BLOODHOUND SSC – a supersonic racing car designed to reach speeds of 1,000mph (1,600km/h).
Welcome to BLOODHOUND’s monthly newsletter, with the latest news about the Project and the build of the Car. Check out our website at www.bloodhoundssc.com for more information, videos and images.
Build your own rocket car at BTC!
This summer you are invited to build and race your own rocket car in one of our exciting family workshops at the BLOODHOUND Technical Centre, right next to where we are building the real BLOODHOUND Car. Running from 24-28 August, our rocket car workshops are aimed at families with children aged from 6 years and include a tour of our Car prior to its record-breaking campaign in South Africa. You can find out more and book tickets online.
Latest Car news
We’re at a very exciting stage of the build of BLOODHOUND SSC, which now looks amazing ahead of its UK runway testing later this year! Follow us on social media or visit our website regularly to keep up to date.
Jet engine and tanks prepared
The team has installed the jet fuel tanks, complete with Kevlar bladder, into the rear lower chassis. And the EJ200 jet engine has been filled with oil in preparation for a dry crank – with no fuel. This allows our engineers to simulate starting the engine using the air-start-cart.
Jaguar V8 engine installed
It’s also a landmark month as the team prepares to install the Jaguar V8 engine, complete with gearbox and oxidiser pump, into the Car for the very first time.
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Second Supacat arrives…
The second of the HMT600 Supacat support vehicles have arrived at the Technical Centre. These 10 tonne beasts can reach 80mph when fully loaded with fire and rescue equipment. When deployed to South Africa, one will sit at each end of the desert track.
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….and two Brompton bikes!
Brompton Bicycles has generously given two of their latest folding bikes to the BLOODHOUND Project. While not as fast as a Supacat, these will be invaluable for zipping around test sites and the South African desert camp. Usefully they fold down and fit neatly in the back of our vehicles!
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Catch up with all the latest BLOODHOUND news on our website or on Twitter @BLOODHOUND_SSC
Andy Green’s race helmet revealed
The first of Andy’s two race helmets has arrived at the Technical Centre and its 13-year-old designer Sam James came along with his family to see the finished design and meet Andy. There were two winning designs – one each from the UK and South Africa – which Andy will alternate wearing.
Get rivetted by rivets
A single rivet may not seem very exciting but without rivets there would be no BLOODHOUND Car, nor many other structures, fixed or moving, that we take for granted. Find out how rivets, such as the 30,000 in BLOODHOUND, have developed over the centuries in the latest BHTV episode.
Sponsorship news
We have just taken delivery of the last 6 of the 30 limited edition 1:20 scale BLOODHOUND models which have been handmade by Autodromo in Wales. Measuring 777 x 261 x 281mm, they are perfect for boardrooms and trade shows and are on offer for just £2,100 + VAT (model only, excluding delivery). Additional items, such as the acrylic display case (£200 + VAT) or flight case (£350 + VAT), are also available. To secure your model please e-mail Kim.Watts@bloodhoundssc.com.
The GREAT campaign joins the Project
The UK Government’s flagship marketing campaign ‘GREAT’ joins the Project, putting their logo on the stripe. It will be taking BLOODHOUND to countries around the word as a showcase for UK engineering and innovation.
Education news
We’re excited to announce that we are forming partnerships with University Technical Colleges in England who will become Race HUB partners for our BLOODHOUND Rocket Car Challenge. In Wales, Engineering Education Wales will be our Race HUB, networking with around 220 secondary schools and 600 primary schools.
Rocket Car Challenge
Avoiding tiny children and paint dust are all part of the challenge of running a Rocket Car Challenge event at a primary school. One Ambassador tells his story of a typical day at a primary school when the BLOODHOUND team made the kids go "Wow!"
Events
Here’s where you’ll next find BLOODHOUND – check our Events page regularly for more events as they are confirmed:
Camberley Car Show
22 August
Camberley, Surrey
Materials Testing 2015
8-10 September
International Centre, Telford, Shropshire
Great Yarmouth Wheels Festival
12-13 September
Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
Support BLOODHOUND by buying online
As we come close to completing BLOODHOUND, you can build your own version with the new K’Nex BLOODHOUND model car! This brilliant kit (£20) has 275 pieces and features classic K’Nex rods and connectors. We’ve also got a K’Nex 4-Wheel Drive Truck kit (£20; 313 pieces) and a value K’Nex Intro Assortment to build your own design cars (£5; 60+ pieces). And we’re still stocking our Card Model (£10) and Balloon Car Kit (£2) versions of BLOODHOUND too.
