One of the best things about being a member of the Mach 1 Club is to have the opportunity to see the development of ThrustSSC first hand. Response to a project update mailed out to the thousands of club members earlier in January was terrific, and less than 2 weeks after the mail shot, ThrustSSC's new home in Farnborough is welcoming many enthusiastic club members who want to know all about the recent runs in Jordan and what happens next.
The day starts as normal for the build team - for them, this is a working day and there are many jobs to get on with. The engines that performed so well in Jordan have been taken out to be checked over. The rear suspension and steering modifications are well underway. Many other smaller jobs are also being tackled. All his means that the Mach 1 Club members would not be seeing the formidable sleak shape that raced over the Jordanian desert, but, more interestingly, a unique insight into the technology that goes to make a supersonic car.
As the time approaches for guests to arrive, the build team run a final check over ThrustSSC. Mike Horne breaks off from his never-ending work on the composite components to help Nick Dove and Rob Hemper attach SSC's nose-cone, while Robbie Kraike makes sure that the cockpit canopy and windscreen are in place. Mike Hearn has all his video tapes lined up , Dee Campbell-Coombe has coffee and sandwiches prepared, Robin Richardson and Sara Cook are ready with the list of visitors. John Lovatt and Neal Fletcher, who have co-ordinated the open day, make their final checks. Everything is ready
Robin Richardson gets things under way:
"Welcome to Farnborough and the first of our 1997 open days." The facilities in P8 R Shed
at the DRA are superb - the visitors sit in a carpeted area of the shed ideal for presentations.
Robin talks about Mach 1 Club members' experiences in Jordan, and he also adds some interesting
snippets about his earlier visit to Bonneville where he watched Craig Breedlove's first runs in
the Spirit of America.
Project Director, Richard Noble, updates everyone with current news of the project, and goes on to reveal some of his plans for 1997. Everyone is fascinated as Richard goes on to talk about the other cars in the race for a supersonic land speed record and shows a video of Spirit of America's last ill-fated run. "Now it's time to have a look round and talk to members of the team"
Next to the presentation area in P8 R Shed are two more bays. The first is home to the support vehicles and engines. It is soon full of Mach 1 members looking inside the Pit Station trailer, which is currently being refitted, and examining the Supacats and Jaguar Firechase. ThrustSSC team enginemen Chris Cowell and Steve Wiltshire are both on hand to explain the ins and outs of the Rolls Royce Spey engines.
The final bay is where ThrustSSC is. The supersonic car is minus engine cowlings and engines, but is still a most impressive sight. Nick Dove, Rob Hemper and Robbie Kraike take time off from their work to proudly show the visitors round and answer their endless questions.
Back in the presentation area, ThrustSSC's aerodynamicist and designer, Ron Ayers talks about how the problems of designing a supersonic car were solved. For the first time at a Mach 1 Club open day, he is able to show how the concept of rear wheel steering was proved - the mini that was used in the trials is there with him!
Other presentations follow. Jeremy Bliss shows videos taken from the on-board cameras during one of the Jordanian desert runs. He explains and shows on screen the wheel "shimmy" that caused the steering problems and describes the work being done to correct it. Neal Fletcher recounts his two weeks in Jordan and gives an insight into the extremely useful work done by the Mach 1 Club in the desert.
Finally, the time comes to say goodbye to our Mach 1 Club friends. Everyone appears to have had a good day as they shake hands with everyone on the team before leaving.
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