A project like ThrustSSC relies on publicity to survive - without publicity there would be few, if any, sponsors and merchandise sales, and without sponsors and merchandising World Land Speed Record breaking would revert to being the exclusive domain of the extremely wealthy. Such is not the Thrust way.

You may already be aware that the Mach 1 Club has become the Daily Telegraph Mach 1 Club following sponsorship by Britain's most popular broadsheet. This offered ThrustSSC the most exceptional opportunity - the Daily Telegraph wanted to run a special report on the project with the opportunity for the readers to buy ThrustSSC merchandise. ThrustSSC Sponsors would have an exceptional vehicle (no pun intended!) to gain widespread public recognition of the part they are playing in the Project.

(The ThrustSSC Jordan2 Lledo Model)

The promotional week started on Saturday 26th July 1997 in the Motoring Section with just a taster of what was to come. Throughout the following week the Daily Telegraph ran a "Win a trip to the States with ThrustSSC" competition, inviting readers to submit their application by phone or post. Readers were encouraged to become members of the Daily Telegraph Mach 1 Club and purchase copies of the unique ThrustSSC model signed by Richard Noble and Andy Green which has been produced exclusively by Lledo plc.

Wednesday 30th July 1997 was the day we were all waiting for. The Daily Telegraph published a three page Special Report on ThrustSSC and the World Land Speed Record Challenge. All aspects of the project were covered from the engineering and technical side to the fight to raise sufficient funding to take the Car and the Team to the Black Rock Desert in August 1997. There were articles on the history of the Land Speed Record, the Jaguar Firechase and Black Rock Desert. The personal side of the Project was also covered with an article on how Andy Green and Jayne Millington met...

All week members of the ThrustSSC Team were wondering what effect this widespread media coverage would have on the Daily Telegraph Mach 1 Club. Would Club memberships increase? The Daily Telegraph currently has a circulation of approximately 2.8m - if only 0.05% of the readership became interested, that could be over 1000 new members!

Well, the proof seemed to be in the post as early as Saturday morning. Hundreds of people had sent letters applying for membership of the Daily Telegraph Mach 1 Club, both Ordinary (£15) and Gold (£60). The Lledo model of ThrustSSC was also in huge demand. By Saturday this was a marvellous response. Sally Noble and the Mach 1 Club Team are going to be very busy indeed over the next few weeks!

We would like to say a big Thank You to the Daily Telegraph for becoming involved in the project at such a critical time for ThrustSSC. We are looking forward to spending hours opening the post!

(P.S. If you missed the coverage in the Daily Telegraph and would like to purchase a copy, call the Daily Telegraph Back Date Department on 01268 725579.)

The author of this article, Barbie McSean, Barbie McSean, is an active Mach 1 Club member, and a member of the ThrustSSC Internet Team. Barbie is an honorary platinum member of the Mach 1 Club.

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