ThrustSSC News From Al Jafr (2) - Saturday 6th July 1996
by Andrew Noble
(Off-Road vehicle in Jafr Desert)
Track Work: The track preparation work is nearly complete, although several graders and loaders will stay out on
the flats in case Andy Green finds areas on the first runs which need additional work. The main work now is flattening and
leveling the many crusted patches between mile 6.5 and 7.5 - these have been flattened by the Terex loader and will now
receive the finishing touch from Salah, the R.J.A.F. genius at the grader!
Lane Marking: Various different ways of marking Andy’s 16 lanes have been tried, the final solution is a white
line made from a special mixture of Plaster of Paris. This will be laid from a tank truck, aligned on the surveyor’s lane
marker sticks... This very precise work starts next Monday.
Access Road: We now have an excellent graded road, very straight, marked with red/white barrels and suitable for
cars, trucks and buses, leading directly to the pits/spectator area.
Pits/Spectator Area: This will be installed next week - it is hoped to have large Air Cargo lifting platform to
give VIPs and Press and TV a 4-metre high viewpoint over the track. In addition it is hoped to have 2 mobile offices for
timekeepers, and Press and VIPs, and various tented areas for shade. All equipment is being loaded by the R.J.A.F. Display
and Advertising banner spaces are being offered to UK and Jordanian companies in this area.
Jordanian Media: The project has now been carried in all English-language and Arabic newspapers. There have been
reports and interviews on Jordan TV’s "News At 10", news in Arabic at midday, and Friday afternoon’s "What’s on in Jordan"
on TV and satellite broadcasts, and on Jordan Radio.
The Biggest Track Job Is Yet To Come! "De-fodding" is the removal of all stones or foreign objects that could
damage the car’s aluminium wheels or be sucked into an engine intake. This involves walking the 16 tracks, each 10 mile
long by 50ft wide, and removing by hand all stones and objects. Many stones need to be prosed up with a screwdriver. This
mammoth job has already started with all large items removed: barrels, tins, wood, lorry tyres, trash... even the bones of
a dead camel! Some team members are planning to form an advance party and fly out to try to complete this huge task to
coincide with the car’s arrival and preparation. As daytime temperatures are so high here, we plan to be out on the desert
at 0530hrs each morning and "fod" through to 1130hrs -and then maybe again in the evening.
