|
GOLDENROD
|
|
|
Goldenrod was way ahead of its time. Most of the streamliners that have followed it are very similar in concept. The breakthrough which is the most obvious, is the move to smaller tires, where Dunlop, Ken Norris and Donald Campbell had thought it necessary to have a large diameter wheel to reduce the high rotational speeds of the Bluebird CN7 car - this proved not to be correct - as you can see.
Goldenrod
The inspiration for many a record car design, low, long and narrow - sheer poetry. Bob Summer's splendid quad V8 petrol engined car achieved 409.27 mph in November of 1965 at the Bonneville Salt Flats - of course. A total of 2,400 hp was provided by the 6.9 litre fuel injected Chrysler hemi-heads.
Goldenrod cutaway drawing
All the more remarkable, where other high profile teams had spent millions breaking the 400 mph barrier. Firestone sponsored the Summers brothers through some difficult times, where the car encountered a series of mechanical breakages, especially clutches, before running reliably. It should always be remembered that without financial backing, there would be many less entries in the record books.
Bob and Bill Summers
Bob and Bill Summers are shown above in 1965 with their four-engine Golden Rod, which still holds the unblown record of 409.695 mph. Al Teague’s 409-plus-mph record remains the high-water mark for blown engines.
LINKS & REFERENCE:
National Motor Museum collection British Electric Land Speed Record
|
|
|
This website is Copyright © 2012 Bluebird Marine Limited. The names Bluebird, Solar Navigator™,Blueplanet Ecostar BE3™, Utopia Tristar™ and the blue bird in flight logo are trademarks. All other trademarks are hereby acknowledged. |
|
|
AUTOMOTIVE | BLUEPLANET BE3 | ELECTRIC CARS | SOLAR CARS | SOLARNAVIGATOR | UTOPIA |
