But the idea is amazing. When I was young a guy converted an Ice Racer to wheels and he could haul ass. Of course on really flat land when the wind was blowing. Turning was a problem too. As John Lennon said, “it’s not just for dreamers anymore”.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7968860.stm

Wind-powered car breaks record

Wind powered Greenbird reached speeds of 126.1 mph

A British engineer from Hampshire has broken the world land speed record for a wind-powered vehicle.

Richard Jenkins reached 126.1mph (202.9km/h) in his Greenbird car on the dry plains of Ivanpah Lake in Nevada.Mr Jenkins told the BBC that it had taken him 10 years of “hard work” to break the record and that, on the day, “things couldn’t have been better”.American Bob Schumacher set the previous record of 116 mph in 1999, driving his Iron Duck vehicle.“It’s great, it’s one of those things that you spend so long trying to do and when it actually happens, it’s almost too easy,” Mr Jenkins told the BBC.The Greenbird is a carbon fibre composite vehicle that uses wind (and nothing else) for power. The only metalwork used is for the wing bearings and the wheel unit.Sail awayThe designers describe it as a “very high performance sailboat” but one that uses a solid wing, rather than a sail, to generate movement.Mr Jenkins, from Lymington, spent 10 years designing the vehicle, with Greenbird the fifth vehicle he has built to try to break the record.:}But he is not the only chap to get in on the act:http://www.nalsa.org/speed_record.htm NALSA NEWS FLASH- New Landsailing Speed Record !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3/16/99March 15, 1999 – Ivanpah Dry Lake , Primm, NVYesterday Bob Schumacher (pilot) and Bob Dill (designer/pilot) achieved a new world record in landsailing hitting 108.8 miles per hour (175.5 kph) in 25-35 mph winds. Many runs were made in the 90’s and over 100 with Bob Dill and Bob Schumacher alternating as pilots in the “Iron Duck” solid wing, three wheeled landyacht. This US achievement replaces the former world record of 94.7 mph (152.7 kph) held by Bertrand of France.Bob Dill has been developing the Iron Duck for over 7 years in his hometown of Burlington, Vermont.Measurement team was headed by Kent Hatch, President of the North American Land Sailing Assn. (NALSA).More speed attempts are possible as the NALSA America’s Landsailing Cup Regatta begins March 21-26, 1999 at the Ivanpah dry lake site on the California side of Primm, NV, 35 miles south of Las Vegas, Nevada.(See follow up note.      Editor)Yacht notes may be read here.NALSAc/o Kent Hatch1680 Manzanita LnReno, NV 89509775-825-1530 contact phone775-825-5626 Faxkent@hatchrealty.reno.nv.usReported by Mark Harris, NALSA, American 5 Square Meter Assn., SALA2027 Valencia WaySparks, NV 89434

Speed Ramblings

By Bob Dill  October 2000

The Iron Duck Flies AgainOn Friday, March 31, the last day of the PACRIM we had plenty of wind…too much wind to race.  It started with gusts over 30 and built to gusts over 40.  I took advantage of the big wind to try to beat Bob Schumacher’s NALSA sanctioned record of 116.7 mph.  I figured with so much wind it would be a piece of cake.  It turns out, it was not so easy.  If I had a decent run I could easily get over 110 but the fastest I went was 113.4 (in two separate runs).

www.nalsa.org

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Suddenly it has gotten real hip man:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkcn8ZkvKKc

OR

Ventomobile, World’s First Wind-Powered

Race Car, Ready for Primetime

by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 08. 5.08

Cars & Transportation

While electric cars and PHEVs may still be all the rage stateside, a team of German students has already moved on to the next latest and greatest: wind-powered vehicles. That’s right: students from Stuttgart University’s Team InVentus have built the Ventomobile, a three-wheeled “car” which features a 2 meter diameter two-bladed rotor mounted on top.Despite its seeming unwieldiness, the Ventomobile has already proven itself as a potent racing contender — performing impressively during early wind tunnel testing. The airy vehicle weighs in below 100 kg and has an engine power of 6 kW. See below the fold for a video of the construction process.The InVentus team plans on competing in the 3-day, 5.3 kilometer Aeolus Race in Den Helder, Netherlands, against 5 teams from other European universities and research institutions. Here’s a short description from the

www.windenergyevents.com official website
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