Rolls-Royce to go for a record?

Seen today in the press in UK, that following the succes of the JCB team at Bonneville in capturing the international record for diesel cars, Rolls-Royce could be interested in attempting the international record for piston engine, wheel-driven cars.

The record is the property of Al Teague with the Torque Speed-O-Motive single-engine streamliner at 409.978 mph for the flying mile, or 425.050 mph for the flying kilometer, established in 1991.

The record for multi piston engine wheel-driven car belongs to Bill Summers on Goldenrod, at the slightly lower speed of 409.277mph over the mile. Goldenrod was powered by 4 engines and took the record in 1965.

Rolls-Royce would use one or several BMW-designed V12 engines, but there are rumours that a V16 engine could be developed for the project.

Rolls-Royce, of course, provided the 2 Spey jet engines that powered Thrust SSC when it broke the outright land speed record, beyond the sound barier.

 

William,

That's great to hear! Rolls-Royce has a land speed record history of powering Malcolm Campbell's BLUEBIRDS, at Bonneville, in the 1930's.
This too, was an aviation related engine, the V12 Merlin aircraft engine manufactured by Rolls-Royce, and powered WWII aircraft and Tanks, in it's various versions.

BMW had Motorcycle Land Speed Records, also during the '30's, that were set on the then new Autobahn. I believe Bernd Rosemeyer, was the rider. He was killed attempting another land speed record for Auto-Union, when the Streamliner was blown off the Autobahn, by a strong gust of wind. Of course, the road was closed and safety was as good as they could provide in those days.

Both Companies have a Heritage of Speed, back in the "old days".
Possible sponsership could be Grey-Poupon and Lloyd's of London.

Ciao...Paolo

 

The rider was the famous Ernst Henne, who dominated the motorcycle land speed record in the 30s with BMW and only died last year.
His bike was a supercharged 500cc, against the British 1000cc JAP engine Broughs.
Henne was at one time a Mercedes-Benz GP driver on the Silver Arrows.

 

RR in general has a great history, they at one point in time held speed records for land, sea, and air. gotta love the rollers

 

I wish them luck.

going fast on the Salt is no joke. Its not cheap, its not easy, its not safe. It will likely take them years to get close.

 

William,
I stand corrected.
Bernd Rosemeyer came up in my memory of this. Wasn't he involved with BMW? I'll have to research this for my own information and Bernd Rosemeyer's place in all of this. Thanks for the correction.

Ciao..Paolo

 

Bernd Rosemeyer was a AUTO UNION GP driver, who took the championship in 1937.
He also broke several land speed records on the Frankfurt/Darmstadt autobahn on an AUTO UNION in 1937, but lost his life in January 1938, defending his records against Mercedes driver Caracciola. There are several versions of the accident. Some say that the paper-thin aluminium bodywork desintegrated at 250mph (400 km/h), some say that a gust of wind blew him off the course, others think that he hit a bridge on the motorway.

Rosemeyer was a unique driver; a motorcycle racer, he never drove any car in competition before his first GP! At his first GP, he took pole position and led the race until the last lap, finishing second. He won his second GP and became champion at the end of the year.

 

IIRC BMW already has a V16 made spec. for RR, as shown in a concept car relatively recently.

 

RR cars is now owned by BMW

RR Jet engines is still owned by Vickers

I suppose they could work together if they want to build an RR jet car

 

William,

You seem to have a good line of information on RR's Land Speed Record Attempt, being in the UK, close to the action.
I would like you to keep us informed of the RR LSR attempt, with the Moderators consent. It doesn't belong on a Ferrari Site, it should be on a RR or BMW Site, but I think many of us are interested in RR's attempt. I wish them Good Luck!

Gratzi...Paolo

 

Yep. It was a 9.0L V16 developed for the 100EX concept in 2004.