Inspiration (car)

See caption
Inspiration on display at the Steam Museum, Swindon
Wikimedia Commons

Inspiration is a British steam-powered car designed by Glynne Bowsher and developed by the British Steam Car Challenge (BSCC) team.[1] It holds the World Land Speed Record for a steam-powered vehicle, set on 26 August 2009 when it achieved a speed of 148 mph (238 km/h).[1][a]The car achieved an average speed of 139.843 mph (225.045 km/h) for a measured mile, and 148.308 mph (238.668 km/h) over two consecutive runs over a measured kilometre.[1] This significantly improved on the longest-standing land-speed record, set in 1906 by Fred Marriott in a Stanley Steamer, at 127 mph (204 km/h).[2][3]

The car was driven by Charles Burnett III at the Edwards Air Force Base in California, United States. It is 7.6 m long, 1.7 m wide and weighs 3 tons. It is powered by a two-stage turbine driven by superheated steam from twelve boilers containing distilled water. The boilers are heated by burners consuming liquid petroleum gas to produce 3 Megawatts (10.2 million BTU/hr) of heat; the steam produced is at a temperature of 400ºC (752ºF) and a pressure of 40 bar (580 psi). The engine is capable of developing 386 bhp (288 kw), and consumes about 40 litres (8.8 Gals) of water per minute.[3]

Inspiration is on display at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, England.[4]

Notes

Notes
a The car achieved an average speed of 139.843 mph (225.045 km/h) for a measured mile, and 148.308 mph (238.668 km/h) over two consecutive runs over a measured kilometre.[1]

References

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Works cited

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External links

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