Inspiration is a British steam-powered car designed by Glynne Bowsher and developed by the British Steam Car Challenge (BSCC) team.[1]

Inspiration 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]

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

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