Land speed record team, Aussie Invader, launched its campaign to beat the record at the recent Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) in Sydney.
The team unveiled key components for its rocket-powered title contender Aussie Invader 5R including the world’s fastest wheel capable of breaking the 1,000 mph barrier (1,600km/h) and the rocket engine’s liquid oxygen and bio-parafin injector interface system, a key component of the 200,000hp rocket motor.
The Aussie Invader 5R vehicle remained at the team’s Perth base. At nearly seven tonnes it was too large to transport to AIMS, however, a real-size model of the car was on display in Sydney to give visitors a good idea of the scale of the vehicle.
Driver and land speed legend Rosco McGlashan says the Aussie Invader 5R campaign was progressing well with the body of the vehicle now constructed and key components such as the wheels and the motor being produced in Australia.
Aussie Invader 5R will run with four solid, tireless aluminium wheels, each weighing 100kg, spinning independently and capable if rotating at 10,000 rpm. The car’s rocket motor is capable of producing 62,000 pounds of thrust, over three times that produced by Aussie Invader 3, making it the world’s most powerful car.
At 1,000 mph Rosco and the car will break the sound barrier by one and a half times and will be travelling faster than a bullet fired from a handgun.
Rosco says much of the work involved in the Aussie Invader 5R was pushing the boundaries of vehicle engineering and a range of Australian and some international experts were contributing to the campaign.
“Producing these wheels is a good example of the many years of research, design and development by the Aussie Invader team, and it’s a testament to the hard work and skills of those involved with the project,” he says.
As the race to the world land speed record and breaking the 1,000 mph mark heats up between the Australian and British teams, McGlashan is confident of the team’s chances in the land speed battle.
“We’ve got the best people in the world working to get us to the start line and then across the finish line first. It’s a fierce but friendly competition between our British rivals Bloodhound but we’re well progressed with our build and will be firing up our rocket next year,” says Rosco.
He also says that one of his next tasks was to look for potential test and track sites in Australia that could be considered alongside the options in the United States. A geographic search of Australia has revealed potential sites in Western Australia and in Queensland.