On 23 August 2006 the fastest man on earth, Andy Green, sped to 350.092mph in a yellow torpedo-shaped car called JCB Dieselmax, creating a sensational land speed record for a diesel-powered vehicle. This was the culmination of one of the most adventurous projects in British motorsport history. This book tells the whole story from the inside.
At the Bonneville Salt Flats on August 23, 2006 the fastest man on earth, Andy Green, sped to 350.092mph in a yellow torpedo-shaped car called JCB Dieselmax, creating a new land speed record for a diesel-powered vehicle. The endeavor began with JCB Chairman Sir Anthony Bamford's bold decision to use his company's JCB444 diesel engine -- as the basis for a record-breaking car, in order to showcase his products on a world stage. This book tells the whole dramatic story from the inside.
At the Bonneville Salt Flats on August 23, 2006 the fastest man on earth, Andy Green, sped to 350.092mph in a yellow torpedo-shaped car called JCB Dieselmax, creating a sensational new land speed record for a diesel-powered vehicle.
This was the culmination of one of the most remarkable and adventurous projects in British motorsport history. The endeavor began with JCB Chairman Sir Anthony Bamfords bold decision to use his companys JCB444 diesel engine normally used in diggers as the basis for a record-breaking car, in order to showcase his products on a world stage. This book tells the whole dramatic story from the inside.
What inspired Sir Anthony Bamford to risk JCB's image with a speed
record attempt? How was a humble diesel engine transformed from a 120bhp
digger powerplant into a 750bhp racing unit? What part did Richard Noble's
supersonic ThrustSSC programme play in the success of JCB Dieselmax? How did
a team with no experience in the construction of a record-breaking car design
and build JCB Dieselmax in less than 12 months? Why did the well-funded
British team fit in so well with the impecunious hot rodders when they met up
on the salt flats during Bonneville Speed Week in August 2006? What was the
problem that so nearly prevented Green from reaching his 350mph goal on his
final run at Bonneville?
David Tremayne is the world's leading authority on land speed records, his most recent book on the subject being the acclaimed Donald Campbell: The Man Behind The Mask. As a journalist, he has been present at many land speed record attempts, including Andy Green's landmark 764mph supersonic run in 1997. Haynes has published many of his books, including The Science of Formula 1 Design. He lives in County Durham.
