Steam Car

For Immediate Release:

British Steam Car in Steam

Following successful static testing at which members of the British Steam Car team were delighted to be engulfed in steam, the project is on track for the World of Speed event at Bonneville, USA, from 15–21 September – at which attempts will be made to establish a new steam car world speed record.

This represents 'plan B' for the British Steam Car team, having reluctantly decided to miss the Bonneville Speed Week in August. Matt Candy, British Steam Car Project Leader, says: "It was a difficult decision. The car was in steam but we'd run out of time to undertake dynamic testing. We could have shipped the car to America and done the testing there but that might have meant difficulties overcoming any problems. We decided to stick to our plan of doing test runs in the UK, knowing we had full technical backup available. This means we'll miss Bonneville Speed Week and go to World of Speed instead – an eventuality we'd planned for if time got tight."

All the car's components, electronics and 192 safety sensors are now in place and have been satisfactorily tested. The highly advanced firebox containing 12 micro boilers is successfully producing steam. With safety concerns paramount, the vehicle has been inspected by Bonneville officials and has been pronounced sound. UK testing is now beginning (a limited number of media places are available to witness these tests).

After completion of the dynamic testing schedule, two 40ft shipping crates will be used to transport the three-ton, 25ft-long British Steam Car and its backup equipment to Bonneville on 28th August. It will sail from Portsmouth to New York and then be taken overland to Bonneville, Utah.

The last official steam powered record attempt took place in 1906, with Fred Marriott driving a Stanley Steamer built by the Stanley brothers. It achieved 127.659mph. In 1985, Bob Barber reached 145.607mph in a steam car but only made one run – to qualify as a world record the average speed of two runs in opposite directions is taken. The British Steam Car team will officially unveil the car and carry out preparatory testing at the World of Speed and the attempt(s) on the record will take place from 22 of September on the famous Bonneville Salt Flats.

Monthly updates are available at www.steamcar.co.uk (which includes profiles of team members and technical specifications for the British Steam Car). To subscribe to press releases, please email:

rebecca@eventspr.co.uk

British Steam Car dates:

W/c 11th August UK Testing begins

28th August - Vehicle departs UK for Bonneville

15th - 21st September - Official unveiling and preparatory testing at World of Speed, Bonneville with test driver, Don Wales

22nd- 27th - National and World Record Attempts

October Return of British Steam Car to UK and then on permanent display at National Motor Museum Trust at Beaulieu

Technical information (not previously released).

At 25ft (7.6m) long weighing just over 3 tons and using a ton of water every 25 minutes the British Steam car is no ordinary run about. When the car is moving the 40 bar water pressure is maintained using compressed air to fill 2 70-litre hydraulic accumulator bladders. The boilers contain more than 1.86 miles (3Km) of tubing and are insulated with advanced ceramic-and-silica cloth. The burners develop three megawatts of heat. The water boils at 250-degree C because it is at 40 times atmospheric pressure; this is called 'wet' steam. It is then super-heated to 400 degree C 'dry' steam, which is directed down the car via heavily lagged pipes and two industrial steam valves, into a two-stage turbine. The steam is injected into the turbine at more than twice the speed of sound and the turbine spins at up to 13,000rpm. The turbine then drives the rear wheels crown wheel and pinion reduction gear.

The machine actually runs for less time than it takes start. It takes eight minutes to get going and has enough fuel, compressed air and water to run for three minutes - the record can be achieved in less than two minutes running time.

For further information, latest news release, photographs or interviews

Please contact Rebecca at Eventageous PR Ltd on

T: 01452 886380 or email: rebecca@eventspr.co.uk

Rebecca Nicholls

Director, Eventageous PR Ltd

Tel: 01452 886380 Mobile: 07749 852481

Email: Rebecca@eventspr.co.uk

www.eventageouspr.co.uk

Eventageous PR Ltd is registered in England Number 5579554

Registered Office: Studio 14 Kestrel Court, Waterwells Business Park, Quedgeley, Glos, GL2 2AT

FINALIST OF THE START-UP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD 2006

This e-mail is confidential and solely for the use of the addressee(s). Any views or opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Eventageous PR Ltd. If you are not the intended addressee you should not use, disseminate, forward, copy or print this e-mail.

Save paper, please think twice before printing this email.

Following years of planning and development, the British Steam Car was unveiled to the public last weekend, at its workshop in Lymington. The British Steam Car Team expects to smash the world steam car speed record at Bonneville, Utah, USA in August 2008, following the unveiling of the British Steam Car at the 60th Bonneville Speed Week from 18 to 24 August. The last official steam powered record attempt took place in 1906, with Fred Marriott driving a Stanley Steamer built by the Stanley brothers. It achieved 127.659mph. In 1985, Bob Barber reached 145.607mph in a steam car but only made one run – to qualify as a world record the average speed of two runs in opposite directions is taken.

Having overcome numerous challenges and setbacks in the past eight years, the British Steam Car Team has demonstrated remarkable resolve and fortitude – in true British Bulldog fashion. This is not lavishly funded project and most of the work developing and building the car has been undertaken in a modest wooden workshop at Lymington in the New Forest, Hampshire.

Project manager, Frank Swanston, who sadly died in 2007, instigated much of the engineering groundwork. Since then, the British Steam Car Team has regrouped and was boosted by the recruitment of Don Wales as test driver. Wales is the nephew of the late Donald Campbell and grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell – who between them established more than 20 land and water speed records. Wales himself set an electric vehicle land speed record in Bluebird Electric in 2001. At Bonneville, the British Steam Car will be housed in the same hangar used by the Campbells for their record attempts.

Principle racing driver Charles Burnett, who has competed in drag car and drag boat racing, will drive the British Steam Car. Burnett has captured a variety of world records using catamarans and monohulls powered by diesel, petrol and LPG engines. He was included in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1999 for an offshore water speed record of 137mph. Speaking at the unveiling, he said: "I am passionate about advancing environmentally-friendly vehicles on land, water and in the air and this is an excellent way to demonstrate the potential of steam."

Support for the British Steam Car Team also came from 1996 F1 World Champion, Damon Hill, who sent this message: "I wish the team all the best in their attempt to break the longest-standing land speed record".

There is still plenty of time for members of the public to become involved with and support the British Steam Car Team. The official website, www.steamcar.co.uk includes a link to a special Pound a Pixel website. Here, individuals and companies can buy space on the site and will get their names on the car for just £1.

Principle Racing Driver Charles Burnett III, Test Driver Don Wales and members of the engineering team are available for interview.

Please contact Rebecca at Eventageous PR Ltd, on Tel: 01452 886380
or email: Rebecca@eventspr.co.uk