On Sunday a hard day was put in by the team and the Royal Jordanian Air Force in preparing the track for this week's runs. The work was not quite completed due to a serviceability problem with the grader - but it is hoped to complete the major earthworks today. The while lining is currently ahead of plan but further work is delayed due to serviceability problems with the pickup truck. As of the 25th there are now 36 miles of 50ft wide lane ready for use. It is thought that whilst in Jordan ThrustSSC will probably only require sufficient track for 10-15 runs. The plan is to try to make two runs per day.

The ambient temperatures are very hot with a maximum of 39C being reached in the AireShelta inflatable workshop. With the team now moving to operational mode, early starts are made at 0400 in very pleasant cool conditions.

Up to two runs are planned for today - both slow speed at 110 and 300mph. The objective is to prove the rear wheel steering which caused so much trouble last year. The changes made in the intervening six months include a totally new rear suspension geometry and twin-keeled rear steering wheels. The changes have been made to avoid the wheel shimmy (intense directional instability of the rear wheels). The suspension has been designed with considerable adjustment to allow changes to be made on the desert if the new set-up proves only partially successful. Once this critical phase has been negotiated the team can build the speeds rapidly towards 600mph.

A major breakthrough was made today with the signature of the Heads of Agreement to race on the Black Rock Desert between the ThrustSSC Team and the Spirit of America team. The agreement has been a particularly difficult one to negotiate since it was essential that there be no obvious bias towards either team. The agreement allows for one or two courses on the Black Rock Desert and sets in concrete the rules for daily run arrangements. Now with the agreement signed the next stage is the completion of the full scale plans to the US Bureau of Land Management for the issuing of the Permits. The ThrustSSC plan will be complete tonight and will be faxed to both BLM and SoA by the end of today Jordan Time.

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