OV9

Ex F1 drivers e.g. Eddie Irvine, Jenson Button etc surely have the cash and talent - not to mention corporate contacts to get someone big onboard to sponsor the net carbon zero aim of the project now......

Would seem a logical fit, rather than some hedge fund manager or someone who was wise enough to cash in their crypto chips before the crash!

I do however look forward to seeing how this particular story progresses and would love to see the record being stretched again in a sustainable way - might get others interested and a rivalry going again like Thrust Vs Spirit of America. Gotta love the sheer insanity of LSR breaking and the drama that ensues!

Andy Green was perfect, as it is more like extremely low level flying than driving. I fear this may be an impossible ask….

mik wrote: ↑Tue Nov 07, 2023 9:51 pm Andy Green was perfect, as it is more like extremely low level flying than driving. I fear this may be an impossible ask….

Yeah, I was gonna say, a racing driver almost certainly wouldn't have the skillset for this. They specialise in going around corners and that's one thing you definitely don't want to be trying at >600mph strapped to a jet engine that's struggling to decide if it wants to take off or dig itself into the ground, apparently getting a bit flippant about the choice trans-sonic and the aero changes around it...

That said, a well heeled speed freak sponsoring someone more suited might be an option.

Hamilton, backed by Sir Jim.

nuttinnew wrote: ↑Tue Nov 07, 2023 10:58 pm Hamilton, backed by Sir Jim.

Would Toto let him do such a thing? Don't current F1 drivers have dangerous pursuits clauses in their contracts that prevent them from such activities....

How many fast jet pilots have the necessary cash on hand to be able to do this? Maybe Sir Jim could sponsor it - given he's willing to pay a billion+ for a minority stake in a kickball club surely this is chump change to him to promote whatever net zero fuels INEOS may produce now/have in development - gotta be worth that in publicity alone

The fact they can't get (a comparatively paltry in the grand scheme of things) £12m sponsorship is possibly indicative of the perceived general public support/interest for this kinda activity now.

Current record holder is British of course - Thrust2 back in 1997 (!), so they wouldn't be "bringing the title back to the UK", and a far higher percentage of John Q Citizens are more likely to squeal "environmental emergency" (or "look how close they were to that cyclist!") than "hip hooray us plucky Brits!".

Having met the guy very briefly with my eldest and seen so many videos of him with SSC, issues they had with that etc then replacing Andy Green would be a huge task.

I mean if he knew how to he would probably perform surgery on himself, he is totally unflappable.

Dave!

My mate was back up candidate for Thrust driver.. the level of stress testing they did with them.. 48 hours no sleep, high temp, mental stress and psych evals probably preclude current F1 drivers etc. That said, there are lots of guys, especially in the military, who thrive in these situations. Andy Green was exceptional, but he’s not unique. It’s probably more they’re doing it this way to garner some free PR and help them get some financial backing.

teacherboy wrote: ↑Wed Nov 08, 2023 11:03 am

nuttinnew wrote: ↑Tue Nov 07, 2023 10:58 pm Hamilton, backed by Sir Jim.

Would Toto let him do such a thing?

"I bless the runs down in Africa.".

nuttinnew wrote: ↑Wed Nov 08, 2023 11:47 am

teacherboy wrote: ↑Wed Nov 08, 2023 11:03 am

nuttinnew wrote: ↑Tue Nov 07, 2023 10:58 pm Hamilton, backed by Sir Jim.

Would Toto let him do such a thing?

"I bless the runs down in Africa.".

Well it is going (theoretically) back to the Hakskeen (mud) Pan which is flat because of the rains down in Africa.......

teacherboy wrote: ↑Wed Nov 08, 2023 9:57 pm

nuttinnew wrote: ↑Wed Nov 08, 2023 11:47 am

teacherboy wrote: ↑Wed Nov 08, 2023 11:03 am

Would Toto let him do such a thing?

"I bless the runs down in Africa.".

Well it is going (theoretically) back to the Hakskeen (mud) Pan which is flat because of the rains down in Africa.......

I do have a small collection of die cast LSR cars (and an unbuilt Tamiya Subaru Impreza WRC) that nestles in amongst my Lego

The Bat mobile is by far the fasterest.