Project Thrust

Richard Noble’s efforts over the last six or seven years will be put to the test in October when he will be making an attempt to take the Land Speed Record on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The record currently stands at 622.407 m.p.h. and is held by Gary Gabelich.

In September last year, Noble’s car, Thrust 2, took six British speed records on the runway at RAF Greenham Common near Newbury, the flying quarter mile record being raised to 259.74 m.p.h., which is rather impressive when one considers that the runway at Greenharn Common is only some two miles in length, and the car was somewhat under-tyred anyway. Now, Thrust 2 has a new, more powerlul Avon 302 engine and has been equipped with solid, 30″ diameter alloy wheels, the front pair having a tread etched in the surface while the rears will be equipped with a central keel to help with stability. The strip at Bonneville will be of the order of twelve miles in length and 200 feet wide, the car should take 45 seconds to reach the measured mile, initial acceleration being estimated at 2g.