Post celebration and thanks
I am truly overwhelmed by the messages I have received in the last few days. I had no idea that so many people were following my efforts, so thanks so much for all the support. There is also a huge list of people I need to thank who have made this whole thing possible. Some enormous generosity over the years, from people all over the world, whether it is just letting me camp in their garden, use their workshop, donate materials or help out financially. It could not have been done without you and I hope you share the achievement.
I also need to thank Dale and Ecotricity, who were the only sponsor, of the thousands I must have spoken to over the years, who believed in the project and the dream. They provided the final cash injection which enabled me to make this last big push that has culminated in success. Before signing the deal, I was at rock bottom in terms of resources and was going to have to shelve the project and earn some money to continue, but you saved the day. It was only a fraction of the whole project cost, but at the right time and was spent on the right things. I could not have done it without you guys. Thanks.
So on to technical stuff, first the speed. It has been pointed out to me a few times now that the speed mentioned on the video is different from the 126.1mph quoted. This is due to the record rules requiring the average speed over three seconds (which is a fair distance at 126mph) so our peak speed was 126.4 and the three second average was 126.1. Bob Dill and the ratification crew are pouring over the data from the five onboard GPS devices and will reach the final number sometime soon, but my guess will be that it is around 126.1mph.
This really has been a phenomenal wind month, the windiest anyone can remember, in well, ten years I guess! There is another wind event forecast on Sunday / Monday, but I don’t think anything can compare to Thursday, so I am not going to try to increase the speed. The craft is in one piece and it would be cool if it stayed that way, so I am going to be prudent and pack it up today, before I get tempted by Sunday’s wind!
I hope you like the video. Simon Fitzgerald from BHP Sport has followed the project for the last ten years and it was amazingly cool that he was able to be here to shoot the actual record day. He did a fantastic job considering how difficult it was to even stand up in that wind, let alone hold a camera on maximum zoom. From the drivers perspective, it really is a good take on how it felt from the cockpit.
Wind and GPS track data to follow shortly.
