Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2009 | Page 51

SPORT & LEISURE

Charles Burnett III steamcar driver
did handle beautifully. The team has worked
extremely hard over the last 10 years and

Car pictured with team at Edwards airforce base

turbine at more than twice the speed of sound.
Pam Swanston wife of the late project

overcome numerous problems. It is a privilege

manager Frank Swanston was overcome

to be involved with such a talented crew, what

with emotion after seeing Charles power the

we have achieved today is a true testament

supercar across the dry lake bed, she said: "If

to British engineering, good teamwork and

only Frank was here today, it was his vision that

perseverance”

made it a reality. He would be incredibly proud

Weighing three tons, the sleek 25-ft

life

of the team's achievements and always believed

British Steam Car is made from a mixture

we would succeed. Today we celebrate this

of lightweight carbon-fibre composite and

record for Frank"

aluminium wrapped around a steel space frame
chassis. It is fitted with 12 boilers containing
nearly two miles of tubing. Demineralised
water is pumped into the boilers at up to 50
litres a minute and the burners produce three
megawatts of heat. Steam is superheated to
400 degrees Celsius which is injected into the

Pictured stopping using onboard parachutes at Thorney Island on its first run.

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