0430hrs - your alarm sounds reveille. By 0500 the team are trudging into breakfast in the Gerlach community centre. Bonnie and Lola are in there ready with toast, cereals, bacon, egg, hash browns and fruit. Their cheerfulness is almost overwhelming as you struggle to stir your body and mind into action. You have to get a good breakfast down too - lunch is a long time away and there's a lot to be done this morning.
It's a cold one - there is a vicious nip in the air and everyone is wearing their prized Castrol racing fleece jackets. One by one the vehicles head out to the desert, keeping speeds down to 30mph to reduce dust pickup. The eastern horizon begins to glow as dawn approaches - it will make a lovely picture in the clear, still air.
At 0630 Martyn Davidson briefs the team. The SSC is planned to make two runs, the first to Mach 0.82 (approximately 624mph ground speed), the second to Mach 0.85 (approximately 647mph ground). Objectives are to check the modifications to the rear suspension height, confirm that the computer problems have been overcome, and to gain pitch aerodynamic data. Both runs will start one mile into the 13-mile tracks, ending one mile from the end. Run sheets are handed out to crew chiefs Chris Cowell and Nick Dove, also to yourself for the Merlo and Mike Hearn for Firechase.
Andy Green talks everyone through the profiles - both will see full afterburners to peak speed, then cruising through the measured mile. An attempt will be made to achieve a 60 minutes turnround - something the team must be able to do to get a record. On the second run, Andy will test-fire the abort system to ensure that it functions correctly - raising the rear suspension and cutting the engines.
The briefing over, everyone moves into action. In the Aireshelta, Jerry Bliss and Rob Hemper charge the hydraulic accumulators for the abort system, while John Coppinger fits the last of the side panels onto the car. On the top of SSC, Chris Cowell and Mike Horne fit more panels, while Adam Northcote-Wright gives the video recorders a last blow with the air line to clear the dust and prepares the on-board cameras for use. The nose is already fitted with its sensors and pitot line connected, and the car is fuelled - both jobs being completed as the workshop team worked late last night on preparations.
Paul Remfry's security team move into action to seal all the desert entrances, while the Pegasus microlights take off in formation and begin their desert patrols. The USAC timekeepers - Dave Petrali, Don "Mac" McGregor, and Art Meyers - move out to the measured mile which they have checked so carefully for accuracy and connect their timing equipment to the carefully laid out wires. They report that they are ready. Dave Petrali and his father Joe before him have been timing the World Land Speed Record for years - they are both legends in the sport - and Dave has been greeted as an old friend by the ex-Thrust2 team members. Driving over his wires is regarded as a cardinal sin - everyone has been reminded once again: "Never, ever, drive over the wires."
0800 - "All call signs stand by. Estimate between ten and fifteen minutes to run."
0814 - SSC comes on air, requesting temperature and pressure as always. Andy estimates 5 mins to engine start.
0822 - "Pit Station, SSC. The car is armed and starting". Runs Controller Jayne Millington acknowledges and relays to all stations.
0828 - SSC reports an error during engine start. A long radio conversation ensues between SSC and systems expert Jerry Bliss as "Telemetry". Computer codes are passed back and forth the along the length of the desert - it is made all the more confusing for the listening spectators with their scanners as Pit Station is relaying the messages via its powerful transmitters and long aerials. Those who know the voices find it easier to follow.
Finally at 0835 Jayne issues the 2-minute warning: "All stations, 2 minutes to run. Emergency transmissions only. Minimise, minimise." She checks that Team 2 is ready to receive SSC, and that "Mobile Recs" and "Merlin" are ready. Both confirm ready.
At 0837 Firechase is in position. Brian Palmer reports in: "Firechase in position. Ready and waiting."
SSC requests wind direction and strength. Andy Green confirms he is ready to roll.
Jayne Millington in the Pit Station responds: "SSC, clear to roll. All stations, SSC clear to roll. SSC rolling."
The dust rises in the distance, but before the noise of the engines can reach the measured mile, the radio cuts in: "SSC aborting. Uncommanded abort fire." This is quickly followed by: "SSC estimating stopping in the measured mile." Comp 1 had failed again and the abort system had fired as a safety precaution - is it is meant to do. Ironically the call is followed by the noise of the engines winding up to full afterburner - the sound takes that long to reach the measured mile. Peak speed was just over 400mph.
8 long minutes ensue as Firechase and Team 2 race to the stationary car, almost directly opposite the timekeepers' RV. Firechase makes it first, but it seems a long wait before Andy Green makes the call: "SSC is safe."
There is nothing to do but take the SSC back to the Desert Pits to fix the problem. Firechase takes a few runs at the measured mile to test the calibration of the timing equipment - achieving a peak of a fraction over 129mph.
SoA is planning to run at 1300hrs - the race to the Sound Barrier continues.
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