The Quicksilver 500 vehicle is the latest project from Alex Macfadzean
based in Essex in the UK. Alex runs EDS - Engine Dynamometer Services,
creating test cells for use in the auto industry and race car industry and
running dyno tests on his own rigs for customers.
Alex built the streamlined motorcycle Penetrator that was the first to go
over 200 mph here in the UK in 1991. That bike used a Norton rotary engine
with turbo. Alex was a motorcycle and sidecar road racer before a road
traffic accident damaged his legs. Alex does join Don Vesco and Team
Turbinator as a team member when he can get to the salt.
His plans for what is now Quicksilver 500 have changed over the years but
the concept has always been a streamliner with gas turbine helicopter
engine. At one time he envisaged a vehicle being a bike one day and a car
the next to take both outright records within 48 hours. The project
started to move forward as a car only with the 500 mph goal after Thrust
SSC set the outright record in late 1997. Alex watched the supersonic runs
on the Black Rock desert. A number of Thrust SSC team people have been
drawn to this wheeldriven project.
His current engine is a T55 Lycoming which is the engine of choice for
Unlimited Hydroplanes. Don Vesco uses the same motor, but Alex's is said
to have more power (4200shp). The vehicle will be four wheel drive with
streamliner bodywork with low frontal area and just the air intakes for the
turbine 'disturbing' the forward shape. Tubular steel chassis and silver
kevlar body work will be used. Weight is targetted at 1.5 tons.
The team are building a test rig for tyres to ensure that they survive the
salt at 500mph. Which salt? is a question I cannot answer, as Alex has
visited a number of salt lakes to see which is the best and has not
announced his preference.
As with many British projects the team set up a supporters organisation -
Team Quicksilver 500 Supporters Club, 408 Kettering Road, Northampton, NN3
6QH. with newsletter, open days and special club members events during the
build up to the record attempt. #30.00 sterling per annum for those
outside Europe.
In Britain there is also a Class 2 Rolls Royce turbine car - 'Millennium',
belonging to Richard Whittlesea - undergoing preparation for a bid to get
that record up to over 400mph - but thats another story.
Malcolm Pittwood, Derby, England.
ps All the European and International LSR News is in Fast Facts - the
quarterly news letter of the Speed Record Club - see
www.soft.net.uk/speedrecordclub
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