# Brits Build Steam Powered Race Car **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 28, 2004, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-build-steam-powered-race-car/281917 "2004-12-28T12:07:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-build-steam-powered-race-car/281917/1 "2004-12-28T12:07:20Z")
[One goal is speed record, the other is mass produced alternative fueled vehicles.](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4076811.stm) > [@](#): > > He knows engine and vehicle design like old friends, having worked on Richard Noble’s record-breaking Thrust 2 jet car and having designed ThrustSSC, the first vehicle to break the sound barrier on land. > > His team, the British Steam Car Challenge (BSCC), is hoping that its Inspiration vehicle will live up to its name and not only break a long-standing steam-car speed record, but also inspire thinking about alternative fuels for the future. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-build-steam-powered-race-car/281917/2 "2004-12-28T12:38:08Z")
That’s brilliant. That’s what we Brits do best - provide the answer to a question no one is asking. However It would be exempt from the congestion charge. Sign me up for one! ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-build-steam-powered-race-car/281917/3 "2004-12-28T15:17:41Z")
**owl** ’s right. “‘Harmless crank’ acknowledges vindication with grace and bemusement” is very British sounding. This is cool, and with a bit of luck might turn out to be like the wind-up-radios thing. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-build-steam-powered-race-car/281917/4 "2004-12-28T15:38:18Z")
The article states that the plan is to exceed 200mph on 300hp. This would be rather impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-build-steam-powered-race-car/281917/5 "2004-12-28T19:52:27Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > The article states that the plan is to exceed 200mph on 300hp. This would be rather impressive. It must have monster torque. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-build-steam-powered-race-car/281917/6 "2004-12-28T19:58:47Z")
That’s probably the coolest looking car I’ve ever seen. Very retro sci-fi. ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-build-steam-powered-race-car/281917/7 "2004-12-28T21:40:38Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > That’s probably the coolest looking car I’ve ever seen. Very retro sci-fi. Ever seen the Cord 1812? I think the steam-driven racecar is wicked cool, but it’s a lot like the belt-driven watch. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-build-steam-powered-race-car/281917/8 "2004-12-28T21:44:07Z")
> [@Enola Straight](#): > > It must have monster torque. One nice thing about steamers is that they tend to not have a torque curve. You get max torque at all speeds. (Not entirely accurate, but close enough.) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-build-steam-powered-race-car/281917/9 "2004-12-28T23:55:44Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > That’s probably the coolest looking car I’ve ever seen. Very retro sci-fi. Looks like a cross between the ['59 Stingray](http://www.velocityjrnl.com/ip/org/6124.html) and a [Messerschmitt](http://www.eurasia85.be/test/nieuweversiefotoalbum/image273.htm).