
Cyclone Power Technologies Inc.has been selected by the U.S. Land Steam Record Team to provide the high performance racing engine for its streamliner vehicle, which will attempt to break the world land speed record for steam vehicles in Bonneville, UT, as early as next August.
The U.S. Land Steam Record (USLSR) vehicle will be designed, constructed and driven by steam car veteran and team leader Chuk Williams. Cyclone will provide a modified Mark V external combustion automotive engine. At 180HP with 860 ft/lbs of starting torque, the Cyclone engine will attempt to propel the 21’, 1600lbs USLSR vehicle at speeds over 200mph on the seven-mile track at the famous Bonneville salt flats.
“This is a great test of the power and performance of our all-fuel capable, earth friendly Mark V automotive engine,” stated Cyclone CEO and engine inventor, Harry Schoell. “Given our current calculations, we expect to beat the standing land speed record by a comfortable margin with an engine that can ultimately be placed into everyday passenger vehicles.”
The current land speed record for steam vehicles, which is still subject to official confirmation by the Federation Internationale d’Automobile, is held by Team Inspiration of Great Britain. The British vehicle recorded speeds over 148mph in August 2009, which broke the previous unofficial record of 145mph set in 1985 by Bob Barber, and the official FIA record of 127mph set in 1906 by Fred Marriott, an American driving a Stanley Steamer at Daytona Beach.
“The Cyclone engine boasts enormous power in a small, light package,” stated team leader Chuk Williams. “We are pleased to be working with Harry and his Cyclone development team on this attempt to bring the steam land speed record back to the United States.”
The project is being endorsed by the Steam Automobile Club of America, the pre-eminent association of steam vehicle developers, racers and enthusiasts. Other individuals associated with the team include former engineers at NASA, Lockheed Martin and MIT.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for corporations and individuals who want to participate in this attempt at automotive racing history. Potential corporate sponsors may include providers of U.S. grown biofuels to power the USLSR vehicle – the Cyclone Engine is capable of running on virtually any fuel, and the team has yet to choose a fuel for the record attempt. Visit the USLSR site for more information.
CORPORATE PROFILE
Cyclone Power Technologies is the developer of the award-winning Cyclone Engine – an eco-friendly external combustion engine with the power and versatility to run everything from portable electric generators and garden equipment to cars, trucks and locomotives. Invented by company founder and CEO Harry Schoell, the patented Cyclone Engine is a modern day steam engine, ingeniously designed to achieve high thermal efficiencies through a compact heat-regenerative process, and to run on virtually any fuel – including bio-diesels, syngas or solar – while emitting fewer greenhouse gases and irritating pollutants into the air. Currently in its late stages of development, the Cyclone Engine was recognized by Popular Science Magazine as the Invention of the Year for 2008, and was presented with the Society of Automotive Engineers’ AEI Tech Award in 2006 and 2008. Additionally, Cyclone was recently named Environmental Business of the Year by the Broward County Environmental Protection Department. For more information, visit www.cyclonepower.com.
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