General
Black Rock ThrustSSC 97-09-13
Subject: THRUSTBRIEF 7: Black Rock Desert September13th 1997. Battle for Mach 1 on Land: By contrast with the previous day, the 13th demonstrated what record breaking is truly about-it is experimental racing and everyone has to be prepared for ...
Edited: May 8, 2001, 12:19 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Subject: THRUSTBRIEF 7: Black Rock Desert September13th 1997.
Battle for Mach 1 on Land:
By contrast with the previous day, the 13th demonstrated what record breaking is truly about-it is experimental racing and everyone has to be prepared for unexpected problems which can set back progress.
On the 13th for the first time the Design Team, (who create all the ThrustSSC run profiles) had asked Andy Green to drive to the Mach number instead of airspeed - an indicator of the projects rapid progress. Once the car is into the transonic speed range (Mach 0.85 onwards) speeds will be increased in small Mach No increments.
The two runs were targeted at Mach 0.82 and Mach 0.85- the latter being 650mph which would have taken ThrustSSC to the same max speed as was achieved by Thrust2 in 1983.
The run started well enough and ThrustSSC accelerated smoothly to 550mph. At this point the car's Computer 1 locked up resulting in the rear wheels alternately taking load. As soon as the Comp1 caption lit in the cockpit Andy Green aborted the run and brought the car to halt without damage.
The problem was subsequently found to be a mix of a software fault and internal power instability both of which are easily fixed. The team now plan to take two days for a full car inspection and a further two days to fit additional rear suspension spacers to provide a greater active suspension down thrust range.
Miraculously the Spirit of America team were able to recover their finances and are now back on site. ThrustSSC has now contracted with the United States Auto Club to provide the FIA timing for ThrustSSC at Black Rock- they arrive on Monday. A further v ariable has now emerged-a huge low pressure system has established off the Californian Coast and hurricane winds are forecast-which may or may not reach Black Rock on the 14th and 15th.
Please see latest news copy and photos on the ThrustSSC web site. Address is http://thrustssc.digital.co.uk
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article This Week in Racing History (September 14-20)
Next article
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Andy Green
Red Bull wings grounds for race ban - Force India
Formula 1
Formula 1
Red Bull wings grounds for race ban - Force India
2015 nose rules benefit Mercedes, Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
2015 nose rules benefit Mercedes, Ferrari
Top speeds at Monza to be lower than expected
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
Top speeds at Monza to be lower than expected
Latest news
MotoGP's final Australian GP at Phillip Island cancelled due to poor weather
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
23 min
MotoGP's final Australian GP at Phillip Island cancelled due to poor weather
2026 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Indonesian GP
2 h
2026 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more
There will be even less drag in Cup cars at Talladega on Sunday
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
3 h
There will be even less drag in Cup cars at Talladega on Sunday
Kimi Antonelli delivers Austin surprise pole in tricky Mercedes: "Finally we're seeing the results"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
4 h
Kimi Antonelli delivers Austin surprise pole in tricky Mercedes: "Finally we're seeing the results"
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 Can-Am drivers
General
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 Can-Am drivers
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe