Steam-Powered Car Breaks Century-Old Speed Record 187
mcgrew writes "New Scientist reports that a steam-powered car has broken the 1906 record of 204 km/hr (127 mph) for the fastest steam-powered automobile, the Stanley Steamer. The Inspiration made a top speed of 225 kilometres per hour (140 miles per hour) on August 26. 'The car's engine burns liquid petroleum gas to heat water in 12 suitcase-sized boilers, creating steam heated to 400C. The steam then drives a two-stage turbine that spins at 13,000 revolutions per minute to power its wheels.The FIA requires two 1.6-km-long runs to be performed in opposite directions — to cancel out any effect from wind — within 60 minutes.'"
Check that off the obscure to-do list (Score:5, Funny)
Slow down.. (Score:5, Funny)
Slow Down you damn Steam Punks! And stay the hell off my lawn.
Stanley Steamer? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:All oficial times (Score:4, Funny)
Is there really anything scientific or technological that we cant do vastly better now that 1906? Its like the captain of the senior football team boasting about stealing lunch money from a 7th grader.
In the US? yeah I'd say we can't do 7th grade math any better without using some sort of damn dirty machine...
hybrid (Score:5, Funny)
Cool, a hybrid! Where can I get the government coupon to purchase one?
Comment removed (Score:3, Funny)
Re:"Smashed"? It takes 103 years to go 13 mph fast (Score:2, Funny)
... But, speaking of acceleration, how does the Pinto do going from 60mph to 0?
Doesn't that depend on how solid the wall that it hits is?
Re:Check that off the obscure to-do list (Score:3, Funny)
What do you mean? An African or European cockroach?
Re:Very Optimisitic Speedo. (Score:4, Funny)
I was tempted to put up a picture link for "very optimistic speedo" but on second thought, I'm afraid of what Google might turn up.
Re:Check that off the obscure trivia (what isn't?) (Score:2, Funny)
I guess the usual reason... (Score:2, Funny)