On Wednesday 5 May, a BGS STEM and completely sold-out audience welcomed Dave Rowley, an Education Programme Officer, to our JCR to present a talk on Bloodhound SSC. Everyone was excited to learn more about Bloodhound’s plans to build a supersonic car that will take the land speed record to over one thousand miles per hour. 

 

The talk was particularly inspiring to Phil Thomas and his team who brought their two Greenpower cars along to support the event and the Morocco group provided refreshments. Those lucky enough to get a ticket were given a fascinating insight into the challenges faced with creating the world’s fastest car.

 

Britain has held the land speed record for over twenty-five years. Richard Noble took the record in 1983 with Thrust 2. Andy Green then drove through the sound barrier in 1997 in Thrust SSC, taking the record to 653mph. Richard Noble is now leading a team to build Bloodhound and drive it on the Hakskeen salt pan in South Africa in 2011. Bristol has long been associated with engineering excellence and Bloodhound is to be assembled in Bristol docks, alongside the SS Great Britain. One of Richard Noble’s aims, in building this car, is to inspire and encourage young people to become our future engineers.