Fastest wind-powered car-world record set
by the Greenbird
Ivanpah Lake, Nevada, USA -- British engineer,
Richard Jenkins reached a speed of 126.1mph (202.9km/h)
in the Ecotricity 'Greenbird',
a carbon-fibre model he designed himself-setting the world
record for the Fastest
wind-powered car.
The
futuristic Greenbird
is the most advanced wind powered vehicle on Earth. A highly-evolved
vehicle that uses a combination of technology found ordinarily
on Aircraft and Formula 1 cars to achieve staggering speeds
with no engine in sight - the record speed was reached in
winds of just 30mph! (enlarge
photo)
The chosen name is a nod to Donald Campbell’s
all-conquering Bluebird.
The
Greenbird is the fifth generation in a line of vehicles
designed and built by Richard Jenkins on his ten year quest
to break the world speed record.
The
Greenbird vehicle was the culmination of ten year’s
design and development. The previous world record of 116 mph
was set in 1999 by Bob Schumacher in the Iron Duck in March
1999 at the same location. The new world record has been ratified
by NALSA (North American Land Sailing Association).
Testing has been carried out in the UK, Canada,
America and Australia, in an attempt to track down the rare
set of weather and natural surface conditions required to
achieve maximum speed, but it turned out to be Ivanpah, 35
miles SW of Las Vegas, on the border between California and
Nevada, that provided the opportunity almost exactly ten years
after the old record was set there.
It has been an incredibly difficult challenge"
commented Richard. "Half the challenge is technical, having
to create a more efficient vehicle than the previous record
holder, then the rest is luck, being in the right place, at
the right time, to get the perfect conditions, with the right
people watching. (enlarge
photo)
I must have been on record standby at some
remote location around the world for at least two months of
every year for the past ten years. Today, everything came
together perfectly and the Greenbird
stepped up to the mark and performed amazingly. I am absolutely
delighted".
The
futuristic 
