Britain's forthcoming bid at breaking the World Land Speed Record has been given a major boost by the announcement that Honda UK is loaning generating equipment to provide stable power to the sophisticated computer and communications systems vital to a successful attempt.
Richard Noble, who holds the current record and is organising this attempt, says Honda's support will be crucial: "Our record attempt depends on precise calculations of time and distance. We need generators which can produce very high quality power to ensure that our equipment operates reliably and accurately. Honda generators will cope with these demands and with the extremes of heat and dust which we will encounter in the desert."
The generators will also be used to provide power to the world's largest inflatable building - one of Richard Bailey's Airesheltas - which is being used as a 60ft hangar for ThrustSSC.
Honda is supplying four of the latest units in its range. Two EX lODs, which are 230/115 V diesel generators producing 10 kVA at 50 Hz and two EM45OOs, which are petrol driven models with an output of 4.5 kVA.
RAF pilot, Andy Green, will make the attempt in 'Thrust', a 100,000 hp jet powered supercar that he hopes will smash the current record of 633.468 mph. The attempt will take place across a dried up lake bed in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada, USA.
Honda UK's national sales manager, Geoff Matthews is overseeing the testing of the units which need to be in tip-top condition for trials in the Jafr Desert before being shipped to Nevada for the record attempt.
"We are proud to be supporting this record attempt," he says "and I am personally delighted that the Thrust team requested Honda generators; our reputation for reliability clearly precedes us."
"The car is actually a fifty foot long hi-tech projectile," continues Noble. "It runs on solid forged aluminium wheels and is powered by two Rolls-Royce Spey jet engines - usually fitted to RAF Phantom jet fighters - giving 50,000 lbs of combined thrust.
"When Andy Green takes on the final challenge, Thrust will accelerate from 0-600 mph in around 16 seconds and come out of the end of the measured mile at over 850 mph, which is in excess of the speed of sound - literally faster than a speeding bullet."
For further information please contact Julia Rilett or Philip Tutt on +44-(0)181-744-2630.
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