Malcolm,
I'm not soooo pessamistic as you think. My writing was about the current
situation in the view to the press.
There are two projects which are possible breaker's - Roscoe in Australia -
his latest Rocket design looks to me that he like to eliminate the shock wave
reaction with a lot of downforce create from the body shape - could be work if
he finds the right compromise between downforce and enough speed - it's remind
me to the X24 flying body's.
The other competitor - Craig and his Spirit of America is finished by design
and work - the car has to be reassembled and a sponsor who got the rights to
say who the paint work has to look. The check from a Southern California
University with a computer model showed that he can go now proper through the
barrier and back (which is also important). What Craig has to find is the
right driver - he is over 65 and don't like to run again...
Who is the third who is busy to get a outright record breaker?????? I couldn't
remember who is in the moment also in a serious design/product status thathe
can count.
About the distance/track questions - at Black Rock is a 17 miles long course
possible - with much more safety space behind both ends than the course which
was used by Craig and Andy.
Australia is also not to bad, but needs a other kind of suspension/wheels than
Black Rock.
What the cost means - I was always wondering where the 18 million dollar went
for the Thrust project - but you need a proper financial back up, otherwise
it's hard to be succesful on this speed level - today you can't bring the car
to the track - sit in - and set the record - it needs some weeks to get the
parameter which are necessary to reach the speed for the record - and the
right weather.....Noble /Thrust II and Campbell/Bluebird CN7 are goor
examples...
See ya
Pork Pie
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