World Land Speed Record (Wheel-Driven) Project

An Australian automotive R&D company - Dynex International Pty Ltd - is coordinating an exciting project, aimed at breaking the “proper” (wheel-driven) World Land Speed Record.

The objective of the project is to demonstrate to the world - in a spectacular and decisive manner - new automotive technology… not just from Australia and New Zealand, but also the rest of the world.

Automotive Universities and Colleges - along with automotive R&D organizations - are encouraged to participate in the project. It will be a good opportunity for engineers and mechanics to become involved with various members of the (wheel-driven) WLSR Consortium.

New automotive technology will primarily involve engines and transmissions, but will also include other products that improve the safety, efficiency, fuel economy and emissions of vehicles.

The various automotive “fuels” - petrol, diesel, LPG, NGV, ethanol/methanol, electrical/fuel-cells, steam and (compressed) air - will be demonstrated.

The car is of a very simple, yet innovative, “modular” design that can be readily altered to suit various engine-plants and running-gear, so that it can attempt to break many different Class records… before shooting for the ultimate out-right world record for wheel-driven vehicles.

The important innovation is drawing the on-coming air through the vehicle, rather than making it flow around the body-work… where inevitably, severe turbulence occurs, leading to high air resistance, and dangerous unpredictable stability and handling problems.

Hopefully this will encourage every mechanical person, who has an idea for automotive innovation, to present it for professional independent evaluation… and then prove its worth by demonstrating it on the unforgiving “world stage”… being the long salt flats of Bonneville and Lake Gairdner.

The Project will progress over the next few years, starting with attempts on (relatively) low-speed Class records, using conventional power-plants and running-gear.

The first target for the world record run (the average of two runs in opposite directions, over the same measured mile and kilometre) is 480 mph (765 km/h). It is then planned to be the first wheel-driven vehicle to smash the 500 mph (796 km/h) barrier…

Innovation Features: Significantly reduced air-drag resistance; greatly improved vehicle stability.

Vehicle: Effectively a long hollow rectangle section. Rather than create a large air drag, a large proportion of the air, that would normally be pushed outside the body, is drawn through the body. To further reduce the air drag, the air flow over the outside of the body is kept in a lamellar (rather than turbulent) state, by employ many small suction holes in the body skin.

Chassis: Modular SHS/RHS steel space-frame sections. Longitudinal tubes are also used for: Super-charged induction air; exhaust gas extraction; coolant flow to and from radiators; lubricant flow to and from oil-coolers, gaseous-fuel flow to engines.

Body: Carbon-fibre and fibre glass. Outer body has small suction holes to retain lamellar air flow. Inner body has contoured panels to facilitate high air flow rate through the vehicle. Absolute minimum air-drag!

Driver Capsule: Break-away module, with parachutes, in case of serious incident.