This is pretty much entirely off-topic, but I stumbled across this article in an old Mechanix Illustrated and felt like I had to post it. Essentially, it's a perfect example of post-war optimism using enthusiastic words and wonderful artist rendering... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
Nice read, When I raced the 81 Mustang we tested brake pad compounds for police car use. Some race sessions at Black Hawk farms in Rockton Il were interesting as we would destroy the pads and rotors in a 30 minute session or less.
They eventually made the grid with a gas turbine car in 1967. Andy Granatelli's STP Special with Parnelli Jones driving. They outlawed them for 1968.
Nice read! Fun to look back at the visions people had back then for the future. Thats that creative thinking that keeps mankind from stagnating and dying out. How can anyone not find that exciting? Today we have the space program and alt fuels. Still exciting. Still dreaming.
Sadly, jetengines haven't changed much since that motor was developed. I would love to have a turbine-shaft engine about half that size, and about 30% more efficiency. Combined with a hybrid electric motor and flywheel, you could probably get rid of the 3-second throttle delay.
The SAC Fireboid. Don't know a lot about it, but it was built with the cooperation of the Air Force in the early 50s as a Firestone test vehicle and/or a recruitment tool.
Not outlawed, just restricted. The old hot rodders came back fierce. http://www.studebaker-info.org/Indy/turbine.htm
Don't think tubines were 'outlawed' entirely but by 69 about everything other than conventional I/C engines were legislated out of competiveness. Much to the dismay of Bill Lear who decided to go the other way and use very old technology...Steam.
I watched the 3 STP Wedge turbine cars at the old Orpheum movie theater in Wichita in '68. It wasn't televised back then so you paid a few bucks and could watch it on the big screen. That was pretty cool back then. I think I was 13. Those were great looking cars.
Funny, he didn't mention land speed record racing: the world's fastest wheel-driven vehicle uses just the sort of powertrain the Captain was describing. http://www.teamvesco.com/ Come to think of it, didn't Capt. Eddie own the Speedway at one time? Probably why lakes racing never entered the picture!
None of those "predictions" really came to pass. Sixty-some years later the unmentioned electric power seems the alternative for the future.
I keep waiting for one of those nuke cars. Maybe the Chinese will finally offer one of those up soon once GM and Chrysler fade into history.
What I like about the article is how accurate his predictions were for the speeds the cars were to reach and the application issues he forsaw with jet turbine technology. Great article, thanks for sharing it!
Don't be suprised if electrics generate a resurgence of interest in alternative power plants, like turbines. Suddenly the engine is free to operate by it's own rules in terms of RPM and power output, because it's just running a generator. Now it's about efficiency, and a turbine that's too small to accelerate a car effectively can outshine a piston engine. There has been a lot of recent small turbine advancement for the purpose of remote power generation and it's only a matter of time til the technology merge starts to happen Sweet article. The author is what makes it.
The Jalopy Journal
