Scots set for 313mph bid after engine scare

Published on Wednesday 18 August 2010 14:52

A SCOTTISH team looking to set a new world land speed record today have avoided "near disaster" after the engine of their hi-tech vehicle suffered severe damage.

• The Speed Scotland team hope that new engine parts will allow them to make one attempt to break the 313mph land speed record with their Flower of Scotland vehicle in Utah today Picture: PA

The Speed Scotland team, competing in the Salt Flats of Utah at the prestigious Bonneville Speed Week, are aiming to smash the existing record of 313mph in the one-litre supercharged class.

Having constructed their own supercharged vehicle at a cost of 200,000, it looked like their chances were wrecked on Tuesday after a chain snapped during a practice session, damaging the casing on the engine and gearbox.

However, after tracking down a specialist on the other side of the US and convincing him to work through the night to make new parts, the team are back on track and hoping to launch an assault on the record today.

Speaking to The Scotsman from Utah, Rick Pearson, the driver of the Flower of Scotland vehicle, said: "Given we have no further spares with us, it looked like the dream of a record for Scotland was over for this year, but the team were not prepared to give it up that easily.

"The crew are currently tearing the car and the old engines apart to gather enough parts to put one good engine back together and in the car in time for a full-bore pass some time on Thursday."

The 35-year-old said the setback had changed the team's preparations.

The team intended to carry out practice runs, building up speed gradually, but will now be forced to go all-out in pursuit of glory.

"We won't now be able to afford the luxury of stepping up the speed gradually," Mr Pearson said. "I'll be getting in the car with the turbo turned up high and giving it one big run down the Salt to see if we can crack the magic 300mph and perhaps even threaten that 313mph record."

Derek Palmer from Lesmahagow, the team's manager, said that while they hoped to break the record, safety remained paramount.

"This isn't like (Donald] Campbell," he said. "This is first and foremost a technical exercise."

Speed record-breaker Donald Campbell visited the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1960 and was injured in a crash while testing the Bluebird CN7 for a land speed record attempt.

The team's methanol-powered, 22in-wide Streamliner car was built by Mr Palmer's firm, Pro Motorsport. So compact is the vehicle that Mr Pearson has to lie flat on his back, before sliding up the seat to jam his head into a roll cage.

The vehicle, just 30in high, has a five-gallon fuel tank and uses motor engines taken from Kawasaki Ninja motorbikes and modified to produce up to 400 brake horsepower.

The controls consist only of a steering wheel with a CO2 power shift button, two parachute levers, three fire extinguisher levers and an accelerator, clutch and brake. Above the driver's head is a small television screen which shows an infra-red picture of the engine bay in case of methanol fire, plus water and oil temperature displays.

The team, which includes a second driver in the form of Mr Palmer's 23-year-old son, also Derek, are former winners of various British and European championships including the last FIA European Michelin Supertouring Championship in 2001.

Their bid, which has cost 200,000 to date, is part of a three-year plan to break the existing record, which was set 12 years ago.

Mr Palmer added: "If we can set the new record for Scotland, it will be fantastic. We're confident we can do it."