Previous Attempts, 1998

Fri 1st May | Sat 2nd May | Thurs 21st May | Fri Sept 18th | Sat 19th Sept | Sun 20th Sept

Please note, the latest events are first, to read of the day's progress please scroll down the page.

ELVINGTON SATURDAY FINAL UPDATE - 21:00

View from cockpit during record breaking attempt.
View from cockpit during record breaking attempt.

Press Release

The Bluebird team is pleased to announce that we have established three national Class 3 records for electric vehicles. Bluebird achieved a maximum speed of 128mph, an encouraging achievement on a runway of less than 2 miles.

Disappointingly we missed the record we came to achieve by less than 7mph - the UK's fastest electric speed record.

Sod's law is alive and well and living in Elvington!

We will post official times for the class records following ratification by the RAC MSA. The team is determined to return to Elvington and capture the elusive national record.

Watch this space. Goodnight and thanks for watching.

 

Right guys. Where's the nearest pub....

 

ELVINGTON SATURDAY UPDATE 4 - 19:00

Final checks before completing a run.
Final checks before completing a run.
The 18:30 run that we were pinning our hopes on was hampered by trouble with the car at the end of the first run, causing us to abandon that attempt. Luckily these problems have now been rectified and the team are keen to push on until we loose the light. As we write the car has just returned and is being prepared for another run, although the wind is still high we all still hope for success.

We have now moved office, you can now reach us from www.transit.van.on.the.runway.com having been evicted from the co-ordination office

 

 

ELVINGTON SATURDAY UPDATE 3 - 17:00

The weathermen got it right for a change and it's certainly changeable out there. The clouds are clearing but the wind is still high and causing problems. We are hoping it will now stay clear and things look nowhere near as bleak.

The first unrestricted run of the car took place at about 15:45. The out run was with the wind and was fast. The car achieved an average speed of just over 106mph. This will not achieve the record though, as the record attempt has two parts and the car must complete two runs in an hour. The record speed will be the average of the two runs. The second run was held up by a strong wind gusting up to 12mph. This hampered the attempt and the average speed achieved was 99mph.

The peak speed of the car so far was clocked earlier at 128mph.

The record attempts are continuing and we still hope to achieve the record today. With barely 1.9 miles of airfield to play with we may just have to find a bigger playground! To keep up to date stay with us for regular updates throughout the day.

ELVINGTON SATURDAY UPDATE 2 - 14:00

Picture gallery of warm up to the record attempts.

Preparing the Bluebird for a trial run
Preparing the Bluebird for a trial run.
After runs this morning the car has just completed the first of its build up runs supporting its full bodywork. Adjustments have been made to it to improve visibility and to solve a problem of the wheels fouling on the bodywork.

Don has been building up the speed and as we write has just completed two runs, unofficially at 80mph and 90mph. Before a break he will build up the speed to hopefully reach the three-figure mark 100mph. Remember the current British record stands at just 106mph.

Don appears calm and has even taken time out to kick a ball around with his children who are both here to join in the fun. He has also been doing interviews for local and national media.

 

 

Family photocall
Family photocall.
Unfortunately the bright sunny weather of this morning is beginning to become overcast with the possibility of rain on the way, the wind has also began to pick up. Side winds are a big problem for the car as it affects its stability and handling; an excess of wind could cause problems for the record attempt. The team continues to press on and hopes are still high of breaking the record later on this afternoon.

Latest

The run time has just been confirmed as 78mph, which keeps the team on line for the record.

 

 

ELVINGTON SATURDAY UPDATE 1 - 09:00AM

Donald Wales with the Bluebird on Saturday morning (NB. The canopy is removed for testing purposes).
Donald Wales with the Bluebird on Saturday morning
(NB. The canopy is removed for testing purposes).
Saturday 9am. The sun is out, the wind has dropped and the prospects look bright for Bluebird Electric.

The Sheffield University team in charge of the drivetrain report no significant problems arising overnight, so the big push towards the record is on.

The car is expected on the track around 10am for initial tests at low speeds, building up to the big one later in the day that will take Don Wales past the current national record of 106mph.

2nd May, 1998

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