The Mach 1 Club members turned up early at Al Jafr, closely followed by the press, eager to witness the engine tie down tests. After several days off hard fodding we were looking forward to witnessing the raw power of the car with its spay engines. At long last! - But it was not to be.

(The rear wheel's keel can easily be seen as Robbie Kraike follows it with a chock. Photo: Jeremy Davey.

The whole day was jinxed when one of our members phoned up his wife, 9.30am Jordan time, 7.30am UK time, (she is very understanding) to say that we were just about to load the car on the trailer and depart to the engine test area. It went downhill rapidly from that moment on. The keel (a sharp 10mm high projecting rib) on the back wheel seriously cut into the protective rubber matting which prevents damage of the keel and wheels on the ramps. There was a fear that the keel may be irreparably damaged. All the press was in close attendance filming every excruciating second.

Plan 2 - place wood under the rear wheels. No good. The wood was cut into two just like the rubber. A good way of cutting up wood but not of any help to us. Press still in close attendance.

(Pushing ThrustSSC back in. Photo: Jeremy Davey.

Plan 3 - borrow a crane from the air base to load the car straight onto the trailer. Car wheeled out of hanger. Strops attached to car and cable attached to crane. The lift commenced, very gingerly, but it was soon decided that a combination of unequal length strops and a major question about the state of serviceability of the cables and lifting ability of the crane meant that this idea would best be forgotten.

(Lifting ThrustSSC with the Merlo. Photo: Jeremy Davey.)

Plan 4 - return to the original plan but hoist the rear of the car onto the transporter, with the Merlo (fork lift), and this time using double thickness of rubber matting. Good plan! Back of car lifted, nose of car millimeters from ground and trailed reversed under back wheels. Success!

Oh dear (or other words to that effect). We cannot now get the front wheel ramps in-between the trailer and the front wheels. We hope that the press use the Bleep button at this point.

Plan 5 - build ramp for rear wheels behind trailer and reverse car off trailer until front wheel ramps can be installed. Plan goes well. Car moved back onto ramps and front wheel ramps put in place. Car now pulled with trailer winch onto trailer.

Problem - car, trailer and ramps now all not quite in alignment. Press go home. OK so we reposition trailer and lift one side of car with forklift to reposition ramps. Finally just after dusk to car is on the trailer. It is now too late for the engine tests for today so they are now reprogrammed for tomorrow.

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