The Speediest Steam Car On Earth?
The "Inspiration" experimental steam car
Is it the speediest steam car on earth? You bet, and the “steam team” has the records to prove it. Though you may have heard the general outline of their story, the short video clip will amaze those who have even a passing interest in unique automobiles. Neither a classic nor a museum piece by any stretch of the imagination, the steam-powered record-breaker, named Inspiration, has set a slew of bests over the last several years. The jewel in the team crown is the 2009 record of 139.8 mph, which was set at an Air Force base in California. The car was driven by Charles Burnett III.
The “steam team,” as the group is known in Britain, consists of just 15 individuals, an amazingly small number for an engineering feat of this sort. In fact, when the team won the prestigious Simms Medal in the U.K., many in the auto industry had never even heard of them. On an extremely tight budget, the group built and raced the Inspiration against all odds, many of which were financial rather than technical.
The record they broke in 2009 was the oldest land speed record still standing. The car’s creators believe that steam power can be refined and will become one of many fuels used in future hybrid vehicles, especially large ones, which are more adapted to steam power because of the space required for components. In the video, you will no doubt notice the size of the Inspiration, whose body length consists of about 90 percent engine compartment.
As the team’s website explains, the car itself is meant to be an inspiration to young students who are interested in engineering careers. By setting the world record, winning the Simms Award, and touring with the car, the steam team has certainly inspired more than a few young people to enter the exciting field of engineering.
For a bit more about the steam team, see, http://www.steamcar.co.uk/
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