New steam powered car poised to break 200mph

Not since Back To The Future III have we been so stoked about the idea of retro-futuristic steam-powered transportation: the British Steam Car Challenge aims to pit man, machine, and gaseous water against the 1906 record for land-speed steam-powered speed, about 128mph. Granted, this high-performance machine is still technically gas-powered, but the petrol is powering the steam drive, so it's a little different from locomotives of yore. Though this project was technically started in 1999, apparently Slough Heat & Power in Berkshire is providing a custom built gantry for steam production for the car's first real test in South Africa this coming June (then it's on to the salt flats). Nope, it's not really in the same league as the JCB DieselMax that broke 350mph a couple months back, but steam power is the wave of the, um, past -- and don't you forget it.

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 30th 2006 8:30AM]

That car is retro-gorgeous!
WOW

It should be called "Green Destiny" or something because there is something special the comes through even in a photograph.

Best of luck folks. If the contest was on styling along you'd already have the prize!

[Frank Swanston @ Nov 4th 2006 9:58AM]

I just need to correct a misunderstanding!
This 'Clean Green Mean Machine doesn't run on petrol! To help the already clean external combustion process be even more environmentally friendly, the boilers are fired by gaseous LPG! Making it one of the 1st record breakers to be specifically designed to use an alternate low polluting fuel while providing stylish visual cues and the excitment of a Race Car!