BSCC "Vaporizes" Two World Land Speed Records

One important milestone was passed successfully when the British Steam Car was inspected by representatives from the Southern Timing Association and the FIA (the international governing body of motor sport) and declared eligible to attempt the world steam car record. The record runs commenced this morning at 6am PT. [ctrl-click to launch in car video of a test run on Rogers Dry Lake Bed] Image & Video Credit: Don Wales – Test Driver, BSCC

BSCC "Vaporizes" Two World Land Speed Records

Today, two World Land Speed Records and one unofficial fastest top speed were established by the British Steam Car Challenge (BSCC), in the Rogers Dry Lake Bed (Edwards Air Force Base, Mojave, California). 139.843 mph by Charles Burnett III for the measured mile, 148.308 mph by Don Wales for the measured kilometer, and an unofficial fastest top speed ever set for a human-driven steam-powered vehicle of over 155mph set by Don Wales.

These new speed records were observed and documented on-site by the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) and is awaiting official approvals. The FIA is the governing body for world motor sport, and recognizes a world land speed record as the average speed of two passes made across the same measured distance in opposing directions within 60 minutes of each other. The time of the two runs is then averaged to obtain the official recorded speed.

The BSCC is a mission formed to make something solid out of controlling, well ... vapor. The mission focuses on capturing new world land speed records (for both the measured mile and kilometer). Their most recent attempts to beat the longstanding 106-year-old land speed records have been ongoing since the end of June 2009, when the British Steam Car arrived by container ship at the Port of Los Angeles.



The steam car is fitted with 12 boilers, which work like a kettle on a stove. LPG in the vehicle’s tanks ignite in order to produce about three megawatts of heat, to boil 140 litres of distilled water which produces the requisite steam. The water’s then pumped into the boilers at 50 litres a minute to superheat steam to 400C, which is then transmitted to the supercar’s turbines at twice the speed of sound to gather enough momentum and thrust to push the car to mesmerizing speeds of over 200mph. [ctrl-click diagram to launch video of an engine test at Rogers Dry Lake base camp, Edwards AFB, Mojave, CA] Image Credit: BSCC

Prior to today's record-setting, the British Steam Car Challenge Team had successfully carried out 5 full test runs in excess of 100mph in their summer-long project conducted at Edwards.

Last week, after numerous setbacks, the team was rewarded with their preparations on Saturday having unofficially posted a mark greater than Fred Marriott record set in the Stanley Steam Racer - called the "Stanley Rocket". The BSCC team's own calibrated equipment measured the two-way average at 137.14mph, and a 48min 52 second turn-around.

Then, of course, there was the additional unofficial success of Monday's mark of 148mph. This was significant because the mark eclipses the fastest speed ever recorded by any human-driven, steam-powered vehicle, official or unofficial ... a mark set by Bob Barber in 1985 on the salt flats at Bonneville, Utah (unofficial) stood at 145.607mph.

British Steam Car Challenge Logo - Image Credit: BSCC

The BSCC team have acknowledged the achievements of the "Barber-Nichols Team" and their vehicle "Steamin' Demon". On 18th August 1985 The Barber-Nichols Team carried out three successful passes and achieved an American National Record at 145.607mph. There was no attempt, however, to establish an FIA record by the Barber-Nichols Team and it is the goal of the British Steam Car Challenge to recognize this speed, or better, as the target FIA record mark to set.

The principal driver of the BSCC is the nephew of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, Charles Burnett III. Burnett was born in England in 1956 and educated in South Africa and America, and as a legitimate tri-national (his mother was Canadian and his father American) he inherited a love for travel and all things mechanical from his father, who raced hydroplanes and restored Hudson automobiles.

A long-time powerboat enthusiast, Charles set up Vulture Ventures, a UK-based offshore racing team, which soon became known as the world’s most successful team in the sport. During this time, Charles took a variety of world records using catamarans and monohulls powered by diesel, petrol and LPG. He was included in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1999 for an offshore water speed record of 137mph.

The World Land Speed Record holding British Steam Car Challenge team, Rogers Dry Lake, Edwards Air Force Base, Mojave, California, United states of America [ctrl-click photo to launch BBC Video of record breaking run!]. Image Credit: BSCC (2009)

At 8.19am PT, Charles Burnett III successfully broke the land speed record for a steam-powered car achieving an average speed of 139.843mph on two runs over a measured mile.

Charles piloted the car for both runs reaching a peak speed of 136.103mph on the first run and 151.085 mph on the second. The new international record, which is subject to official confirmation by the FIA, breaks the previous official FIA record of 127mph set in 1906 by American, Fred Marriott, driving a Stanley steamer at Daytona Beach.





The British Steam Car - Inspiration - on its first record-breaking run with Charles Burnett III on Rogers Dry Lake bed. The first photo shows the Steam Car at full speed on the first pass as it goes by a U.S. Air Force jet taxiing on an adjacent runway. The middle photo has the car through the middle of the second pass where it reached a speed of over 151mph. The last photo shows the British Steam Car as it completes its challenge to break the World Land Speed Record for the measured mile. [ctrl-click photo to launch BBC Video of record breaking run!] Images Credit: BSCC via BBC Video

As he was congratulated by his jubilant crew, principal driver, Charles Burnett III said: "It was absolutely fantastic. I enjoyed every moment of it. We reached nearly 140mph on the first run before I applied the parachute. All systems worked perfectly, it was a really good run.

The second run went even better and we clocked a speed in excess of 150 mph. The car really did handle beautifully. The team has worked extremely hard over the last 10 years and overcome numerous problems. It is a privilege to be involved with such a talented crew, what we have achieved today is a true testament to British engineering, good teamwork and perseverance.”

A very happy and relieved Charles Burnett III, Primary Driver of the British Steam Car Challenge named Inspiration, after his FIA sanctioned measured mile run that broke a 106 year old World Land Speed Record for a human-driven steam-powered vehicle. Image Credit: BSCC via BBC Video

Project Manager Matt Candy said: "The first run took place at 7.27am when the air temperature was a cool 63 degrees Fahrenheit, the team turned around the car in 52minutes (with just 8 minutes spare) in preparation for its return run. The British Steam Car takes 2.5 miles to accelerate, and after the measured mile, a further 2.5 miles to decelerate – so each run was over 6.5 miles. The FIA requires that the return run takes place within 60 minutes. The times of the two runs are then averaged to obtain the official recorded speed. Compared to the testing we did in Britain, the British Steam Car ran 12 times the distance and twice the maximum speed ­– all within one hour. It’s been a huge challenge for all."

Primary Test Driver, Don Wales - Replacing Don Wales for the actual record attempt will be the project's brainchild and main financier, Charles Burnett III. "It's his project, so he gets to drive it on the day," Mr Wales added. "I just hope to break the world record during the test run - he can then break it after me. If I can help a British team get a world record, then I'm happy." Image Credit: Murry Sanders

Soon after Burnett's successful run, Don Wales, the primary test driver and the person who had logged the most runs in the machine, set the record for a measured kilometer – achieving an average speed of 148.308mph for the required two runs.

Wales climbed into the cockpit of the car for the attempt at the kilometer record and reached a peak speed over 155mph. Again, both new international records are subject to official confirmation by the FIA.

Don Wales said: "What a great feeling, the car felt better than ever today. We peaked over 150mph and the car was handling beautifully. The team has worked so hard over the last 10 years, especially over the last few weeks!”

Project Manager Matt Candy said: "It’s fantastic to set another record for the team and all that hard work has been worth it. After Charles broke the record for the measured mile, we decided to have one more run with the car and attempt the kilometer record.

We took some of the inhibitors from the boilers for this run and it helped get a bit more speed out of the car. The weather was perfect and the air temperature was just 62 degrees Fahrenheit, the team turned around the car in an amazing 30minutes which is their quickest ever! Don has worked so hard with the team, it’s fantastic that he should go home with a record too.”

Three cheers for three records (two official and one unofficial) for the British Steam Car Challenge, and the car they created, Inspiration!

... notes from The EDJE

The British Steam Car Team Has Success At Edwards AFB

“The Lean, Green, Mean Machine” of the British Steam Car Challenge as it finally rolls along on the desert sands of the Rogers Dry Lake Bed, located on Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert, Southern California [ctrl-click for steam test video]. Image Credit: BSCC (2009)

The British Steam Car Team Has Success At Edwards AFB

After numerous technical problems, the British Steam Car team successfully carried out its first test run on US soil, yesterday. The team has been working tirelessly to get the car ready for the record attempts to break the century-old world land speed record for steam-powered vehicles.

The team was in position by 7.00am ready for their first run. Test Driver Don Wales was strapped into the 25ft-long car that he has nicknamed “the lean, green, mean machine” – because of the technical issues the team has had to overcome. The goal was to replicate the test program that took place in April at Thorney Island. The throttle lag was approx 5-7 seconds but it seemed longer as the vehicle accelerated slowly away.

Project Manager Matt Candy said: "We reached 77mph over a very short distance of just 1km which was comparable to our tests at Thorney. We were due to do a high speed return run but the gas rig had trouble refueling and so we had to abort it. We will replace this gas pump tomorrow and resume the testing programme. The software has since confirmed that the vehicle produced more steam on the test run than in the UK, a bypass valve was open for approximately 1/5 of the test and the majority of the steam was wasted. This can be rectified, and knowing that it not performing to its full capacity is really encouraging news, as we can utilize the steam to generate more power than we thought we had."

World Record Attempt will Be Delayed

Despite the successful test run, the team has taken the decision to delay the record attempt to the week commencing 17th August. Candy continued "It’s important that the technical issues with the support rigs are resolved before an attempt is made, and these things can’t be rushed. In addition, the FIA officials have to leave on the 4th August to attend Bonneville Speedweek. However the FIA are free from the 17th August after they have carried out their duties at Bonneville and can join the team at Edwards to calibrate and record the attempts"

The British Steam Car Team hopes to achieve the official FIA Land Speed Record for a steam-powered vehicle. The current official FIA record is 127mph previously set by American, Fred Marriott, driving a Stanley steam car in 1906.
(ht: Chris Wall, BSCC)

... notes from The EDJE

British Steam Car Challenge - Edwards AFB, Base Camp Set-Up & Shake Down

British Steam Car Challenge vehicle with the outer skins off, getting readied for an assault on the world land speed record for a steam-powered vehicle. Image Credit: Don Wales, BSCC (2009)

British Steam Car Challenge - Edwards AFB, Base Camp Set-Up & Shake Down

When one thinks of aiming for and conquering a world record ... any world record, many people do not realize how much planning and effort is required to even attempt such a feat!

Take, for example, the assault of a world record for the land speed of a vehicle powered only with the gaseous state of water that had been heated to very high temperatures - STEAM! Through the use of a turbine, one is able to convert the pressure of steam to a usable power for propulsion.

There have been two recognized speed marks set by a vehicle powered through the conversion of steam pressure to wheels but only one has been officially recognized as the record. It was set in a turn-of-the-century (try the last century) Stanley Steamer by a gentleman named Fred Marriott back in 1906 at a blistering speed for such a thin, solid-rubber shod and sheet metal construct of a car, of 127.659 MPH. Yes, nearly 130 miles per hour in a car that looked like this:

World Speed Record Stanley Steamer, 1906. Image Credit: 1907 Scientific American

The officially unrecognized mark was set when a failed attempt to create a mass transportation bus powered through the conversion of steam pressure ended when a program sponsored by the state of California was ceased. The turbines that had been developed for this 1969 project manufactured by Barber-Nichols Engineering, found their way into a 1985 attempt to set a world speed record mark. This attempt run at the famed Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah state, was able to achieve a measured speed of 145.607, but this speed was never achieved under the auspicious of a sanctioning body like the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).

The British Steam Car Challenge believes that to be successful, it must exceed the fastest measured speed and have it recognized by the FIA and at least one other recognized sanctioning body - that mark is faster than 145.607.

To become a measurable and recognized speed, a land speed record is the average speed of two passes made across a measured distance in opposing directions within 60 minutes of each other. The time of the two runs is then averaged to obtain the official recorded speed. This requirement was instituted in 1910 after the Stanley Steamer Racer record was established but is still recognized as the official land speed record. The BSCC effort, if successful, will conform to all aspects of the world land speed record in a way that no other record, sanctioned or otherwise, has been achieved.

Here are some reports from the record test site Base Camp located at Rogers Dry Lake Bed on the grounds of Edwards Air Force Base, California

This excerpted and edited from the diary section of the BSCC website -

Entry Date: 13th July 2009 – Edwards Air Force Base, California - From: Don Wales – Test Driver

What a first couple of days! We arrived mid afternoon on Saturday into over 100f dry heat! We got up earlier on Sunday to drive to another nearby dry lake called El Mirage and watched a SCTA sanctioned race event, which is a smaller event than Bonneville but the entrants will be going to Bonneville in August. It was great to soak up the atmosphere and to get us in the mood for our coming event.

Map of Southern California showing the quickest driving route from downtown Los Angeles to Edwards AFB. Image Credit: Google Maps

Today we were up at 4.30 and in the cars for 5.00am for the trip to Edwards AFB. Its 30 miles away to the base, we arrived before sunrise but it took a long time to get access due to the strict security. We then drove the remaining 6 miles to where our main pit station is and made ready the tents and equipment. An excellent English breakfast was cooked by Rob!

This was the first time that I had seen the car since our April tests. It now has the sponsor’s logos on it and drivers names!

BSCC car unpacked - This was the first time that I had seen the car since our April tests. It now has the sponsor’s logos on it and drivers names! Image and Caption Credit: Don Wales, BSCC (2009)

It turned out that a sensor in one of the gas tanks had failed during shipment, so the technicians had to strip it out and replace it! This took most of the day. The temperature was really cooking by midday well over 100f and its forecast to get hotter over the next few days.

Ahhhh! Behold the desert of Southern California ... the Mojave Desert. Image Credit: Don Wales, BSCC (2009)

Our camp is positioned in the Southern corner of the base just away from the main runway. We get to see and hear all sorts of aircrafts taking off and landing during the day. Maybe we might get a closer look later! We have a nice concrete perimeter track to work on which then leads onto the lake bed course. However, we have to be escorted onto the lake so I have yet to drive on it!

Our plan is to carry out more checks tomorrow and hopefully to get some steam going.

Early to bed again tonight!

----

Entry Date: 14th July 2009 – Edwards Air Force Base, California - From: Don Wales – Test Driver

Another early start we arrived to our base just as the sun rose over the mountains, it was beautiful. The air and visibility was really clear and we sensed that it was going to be hot.

After another superb breakfast cooked by Rob, I don't how he manages it!

I was able to drive the course in the hire car and lead a team of 'Fodders' to clear a large area of small stones. We ended up actually sweeping the lake bed but Stuart took it a little too far and turned up with a dustpan and brush! The task was too big for us and we will try again tomorrow but some industrial sized brushes! Image and Caption Credit: Don Wales, BSCC (2009)

The mechanics had another tough day. The car required a new load sensor and Chris Lack had to use the base facilities to adapt a faulty water filter, so we didn’t generate steam. However, these are just little gremlins that the car has encountered during transit and although rectifying the faults is time consuming it’s nothing fundamental and the team is optimistic of steam over Edwards tomorrow.

Every day takes us closer to the first firing up on US soil. Image and Caption Credit: Don Wales, BSCC (2009)

----

Entry Date: 15th July 2009 – Edwards Air Force Base, California - From: Don Wales – Test Driver

Third day on the lake bed and so far the hottest! It’s been hot but today was bloody hot! We got to our base camp just before sunrise and I was able to take a few snaps of the car being positioned.

After breakfast we took another trip over the 6 mile course and continued clearing the stones and foreign objects from the' gravel pit'.

This Fodding lark is becoming a bit of a habit. 3 miles of Pendine sands was a piece of cake compared to the 6 miles of Edwards. Finding 'shells' is common on both tracks!! Image and Caption Credit: Don Wales, BSCC (2009)

We got called back early because the car was going to be steamed up!

We all got dressed into our nice black protective gear to run through a complete fill of the car and then into steam as a static test. However, the car had other ideas! We expected problems and I am sure that there will still be more before we actually run the car.

On this occasion a new problem reared its ugly head! Whilst filling the gas tanks from the refueling rigs it turned out that the pressure inside the car's tanks was higher than that on the rigs, so the pump could not push the gas onto the car. This was due to the higher temperatures inside the tanks! Hopefully this will be fixed for tomorrow and we will try again.

So it was back to the lake bed for the Fodding team and more sweeping!

Our camp is on the southern side of Edward and its about 8 miles back to the main gate along some very straight roads with various speed limits on them. Needless to say that I was pulled over for speeding, doing 67 in a 55 limit! I guess the lake bed limit might have to be extended for the record attempt! Luckily I was let off with a caution!

----

Entry Date: 16th July 2009 – Edwards Air Force Base, California - From: Don Wales – Test Driver

Today we were well and truly fried and baked 111f! Too hot, but mad dogs and English men in the midday sun.... We carried on working well into the afternoon!

The car was ready for its first steam test after yesterday’s repairs. We wanted a test before it got too hot; we had a short burst of the' Dam Busters' theme tune to get us in the mood!

But after breakfast it refused to fire up. We found a blocked miser but fixed it, and then a refueling rig expired, so we had to change over rigs. Each time we restarted the refueling process we managed to get a little bit further into the process. However it was now getting too hot for the car. So in future we will have much earlier starts!

Once it was decided the car was not going to be fired up I organized a FOD crew. We have formed a very select team and it’s hard to join without knowing the special 'hand shake' and all the right terminology that Richard and I have made up whilst suffering heat stroke out in the middle of the lake bed!!!! However, we welcomed two new members to our select band today namely Lynne and Mike!! We have a lot more to do; generally the track is in good shape with the odd patch that needs attention to! We drove the whole 6 miles and on the way back managed to get the Dodge people carrier up to 100mph without any police cars chasing us today!

After lunch, which was another feast, we practiced turning the car around. This is vital for us to get the car refueled after its outward run and returned as quickly as possible. Image Credit: Don Wales, BSCC (2009)

By now it was really very very hot and I got a burn on the palm of my hand from the bodywork whilst climbing out of the car!

Tomorrow is another day, but the forecast is for more hot weather peaking on Sunday, oh joy!

----

Entry Date: 17th July 2009 – Edwards Air Force Base, California - From: Don Wales – Test Driver

At last, the car is steaming and we are all baking 114 f today with hotter forecast again for tomorrow - oh joy! It has been our most successful to date.

We successfully carried out two static steam runs which provided Jerry with a lot of information to sort out for tomorrow!

The early indications are that the car is producing more steam due to the altitude at Edward’s and the high temperatures, it means that there is a bit more power and hopefully a bit more mph once we get running!

We also carried out another foreign object check but it was so hot that we could only managed an hour, however we did clear the worst bit and got going a lot quicker. Just another 5 miles of stretch to go. We also watched a V2 bomber fly around a bit!!

----

Entry Date: 20th July 2009 – Edwards Air Force Base, California - From: Don Wales – Test Driver

It was the team’s day off on Sunday, so I went to visit the Mojave Air and Space port where Voyager took off for the first non stop flight around the world. The airfield is used as storage for unwanted civil aircraft both airworthy and for scrap. Again it was a very hot day!

We welcomed cameraman Joe from the BBC who has come over on a fact finding mission to make sure that they don't miss anything for a documentary that they are producing. Our Principle Driver Charles Burnett III also joined us.

Well Joe got the full disappointment of a day with the steam car! It took Joe and Charles over two hours to get clearance through the security check point. When we eventually got to the base camp it was clear that there had been some rain overnight with damp patches clearly visible. I was worried that the track might be soggy.

Base camp awning garage out in the Mojave Desert at Edwards AFB. Image Credit: Don Wales, BSCC (2009)

So we were late starting and the day was hotting up nicely! We went into our static test program, but it became too hot. We had problems with the air valves, and getting the air onto the car and then the inverter began overheating. Hopefully tomorrow we will be able to redo these tests and get back to the plan of running the car on the track mid week.

That meant more fodding in the mid morning heat and an inspection of any water damage. Luckily the track is still very dry. This is partly due to a nice hot wind that has started up, so I now know what a roasted turkey feels like in a fan assisted oven! Joe joined us in our merry band! Jerry and I marked out a piece of track with a GPS ready for the first proper runs on the lakebed.

We were also treated to various aircraft coming in very close to us as we are now very close to the main runway.

The reason that this mail is later than usual is because I had tried to get clearance to send a picture of the refueling aircraft coming into land!, but unfortunately the clearance was not given so the picture cannot be used.

The weather forecast warns of more hot weather to come in this freakish blip so we need to take extra care and precautions for both the team and the car. As a result dry ice has been ordered to help keep the car cool and enable us to test for a bit longer during the mornings.

----

Entry Date: 21st July 2009 – Edwards Air Force Base, California - From: Don Wales – Test Driver

Mixed news today! The heat is relentless, everything is hot to touch and that includes race suits and team fire protection overalls, ouch!

We had our usual early start and got into our first test very early. Image and Caption Credit: Don Wales, BSCC (2009)

We got into our first test very early, but this was stopped after the steam blew over the Steam deflector, which had not been fastened down properly! The deflector is there to push the steam up into the air and away from scalding anyone.

So we had another go but it takes nearly another hour to reset everything and the heat is increasing. We had installed our dry ice around the inverters, however further modifications were needed to improve airflow. These took another couple of hours!

So I thought 'FOD' but we were denied access to the lake bed and our runway because of a test going on from the base! So no Fodding today!

Generally the car seems to work in three's and the next test was the third of the day, but it was getting towards midday and mighty hot. So if the car worked on this occasion it would work out on the lake bed in the severe hot conditions. Success we had a very good 90 second burn and I was able to perform a throttle test. The throttle test was not a complete success and another was planned after lunch.

Rob performed his usual magic and we set up again, but it was now too hot. This time the rigs let us down, fuel in the pumps was vapourising! We were pushing our luck with the temperatures and will have to work earlier on the attempt days. Tomorrow is another throttle test!!

----

Entry Date: 22nd July 2009 – Edwards Air Force Base, California - From: Don Wales – Test Driver

My family has often told me that I am accident prone and clumsy. Well today I cannot be blamed for all the breakages! The count so far today is two boilers and one broom. The boilers were in the car during our static test before breakfast to establish the throttle position. This time we hoped that the wheels would at least move, and move they did for a whole two revolutions whilst I applied the throttle. The test was declared a success but we needed one more test to open the throttle fully.

It normally takes two days to do one boiler change. However it looks like the team will do it one; this is a fabulous effort by all the mechanics. They are even considering changing an old boiler for a new one at the same time, as a precautionary measure which might save time later on. Image and Caption Credit: Don Wales, BSCC (2009)

Whilst we were having breakfast the puddle of water under the car had widened and it was suspected that a boiler had blown. On closer inspection two had given up. We will probably lose all of tomorrow but at least it will save time in the long run. So Fodding again! Hopefully Friday and Saturday will see the car on the lakebed prior to high speed runs next week!

----

Entry Date: 23rd July 2009 – Edwards Air Force Base, California - From: Don Wales – Test Driver

This morning was positively cold on the lake bed, a chilly breeze, ideal fodding weather!

The mechanics and technicians got going on replacing three boilers and all the plumbing that goes with them. Image and Caption Credit: Don Wales, BSCC (2009)

I organised or rather press ganged a merry team of Fodders. We managed a whole 4/10ths of a mile before breakfast a new record. We were treated to some great air displays from our American hosts. We were Fodding at the start of the main runway where it crosses our track and got to see take offs and landings at close hand.

We came in for a late breakfast and went straight back out again and achieved another 3/10ths! The midday temperature has dropped by a whooping 8-9 degrees F today was only 107 F almost woolly jumper weather!

The mechanical team worked late in to the night to get the car ready for static tests first thing tomorrow morning. It was a tremendous effort, well done!

We hope that the tests tomorrow will be successful and we can move onto the lakebed on Saturday for track and car evaluations.

----

Entry Date: 25th July 2009 – Edwards Air Force Base, California - From: Don Wales – Test Driver

We were up nice and early, the alarm was set for 4.00am and we were all on the base by 5.00am. All the equipment and the car were made ready for the short journey from our base to the lakebed and our runway.

We had made out a distance similar to Thorney Island where we ran in April to get some comparison data. We had a start team and a turnaround team to do two runs. The second run would be a coast down to find the rolling resistance of the track and I would get the car up to about 100mph.

The sunrise was spectacular and the teams set up their stations. The Edwards AFB fire crews came out and we went through an 'unconscious' extraction from the car, which I always look forward to...NOT!

The refueling process started and I got ready to be strapped into the car full of excitement. Richard was just doing up the seat belts when the run was stopped; the gas was taking too long to be pumped onto the car. So we returned back to our base and aborted the test. It turned out that the pump was partially blocked with a piece of masking tape! Image and Caption Credit: Don Wales, BSCC (2009)

We continued fodding (clearing the track of foreign object debris) and have now completed 2 1/2 miles.

So it was another day of record breakers luck! However, it was still a good day for practicing getting everything out onto the lakebed. We also had a lot of time with Charles getting him familiar with the car and start up procedures.

Monday is another day; the team will be fitting new gas pumps. The time keepers have also been penciled from Wednesday through to Tuesday. So we need a bit of good luck now!

----

Entry Date: 27th July 2009 – Edwards Air Force Base, California - From: Don Wales – Test Driver

Today (Monday) we had some excellent news, we took delivery of an FOD BOSS! (foreign object debris remover) This is a replacement for us manual operators. It’s a mechanical device that is pull behind a truck and scoops up all the FOD, its positively brilliant and is certainly faster than us! We can scrape a 30ft wide track in about 6 passes at 15mph. We now only have 2 more strips to do and will then walk it as a final check.

Unfortunately one of our team members Rob was taken ill and is currently in hospital awaiting tests, get better soon Rob, we need you back for our breakfasts!

The new gas pumps have now been fitted to the car and a successful static test was completed late today. So it’s back on the lakebed tomorrow early to repeat our Saturday schedule of tests but now with more track available we might get a decent head of steam up and see what we get!

So an early night tonight and up at 4.30am again! Image and Caption Credit: Don Wales, BSCC (2009)
END OF UPDATES

... notes from The EDJE

F1 Season Begins For The Toyota TF109

The TF109 - Image Credit: Panasonic Toyota Racing

F1 Season Begins For The Toyota TF109

Yesterday marked the first day Panasonic Toyota Racing debut its new sled that will campaign for the title of the 2009 Formula 1 open wheel motorsports racing season.

The team's eighth season in Formula 1 sees major rule changes so the new TF109, revealed exclusively on www.tf109-premiere.com, looked considerably different to its predecessor, featuring wider front wings and narrower rear wings among other modifications.

The test, yesterday, completed an exhaustive development process which began in October 2007, when the 2009 regulations were confirmed. The TF109 began pre-season testing at Algarve Motor Park in Portugal.

Despite the TF109's fundamentally different appearance, Panasonic Toyota Racing's ambitious goals remain, as Chairman and Team Principal Tadashi Yamashina states: "Our target this year is to fight to win the first race for Toyota in Formula 1."

Kamui Kobayashi in the garage at Algarve Motor Park Image Credit: Panasonic Toyota Racing

The significant progress shown in 2008, when the team hit its targets of returning to the podium and significantly increasing its points total, has bred confidence.

Panasonic Toyota Racing achieved two podiums, one front row start and, with 56, scored more points than in 2006 (35pts) and 2007 (13pts) combined. A Toyota was in the top 10 on the starting grid for 14 of the 18 Grands Prix, finishing in the points 12 times, with nine top-six finishes.

President John Howett says: "We have gained a huge amount of knowledge and improved considerably. There are many elements of our team which are at the very highest level so the challenge now is to fill any gaps and ensure the entire organisation is performing at the very top. Then we must put all the elements together and deliver the success we are all fighting so hard for."

Kamui Kobayashi leaves the garage in the new TF109 at Algarve Motor Park - Image Credit: Panasonic Toyota Racing

This excerpted and edited from the Panasonic Toyota Racing team website -

THE SEASON STARTS HERE
Portimao Test - Day 1 - Monday 19 January 2009
Location: Algarve Motor Park, Portimao, Portugal
Drivers: Kamui Kobayashi

Panasonic Toyota Racing got its 2009 testing programme underway today at a new venue for the team; the Algarve Motor Park in Portugal. Kamui Kobayashi was at the wheel for the first pre-season tests of the TF109, which was unveiled for the first time on www.tf109-premiere.com last week. After conducting a successful and trouble-free roll-out of the TF109 yesterday, Kamui continued to work on the team's kinetic energy recovery system (KERS), which is being used on track for the first time this week, as well as performing systems checks and gathering information about the new car. Unfortunately, wind and rain, particularly in the afternoon, disrupted the programme. Jarno Trulli takes over from Kamui tomorrow.

Image Credit: Panasonic Toyota Racing

Kamui Kobayashi - Chassis TF109-02
Best Lap Time: 1min 50.989s
Position: 5th
Total laps: 46
"Today has gone well and I am happy with the new car. It has been an interesting experience to drive with KERS for the first time and we are understanding more about the system all the time. This is my first time driving at this track and I have to say I am very impressed; the lay-out is really exciting and quite challenging for a driver. The weather was far from ideal, especially in the afternoon, so that meant we could not spend as much time on track as we planned."

Kamui Kobayashi in the new TF109 taking a corner at Algarve Motor Park - Image Credit: Panasonic Toyota Racing

Pascal Vasselon, Senior General Manager Chassis
"It is always a very exciting moment to see your new car begin pre-season testing and that is especially true this year after such a significant regulation change. Overall I am very pleased with the initial results from the TF109 and I believe we have good reason for optimism. Of course, it is very difficult to make comparisons to the other teams in the winter, and that is particularly true when the weather is not very good. In addition to the usual challenges of testing a new car, we worked with the KERS system again today. This is a new technology to Formula 1 so there is a huge amount to learn but our hard work in the factory meant we were quite well prepared for this first test and we have collected a lot of important information."
Reference Here>>

Cost-saving is high on the Formula 1 agenda and Panasonic Toyota Racing in the design of the TF109 was committed to reducing expenditure while maintaining the sport as the pinnacle of motor racing.

The Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) and the International Automobile Federation (FIA) have agreed significant reductions for 2009, including a ban on in-season testing, wind tunnel restrictions and factory closures for six weeks a year.

So, heading into a fascinating Formula 1 season, Panasonic Toyota Racing is completely committed to success on and off the track. The 2009 season starts with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 29 March, while the 17th and final race is the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 1 November.

... notes from The EDJE

Former CCWS Rookie-Of-The-Year Captures P2 Podium In Hamburg

Timo Glock with the "Sharkfin" cowling at The Hungaroring - Caption found at Atlas F1 Bulletin Board - toyota could of won this race /// used tyres glock qualified with otherwise front row start /// pit stop screw up 14 seconds losing 7 seconds extra /// 2nd place and only 7.1 secs behind the winner /// and timo lost 4 seconds behind massa, when he pitted and came right in front of glock. Image Credit: Toyota Motorsport

Former CCWS Rookie-Of-The-Year Captures P2 Podium In Hamburg

Timo Glock, Panasonic Toyota’s new #2 driver to Jarno Trulli for the 2008 Formula One open wheel racing season, had a race to remember at the Hamburg Grand Prix.

Weekend before last, Timo suffered a terrible accident at Hockenheim that sent him to the hospital for observation. He was released and cleared to race just this last Thursday and on Saturday, qualified in position five on the grid for the The Hungarian Grand Prix at The Hungaroring racing circuit, Hungary.

Timo Glock faces the press after his P5 qualifying position on the grid for The Hungarian Grand Prix. This represents the best qualifying effort in F1 by this former 2005 ChampCar World Series (CCWS) Rookie-Of-The-Year racing for Paul Gentilozzi's Rocketsports team. Image Credit: Toyota Motorsport

This excerpted from autosport.com –

Lewis Hamilton put himself in the perfect position to score a third consecutive win by claiming a commanding pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The McLaren driver held a comfortable 0.4-second advantage over the rest of the field after his first Q3 flying lap, and although his rivals closed in, he managed to improve to 1:20.899 to secure the 10th pole of his Formula One career.

Hamilton will lead an all-McLaren front row after his teammate Heikki Kovalainen vaulted on to the outside of the front row with his last lap, having previously languished back in ninth.

Felipe Massa salvaged Ferrari honour in third place, as Kimi Raikkonen could only manage sixth place following another low-key performance.

BMW's Robert Kubica completed the second row, but his teammate Nick Heidfeld had another disastrous qualifying session. His first Q1 flying lap was only good enough for 15th place, and he was rapidly pushed into the elimination zone and then hit traffic on his second run, leaving him 16th and gesturing in frustration at Sebastien Bourdais.

Toyota's Timo Glock was the sensation of the qualifying session - earning an F1 career-best fifth on the grid, four places clear of teammate Jarno Trulli.
Reference Here>>

This excerpted from a Panasonic Toyota press release –

Timo Glock (Car 12, Chassis TF108-06)

Summary: Quick throughout, his best ever qualifying in F1 PROVISIONAL GRID: 5th

FP3 3rd Best Lap Time: 1m 20.623s (+0.395s) Laps: 21

Q1 5th Best Lap Time: 1m 19.980s (+0.604s) Laps: 10

Q2 2nd Best Lap Time: 1m 19.246s (+0.178s) Laps: 6

Q3 5th Best Lap Time: 1m 21.326s (+0.427s) Laps: 8

"That was a very good qualifying session for me and I'm obviously delighted. We made a good start in first practice yesterday. The team did a good job overnight and we made the right choice over set-up. It wasn't easy today because we had a very tight choice over tyres so we had to make a close decision for every lap. But in the end my engineers stayed cool and got it right. In Q2 the car felt perfect. Then on the very last lap it was a bit trickier again because the tyres didn't behave quite as well, but I'm happy with P5. We are in a great situation for tomorrow. It's good for all of us and after Hockenheim this is the perfect answer for the faith I have in the whole team."
(ht: Toyota Motorsports)

The race starts, and in the first corner, Hamilton is resigned to P2 due to a fantastic start by Ferrari’s Felipe Massa from P3 to P1 in the first corner. Timo Glock following directly behind Massa passes BMW's Robert Kubica to take P4 where he maintains position until 43 laps of the 70 scheduled laps had been run. So, with 27 laps to go the race commentary notation picks up as follows:

LAP 27 / 70
Hamilton suffers a tire failure. Timo Glock is rewarded with a chance at a podium position

LAP26 / 70
Glock responds by setting fastest lap of the race (as per race announcer Bob Varsha)

LAP25 / 70
Ferrari’s Massa makes an insurance pitstop

LAP23 / 70
Toyota’s Glock makes final pitstop and is good to go to the end

LAP19 / 70
Kimi Reikonen leaps over Alonso at the final pitstop

LAP18 / 70
Radio communication to Timo Glock - “You are 50 seconds ahead of the next closest car that can go to the end on fuel” - Translation? It is all up to you to finish on the podium

LAP15 / 70
Massa, who has never finished above sixth in his previous F1 runs at Hamburg, is poised to win it all – will move into a 3 point lead over Hamilton in the driver points lead if the current running order holds

LAP12 / 70
Heikki Kovalainen of McLaren-Mercedes too far behind to challenge Massa for the lead

LAP11 / 70
Kimi M. Raikkonen is on a terror, sets fastest lap after getting by Renault’s Alonso for P4

LAP4 / 70
Hungarboring will see a great finish – Raikkonen running in fourth is setting his sights on Glock for third

LAP3 / 70
Race leader Massa has his Ferrari engine blow-up. Keiki Kovalainen in his McLaren-Mercedes inherits the lead

Final Lap / Checkered Flag
Kovalainen Wins his first F1 race, Timo Glock finishes in second after starting fifth, Kimi Raikkonen hangs on to capture third, Alonzo fourth, Hamilton fifth.

Digital camera image of Timo Glock during the post race Podium interview session from SPEED Channel cable television broadcast. Said Timo after the P2 finish, "What an incredible feeling. I couldn't believe it when I saw Felipe's engine go and I was P2. To get such a good result in my first year is fantastic so a huge thank you to all the team, including the engineers, mechanics and everyone at the factory. I knew from qualifying that we had good speed and we've looked strong all weekend. Today I made a good start and gained a place into the first corner. I had a really good car and everything went perfectly until the last stint on the soft tyres. I was struggling a lot and soon I had Kimi behind me. But I knew from last year here in GP2, when I was stuck in the midfield in a really good car, how hard it is to pass here. So when I saw him in the mirrors I knew I couldn't afford any mistakes. This result more than makes up for Hockenheim and now we must keep picking up regular points until the end of the season." Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (EDJE) 2008

This report from autosport.com -

PROVISIONAL RACE RESULTS

The Hungarian Grand Prix
The Hungaroring, Hungary;
70 laps; 306.663km;
Weather: Sunny.

Classified:

Pos Driver Team Time
1. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1h37:27.067
2. Glock Toyota (B) + 11.061
3. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) + 16.856
4. Alonso Renault (B) + 21.614
5. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) + 23.048
6. Piquet Renault (B) + 32.298
7. Trulli Toyota (B) + 36.449
8. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) + 48.321
9. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) + 58.834
10. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) + 1:07.709
11. Coulthard Red Bull-Renault (B) + 1:10.407
12. Button Honda (B) + 1 lap
13. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) + 1 lap
14. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) + 1 lap
15. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari (B) + 1 lap
16. Barrichello Honda (B) + 2 laps
17. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) + 3 laps
18. Massa Ferrari (B) + 3 laps

World Championship standings, round 11:

Drivers:
1. Hamilton 62
2. Raikkonen 57
3. Massa 54
4. Kubica 49
5. Heidfeld 41
6. Kovalainen 38
7. Trulli 22
8. Alonso 18
9. Webber 18
10. Glock 13
11. Piquet 13
12. Barrichello 11
13. Rosberg 8
14. Nakajima 8
15. Vettel 6
16. Coulthard 6
17. Button 3
18. Bourdais 2

Constructors:
1. Ferrari 111
2. McLaren-Mercedes 100
3. BMW Sauber 90
4. Toyota 35
5. Renault 31
6. Red Bull-Renault 24
7. Williams-Toyota 16
8. Honda 14
9. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 8
Reference Here>>

On another note, several teams experienced fuel filling and leaking problems during pitstops in the race. Some teams had fires that had to be put out and it was theorized that because the ambient temperature at the track combined with the very tight tolerances of the fueling equipment coupling itself may have led to an improper fit of the fueling mechanism to the car.

The FIA will investigate.

... notes from The EDJE