As many of you will know as a result of the latest series of Open Days at Farnborough, work is well underway with getting Thrust SSC completed to supersonic standard for the next visit to Al Jafr and completion of the high speed runs that were washed out by the rain last year. As ever, money and time are tight, but things are moving ahead on plan with the car making an appearance at the NEC, Birmingham prior to the flight to Jordan. Here’s Richard Noble’s update and more of our unique opportunities for you to consider.
Well, 1997 is to be the year and it has all started well. As I write this, we are on schedule for completion and painting of ThrustSSC (yes, you did hear right - it is actually going to be painted!), about one days running here at Farnborough, and then off to the NEC for the BBC Tomorrow's World Live exhibition. After that it's straight off to Jordan for some unfinished business - although the latest news is that the desert is still wet in places.
To pull ahead of the Americans (who made 675mph at Black Rock last year) we are going to have to stretch our organisation to the limit - we have to be at the speeds already achieved by Craig Breedlove and before Black Rock dries for this year (usually about August - September). There is an awful lot happening very fast now and to keep in touch with events, it is crucial that you get access to the Internet. If you can't do this at home or via a friend or colleague at work, don't forget that there are a whole host of Internet Cafés and Public Library access facilities springing up around the country that you can use at reasonable rates. Please also remember that this is an interactive project and there are many opportunities to take part, or just follow it closely of you prefer!
We have just completed a superb series of Open Days at Farnborough with over 400 members visiting. We've all enjoyed the Sundays hugely and I hope that if you haven't already had a chance to see ThrustSSC and the Team in Farnborough, you will be able to join us at the NEC where the stand is being run by the Mach 1 Club - and then at Farnborough later in the Summer. Or perhaps you are coming to Jordan?
As ever, thanks for all your continuing help and support
First of all, a big Thank You to all those 1994 and 1995 members who contributed to the Voluntary Membership Renewal Scheme and to those who came along to the four Open Days at Farnborough. It’s always a pleasure to meet people and while information can be relayed via Bulletins such as this, there’s nothing like sharing the experience face to face with other enthusiasts. The new facility at P8 Shed provided by British Aerospace is a great success, while the variety of speakers on hand, suitably supported by much new video footage and slides, provided something for everybody. As an added bonus, an auction of parts and memorabilia enabled many club members to go home happier than when they’d arrived - if slightly poorer! Pride of place went to the two tyres burst by Andy on his first ever run at Farnborough, and the windscreen used at Al Jafr and signed by all the team members.
If you didn’t make it to Farnborough, you will get a chance to see the car and meet the team at The NEC, Birmingham from 19th - 24th March for the BBC Tomorrow's World Live exhibition. In fact, if you want to get closer to the action, we still have some vacancies on the team being put together to man the Thrust stand during the exhibition. You’ll need to be able to devote 2 days to the stand and we’ll need a couple of passport photos for security badges. So if you can help, write quickly and tell us which two days you can offer. It’ll be hard work, but great fun.
For those of you with an ever greater sense of adventure, we’re also looking for six fit volunteers to be part of an advance fodding party for Jordan. Now that the track is drying, all 170 miles of it need close inspection and clearing of any stones or debris washed to the surface. Locals from the base tell us that things look good and the clearing necessary will be nowhere near as exhaustive as that carried out last year. However, time is short, so we must ensure that everything is ready for the car to run as soon as it arrives. So, if you’re fit, healthy and fancy the idea of a couple of weeks in the middle of a desert, drop us a line quickly. We’ll provide the flight, hotel accommodation in Petra (a fabulous place to visit and worth the trip alone), healthcare and a vehicle to share. We will appoint the team leader. What are you waiting for?
If you can’t make it to either Birmingham or Jordan, there is one final opportunity to see the rebuilt and freshly painted car prior to then - but only if you’re a Gold Card member. Because Farnborough is so busy, runway time is very scarce this year, so shakedown runs will be limited. We will contact Gold Card Members at the appropriate time. But one thing you can come along to is a Gold Card Members’ buffet reception evening on Saturday 15th March. This will be an informal affair giving Gold members the opportunity to view the finishing of the car in its new BASF supersonic black paint scheme. Don’t forget that the Mach 1 Club logo will now adorn the nose of the car in return for the fantastic support you continue to give to the project. Tickets are £25 each for Gold Card members only, although each Gold member can also bring along one additional guest each for a further £25.
For those who are not Gold card members already, this is a good time to upgrade in order to take advantage of these offers. Don’t forget that you get two entries of your membership number in the ‘Be a Team Member For a Week’ competition, a shakedown run invite, priority booking for Open Days and volunteer work, free access to the club Internet pages, Gold Card Certificate, and invites to Gold card only receptions such as the one on March 15th. If you don’t upgrade yourself, what about buying standard or Gold Card membership as an unusual gift for a friend or relative? We’ve included a new application form and it would be a really valuable contribution if each of you could use it to persuade one new member to join the club. Just as a little incentive, make sure you put your name and club membership number on the top right of the form you give to a friend. All those returned with a new membership will be put into a draw for a T shirt signed by the team.
Talking of competitions, we had some good and bad news recently concerning those. With a club of 4,000 members, some bad news is bound to come our way sometime, and a couple of weeks ago we received news that a young club member had died in a house fire. This was only one week before he should have been at a Farnborough Open Day to receive his prize for the caption competition, a Thrust SSC model on a special plinth made of desert surface taken from the car after its first ever run. What makes it even more poignant is that he wanted the prize presented by Andy Green since although not related, his name was also Andrew Green.
On the Open Day, some good news for one club member was that another club member, Joseph Honeyands, was picked from the audience to carry out the draw for our first ‘Be a Team Member For a Week’ competition. The lucky winner was Oliver Cox and he will be spending a fabulous week in Jordan to work on the car and see it run. Lucky Oliver, but don’t forget it could still be you for the USA trip later in the year.
Please print or copy the form below and return to PO Box 77 at the address below.
Name:................................................................ Membership No....................... Address:............................................................. ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... Post Code:........................................................... Tel No:...................................................
Please upgrade me to a Gold Card member. I enclose a cheque for £60.00 (please tick here .....)
Please reserve …………(enter number) place(s) for me at the Gold Card Members’ Buffet Reception on March 15th for the unveiling of the ThrustSSC colour scheme at £25.00 per ticket plus £25 for one additional guest. I enclose a cheque for the total cost and a Stamped Addressed Envelope for confirmation and instructions.
I am interested in helping with the following :
NEC, Birmingham ..... (please tick)
Jordan ..... (please tick)
| Ref: SSC09 1/100th scale Lledo Thrust SSC Jordan model | |
| - Unsigned | £16.00 + £1.50 p&p |
| - Signed | £21.00 + £1.50 p&p |
| Ref: SSC29 Polo shirt with embroidered SSC logo - Green, Yellow or White | |
| Adult sizes: XL, L, M, S | £17.00 + £2.00 p&p |
| Child sizes 7/8, child 9/11 | £15.00 + £2.00 p&p |
| Ref: SSC30 Thrust SSC tie - Blue with motif background and SSC logo at tip | £12.00 + £2.00 p&p |
| Ref: SSC31 Thrust SSC tie - Black with diagonal stripes and motif background and SSC logo at tip | £12.00 + £2.00 p&p |
| Ref: SSC32 FASTEST MAN ON EARTH - book on Thrust 2 by David Tremayne - signed by author and Richard Noble | £14.00 + £1.00 p&p |
| Ref: SSC33 Thrust SSC two piece designer glass in special tin | £25.00 + £1.50 p&p |
| Ref:SSC34 New large format 2 sided colour poster featuring Jordan action shots from Paris Match magazine | £5.00 + £2.00 p&p |
To order, please write to the address below stating reference, quantity, size, colour and the total amount including postage & packing. Overseas orders, please add a further £5.00 to your order. Cheques (UK pounds sterling only) payable to SSC Programme Ltd. Visa & Mastercard quoting number and expiry date are also accepted.
 |
 |
 |
||
| Sponsored by | This site best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 3 | |||
 |
 |
 |
||