Wind-Powered Car Catches up with Mallard - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Ursa major · 28th March 2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

A British engineer from Hampshire has broken the world land speed record for a wind-powered vehicle.
Richard Jenkins reached 126.1mph (202.9km/h) in his Greenbird car on the dry plains of Ivanpah Lake in Nevada.

BBC NEWS | Technology | Wind-powered car breaks record

In fact, this car may even have been slightly faster, reaching 202.9 kmph compared to Mallard's 202.77 kmph (based on 126 mph dead).

Saeltari · 28th March 2009, 07:35 PM

Hah!

Seriously I saw the title and thought you were talking about a duck. The car caught up with a duck, I was interested. I was thinking a car, powered by wind, up in the air, catches up to a duck...

Its almost noon, must still be too early for me.

The Ace · 28th March 2009, 08:31 PM

Rumours of a bipolar bear sitting on the roof and punning furiously are, as yet, unconfirmed.

Tillane · 28th March 2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Ace

Rumours of a bipolar bear sitting on the roof and punning furiously are, as yet, unconfirmed.

You mean you haven't seen the video? You should visit YouTube more often...

Actually, no. You really shouldn't.

Ursa major · 28th March 2009, 09:19 PM

* Ducks the uncalled-for criticism. *

Given all the pun-filled posts I've done, it's bizarre that I'm accused of punning when I'm not - not until the previous paragraph, anyway.

(Frankly, if one hasn't heard of the A4 Pacific, Mallard, and doesn't know that it still holds the record for the fastest steam locomotive - a record that's 71 years old later this year - one's education is sadly lacking. But then I'm biased.)

The Ace · 28th March 2009, 09:22 PM

Course I know about the, 'Mallard." It was just that given the starter of this thread, I couldn't resist.

Tillane · 28th March 2009, 09:24 PM

Having spent six months working for a heritage railway, I do of course know about the Mallard. Unfortunately, I also know rather more than I'd like about a certain steam loco called Thomas...

Back on topic, that really is a remarkable speed for the car. Kinda pointless, given it'll only use it on a race track, etc, but cool nonetheless.

Ursa major · 28th March 2009, 09:26 PM

Sorry, gents: I wasn't accusing you of not knowing, or anyone else in particular, actually. (And it never crossed my mind that you two didn't know.)

Dave · 29th March 2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tillane

Back on topic, that really is a remarkable speed for the car. Kinda pointless, given it'll only use it on a race track, etc, but cool nonetheless.

That would need to be a very straight race track!

I have an image now of wind-powered cars tacking and beating around a racing circuit.

pyan · 29th March 2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave

I have an image now of wind-powered cars tacking and beating around a racing circuit.

At those speeds? Wow, I hope someone takes up the idea...it would be really spectacular, yachting at Touring Car speeds...

Nik · 29th March 2009, 11:07 PM

Long, long ago, I came across a monograph called 'The 40 kt Sailboat'. It suggested a canted wing-sail, opposed immersed water foil etc etc, and was roundly criticised as absurd.

Just out of curiosity, I checked: The record now exceeds 50 kts...
Vestas SailRocket: Outright World Speed Sailing Record Attempt

Ursa major · 29th March 2009, 11:23 PM

I think that boat may be a little wide to allow easy overtaking.

chrispenycate · 30th March 2009, 01:05 AM

I'm rather hoping to be offered a ride on the Hydroptère, the sailing boat with hydrofoils that lifts itself clean out of the water with a bit of wind, ad holds a fair number of sailing speed records.

After all, I've done enough work on their films.

Saeltari · 30th March 2009, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ursa major

...
(Frankly, if one hasn't heard of the A4 Pacific, Mallard, and doesn't know that it still holds the record for the fastest steam locomotive - a record that's 71 years old later this year - one's education is sadly lacking. But then I'm biased.)

Mr. Bear,

How dare you kast azperjions upon my edgeucashion!!!

Can you read the Odyssey to me in Homeric Greek right now, without a translation? If not then I throw the aspersions back at you! (don't worry, I have terrible aim)

Talking about cars, locomotives and their relation to speed and you should talk to my brother, he loves that stuff. I know enough to take my car to the shop... and I can keep it on the road when going 180.

Ursa major · 30th March 2009, 05:28 PM

Perhaps I was half suggesting that if the record holder had been, say, one of those CMStP&P Class A Atlantics, more people may have heard of it (which may say a lot more about we here in the UK than about ... er ... other people).

As for reading about Odysseus, I have trouble with some Greek characters.

28th March 2009, 07:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
Saeltari Druid Trainer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Washington Posts: 643 Blog Entries: 8	Re: Wind-Powered Car Catches up with Mallard Hah! Seriously I saw the title and thought you were talking about a duck. The car caught up with a duck, I was interested. I was thinking a car, powered by wind, up in the air, catches up to a duck... Its almost noon, must still be too early for me.

28th March 2009, 08:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
The Ace Scottish Roman Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Perth and Kinross Posts: 3,811	Re: Wind-Powered Car Catches up with Mallard Rumours of a bipolar bear sitting on the roof and punning furiously are, as yet, unconfirmed.

28th March 2009, 09:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ursa major Bearly Believable Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK: ENGLAND: Posts: 12,047	Re: Wind-Powered Car Catches up with Mallard * Ducks the uncalled-for criticism. * Given all the pun-filled posts I've done, it's bizarre that I'm accused of punning when I'm not - not until the previous paragraph, anyway. (Frankly, if one hasn't heard of the A4 Pacific, Mallard, and doesn't know that it still holds the record for the fastest steam locomotive - a record that's 71 years old later this year - one's education is sadly lacking. But then I'm biased.)

28th March 2009, 09:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
The Ace Scottish Roman Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Perth and Kinross Posts: 3,811	Re: Wind-Powered Car Catches up with Mallard Course I know about the, 'Mallard." It was just that given the starter of this thread, I couldn't resist.

28th March 2009, 09:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tillane Left-minded Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tyne and Wear Posts: 1,655	Re: Wind-Powered Car Catches up with Mallard Having spent six months working for a heritage railway, I do of course know about the Mallard. Unfortunately, I also know rather more than I'd like about a certain steam loco called Thomas... Back on topic, that really is a remarkable speed for the car. Kinda pointless, given it'll only use it on a race track, etc, but cool nonetheless.

28th March 2009, 09:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
Ursa major Bearly Believable Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK: ENGLAND: Posts: 12,047	Re: Wind-Powered Car Catches up with Mallard Sorry, gents: I wasn't accusing you of not knowing, or anyone else in particular, actually. (And it never crossed my mind that you two didn't know.)

29th March 2009, 11:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
Nik Speaker to Cats Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK: ENGLAND: Posts: 1,482	Re: Wind-Powered Car Catches up with Mallard Long, long ago, I came across a monograph called 'The 40 kt Sailboat'. It suggested a canted wing-sail, opposed immersed water foil etc etc, and was roundly criticised as absurd. Just out of curiosity, I checked: The record now exceeds 50 kts... Vestas SailRocket: Outright World Speed Sailing Record Attempt

29th March 2009, 11:23 PM	#12 (permalink)
Ursa major Bearly Believable Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK: ENGLAND: Posts: 12,047	Re: Wind-Powered Car Catches up with Mallard I think that boat may be a little wide to allow easy overtaking.

30th March 2009, 01:05 AM	#13 (permalink)
chrispenycate resident pedantissimo Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Switzerland Posts: 5,375 Blog Entries: 9	Re: Wind-Powered Car Catches up with Mallard I'm rather hoping to be offered a ride on the Hydroptère, the sailing boat with hydrofoils that lifts itself clean out of the water with a bit of wind, ad holds a fair number of sailing speed records. After all, I've done enough work on their films.

30th March 2009, 05:28 PM	#15 (permalink)
Ursa major Bearly Believable Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK: ENGLAND: Posts: 12,047	Re: Wind-Powered Car Catches up with Mallard Perhaps I was half suggesting that if the record holder had been, say, one of those CMStP&P Class A Atlantics, more people may have heard of it (which may say a lot more about we here in the UK than about ... er ... other people). As for reading about Odysseus, I have trouble with some Greek characters.

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