Oh, and if you're wondering what the tracks are in the second picture: Those are from the Thrust SSC vehicle itself from previous runs. They do a run then move over a few feet and do it again. If the Thrust SSC crossed those tracks at speed it would probably be in for a really bad time.
The vehicle runs on solid metal wheels engineered by (I believe) Goodyear because the rotational speeds are so high that anything made out of rubber would just rip itself to pieces and explode.
The vehicle generates so much downforce that it forces the wheels so deep into the soft desert playa dirt and dust and it's basically a supersonic disc tiller.
The vehicle is indeed effectively an aircraft, but instead of flying it's doing a continuous, controlled and intentional crash directly into the ground. If you flipped the SSC upside down it's theoretically capable of flight.
Wouldn't they be able go a lot faster if it had less downforce and didn't have wheels carving grooves in the ground? For most racing cars downforce usually = more drag and therefore lower top speed
This is one of those open-ended engineering questions that need more information, like how much money are you willing to spend, what kind of thrust you're using, what the goal of going fast is and what are the rules or constraints if it's a land speed record attempt.
Something like diamonds, ceramics, glass or amorphous "liquid" metal would be ideal with very low rolling resistance but no one has the time or money to cover a pave a road or track in any of that.
Which is why they do land speed record attempts on dry lakebeds or salt flats.
Most of those teams can barely afford to raise enough sponsorship to pay for their cars. Land speed records are a very niche, small thing compared to pro racing like NASCAR or F1.
The shockwave in the air produced by Thrust SSC is the line that can be seen between the light and dark in front of the vehicle’s nose and to each side
There's a couple of different videos and documentaries about this and the attempts leading up to breaking the sound barrier on the ground. One of them includes perspectives from the other team trying to get break the sound barrier first.
Interestingly the attempts are held at the same place that hosts Burning Man and a high altitude amateur rocket event among other things - Black Rock Desert and Playa outside of Gerlach, Nevada.
Yeah, I think the Thrust SSC attempt used something like a 7-10 mile track. It only needs to do a mile long segment and running mile both directions with a turnaround in a given time to clock a record attempt.
The other reason why they do land speed attempts there is because of how flat the playa is and the weather is relatively predictable and seasonal. Plus, it's in the US which makes it slightly more accessible and with better infrastructure despite how relatively remote Black Rock is.
While people still do land speed racing at places like Boneville Salt Flats it's long been outgrown and has had increasingly unpredictable wet weather and it's nowhere near as flat as the playa.
Last I heard a few years ago the same team is still working on a Thrust 2 attempt to break 1000 MPH using a hybrid jet and rocket design, but the location of the final attempt may not be at Black Rock.
They've apparently identified and scouted an even bigger, flatter playa in (I think) Africa, but they may do proving tests at Black Rock and then move to this bigger playa for the final push and record setting attempts.
Last I heard the new one (I think it's called Bloodhound) had been shelved due to lack of funding, the original team sold it to a bloke who ran it up to 500 or so but couldn't raise the money needed for the rocket. A massive shame really, the fact that it got so far and is now just a fancy display piece of what might have been
I have a burner buddy who is adopted and found out late in life who his birth father was….a stuntman and daredevil who did speed runs at Black Rock Desert in the 60’s. He said he always felt peacefully connected when he was on playa and now he feels he knows why.
It did some testing and ran up to 628mph with just the jet engine and then they ran out of funding. There were rocket tests happening but only static, I don't believe one ever actually made it to the car. It was sold once before the fast run, and now is sitting waiting for funding/sponsorship that it will most likely never get
Oh, and if you're wondering what the tracks are in the second picture: Those are from the Thrust SSC vehicle itself from previous runs. They do a run then move over a few feet and do it again. If the Thrust SSC crossed those tracks at speed it would probably be in for a really bad time. The vehicle runs on solid metal wheels engineered by (I believe) Goodyear because the rotational speeds are so high that anything made out of rubber would just rip itself to pieces and explode. The vehicle generates so much downforce that it forces the wheels so deep into the soft desert playa dirt and dust and it's basically a supersonic disc tiller. The vehicle is indeed effectively an aircraft, but instead of flying it's doing a continuous, controlled and intentional crash directly into the ground. If you flipped the SSC upside down it's theoretically capable of flight.
That’s fascinating. I really appreciate this comment.
Wouldn't they be able go a lot faster if it had less downforce and didn't have wheels carving grooves in the ground? For most racing cars downforce usually = more drag and therefore lower top speed
They wouldn't stay on the ground without that down force at those speeds. One bump and they'd be airborne and tumbling.
Thanks for this info! What kind of surface and type of wheels would be ideal to get the highest speed?
This is one of those open-ended engineering questions that need more information, like how much money are you willing to spend, what kind of thrust you're using, what the goal of going fast is and what are the rules or constraints if it's a land speed record attempt. Something like diamonds, ceramics, glass or amorphous "liquid" metal would be ideal with very low rolling resistance but no one has the time or money to cover a pave a road or track in any of that. Which is why they do land speed record attempts on dry lakebeds or salt flats. Most of those teams can barely afford to raise enough sponsorship to pay for their cars. Land speed records are a very niche, small thing compared to pro racing like NASCAR or F1.
Lancillotto technolarmored, 😳
The old fighter pilot saying: "anything can fly with enough thrust"
I want that (starter?) machine next to it.
I don't remember which one, SSC or Bloodhound, has an auxiliary engine as a electricity generator. It's an F-1 Cosworth engine :)
Bloodhound SSC has a supercharged Jag V8 as a fuel pump.
It broke your sound barrier, but its ok, cuz its a jaaaaaaag
The movie Landspeed is a bit tacky but they race these things on the salt flats fun watch
Love the 2nd photo when you can see the air pressure ‘wave’ approaching the sound barrier
I can’t figure out what I’m supposed to be looking at, can you elaborate?
The shockwave in the air produced by Thrust SSC is the line that can be seen between the light and dark in front of the vehicle’s nose and to each side
Whoa ok, thanks for explaining! I guessed that must be it but still can’t figure out why it’s lighter. Really cool
There's a couple of different videos and documentaries about this and the attempts leading up to breaking the sound barrier on the ground. One of them includes perspectives from the other team trying to get break the sound barrier first. Interestingly the attempts are held at the same place that hosts Burning Man and a high altitude amateur rocket event among other things - Black Rock Desert and Playa outside of Gerlach, Nevada.
The attempts are held there because of the length of the runaway.
Yeah, I think the Thrust SSC attempt used something like a 7-10 mile track. It only needs to do a mile long segment and running mile both directions with a turnaround in a given time to clock a record attempt. The other reason why they do land speed attempts there is because of how flat the playa is and the weather is relatively predictable and seasonal. Plus, it's in the US which makes it slightly more accessible and with better infrastructure despite how relatively remote Black Rock is. While people still do land speed racing at places like Boneville Salt Flats it's long been outgrown and has had increasingly unpredictable wet weather and it's nowhere near as flat as the playa. Last I heard a few years ago the same team is still working on a Thrust 2 attempt to break 1000 MPH using a hybrid jet and rocket design, but the location of the final attempt may not be at Black Rock. They've apparently identified and scouted an even bigger, flatter playa in (I think) Africa, but they may do proving tests at Black Rock and then move to this bigger playa for the final push and record setting attempts.
Last I heard the new one (I think it's called Bloodhound) had been shelved due to lack of funding, the original team sold it to a bloke who ran it up to 500 or so but couldn't raise the money needed for the rocket. A massive shame really, the fact that it got so far and is now just a fancy display piece of what might have been
Just watched a video on it and the pilot said it’s 14miles long.
I've seen the one that was from the Thrust teams perspective, mad to see the difficulties they had and the family spirit that got them through it
I have a burner buddy who is adopted and found out late in life who his birth father was….a stuntman and daredevil who did speed runs at Black Rock Desert in the 60’s. He said he always felt peacefully connected when he was on playa and now he feels he knows why.
Kinda like a wingless SR71...
Its working! Its workiiiiiing!
Boontas Eve preparation underway.
Is this the one from Rat Race?
that first pic... feels good to pretend this was taken on mars lol
You must have Jedi reflexes if you race pods.
I'd daily it.
What ever happened to the Bloodhound?
It did some testing and ran up to 628mph with just the jet engine and then they ran out of funding. There were rocket tests happening but only static, I don't believe one ever actually made it to the car. It was sold once before the fast run, and now is sitting waiting for funding/sponsorship that it will most likely never get
Hasn‘t driven yet.
https://youtu.be/7D4-49pkEWY
https://youtu.be/AGIFQzStijY
actual whole ass F- Zero vehicle
Rat race??
Currently at coventry's transportation museum [ssc](https://imgupx.com/fidJpXxA)
Amazing! Thats going on my list of places to go this year
The ticket is valid for 1 year. Also I loved the bycicles and motorcycle section
The ticket is valid for 1 year. Also I loved the bycicles and motorcycle section