.  It's just passed tests and hopes to go to Bonneville next year and crush the long-standing speed record set by a Stanley Steamer back in the twenties.  The thing has twelve microboilers, gets through a ton of water in twenty-five minutes, and is aiming for 170mph.

How British is it?  They held a raffle to raise funds for the carbon-fibre nosecone. 

Twenty-three cups of tea a second.  It's a jet steam-propelled NAAFI fnordgasm!

And it's in British Racing Green.

[identity profile] ravenbait.livejournal.com 2008-12-12 12:13 pm (UTC)(link)
That's awesome.

Also: "It's a steam-propelled NAAFI fnordgasm!" is my new phrase of the day.

[identity profile] teahisme.livejournal.com 2008-12-12 12:24 pm (UTC)(link)
They are using American tires for their British car. heh

[identity profile] andygates.livejournal.com 2008-12-12 12:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, they're going to race it on Bonneville salt flats. It'll feel at home.

[identity profile] teahisme.livejournal.com 2008-12-12 12:29 pm (UTC)(link)
LOL! Well the other two biggest tire manufacturers are either Japanese or French. Those being Bridgestone and Michelin. I bet there has to be a British based tire co though or should that be tyre co.

[identity profile] teahisme.livejournal.com 2008-12-12 12:44 pm (UTC)(link)
So because I am curioius by nature. There is the British Tyre Manufacturers Association. They are comprised of these companies according to their webpage:

BTMA represents 8 leading quality tyre manufacturers.

More Details


Bridgestone UK Limited (japan based)
Continental Tyre Group Limited (German based)
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe Limited (USA, but apparently contains Avon tire group)
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres Limited (Dunlop was based in Dublin, but now is owned by Goodyear mostly)
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Limited
Michelin Tyre Plc (France)
Pirelli Tyres Limited (Italy I did check though to make sure it was based there)
Vredestein (UK) Limited (and finally the Dutch)

Then there is this interesting list on wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Tire_Companies

My conclusion is they should either seek tires from Dunlop or Avon tires/tyres.

[identity profile] ravenbait.livejournal.com 2008-12-12 12:59 pm (UTC)(link)
You have too much time on your hands today.

23 cups of tea a second

(Anonymous) 2008-12-13 09:01 am (UTC)(link)
Hi, For more information on this car and steam cars in general have a look at

http://www.steamcar.net

regards, Jeff.