Volvo to Refresh 2010 C30
Woman needed to break world land speed record

Woman needed to break world land speed record

Siddarth Raja January 16th, 2008 Siddarth Raja By Siddarth Raja Author January 16th, 2008
  • Articles Contributed: 596
  • Comments Posted: 75
  • Leaderboard Rank: #25

December 31st, 1969 The Steve Fossett World Land Speed Racing Team have been struggling to break the world land speed record since they first announced their ambitions back in October, 2006. The racing team has suffered the loss of founder and famed adventurer Steve Fossett, who has been missing since September 3rd, 2007, and will likely be presumed dead soon. The team is still attempting to reach a top speed of 1,287km/h (800mph) in a jet-powered vehicle on one of Nevada’s dry lake beds but they’ve hit another snag - the cockpit of the vehicle is a very confined space, which is why the team are searching for a woman to pilot it. The vehicle they will be using is a 48ft long dart-shaped car powered by a 40,000hp S&S Turbine LM-1500 jet engine. According to Edmunds, it has less than one quarter the drag of the current world record holder, the Thrust SSC, which was piloted by the UK’s Andy Green to a top speed of 1,228km/h. "We believe there are a number of women active in motorsports and aviation who are qualified to drive our jet car through the sound barrier and beyond," said Eric Ahlstrom, program manager for the challenge. "A small driver will have advantages in entry-exit, visibility and control”. The Steve Fossett World Land Speed Racing Team is expected to start initial testing on the 19th of this month.
The Steve Fossett World Land Speed Racing Team have been struggling to break the world land speed record since they first announced their ambitions back in October, 2006. The racing team has suffered the loss of founder and famed adventurer Steve Fossett, who has been missing since September 3rd, 2007, and will likely be presumed dead soon. The team is still attempting to reach a top speed of 1,287km/h (800mph) in a jet-powered vehicle on one of Nevada’s dry lake beds but they’ve hit another snag - the cockpit of the vehicle is a very confined space, which is why the team are searching for a woman to pilot it.

The vehicle they will be using is a 48ft long dart-shaped car powered by a 40,000hp S&S Turbine LM-1500 jet engine. According to Edmunds, it has less than one quarter the drag of the current world record holder, the Thrust SSC, which was piloted by the UK’s Andy Green to a top speed of 1,228km/h.

"We believe there are a number of women active in motorsports and aviation who are qualified to drive our jet car through the sound barrier and beyond," said Eric Ahlstrom, program manager for the challenge. "A small driver will have advantages in entry-exit, visibility and control”.

The Steve Fossett World Land Speed Racing Team is expected to start initial testing on the 19th of this month.

Tags: Odds and ends

Posted in: News


Comments (4 total)

Meet the top commenters on the Leaderboard

  1. By bambam #1, Posted: 1/16/2008

    most race cars drivers are small and fit. How small does she have to be?.
    why not a small guy?

  2. By Nick R #2, Posted: 1/16/2008

    Erm, Steve Fossett has been missing since last September, and was declared legally dead in November. Didn't catch the news?

  3. By Alexander #3, Posted: 1/17/2008

    I know woman, Eric Ahlstrom needs.

  4. By Mélanie #4, Posted: 2/2/2008

    I am a female airline pilot.....1.62m and 51 kilo's (no im not joking)...is that small enough?? I would love to do it!

Post a Comment

Post anonymously
Sign In |
will stay private
your 'posted by' name will link to the URL

More from MotorAuthority

More from High Gear Media