By John Coyle

Deputy Editor

Personally, I didn’t think there was anything terribly complicated about running a car through a Hot Wheels-style loop. Shows what I know. Apparently, getting the speed right is absolutely crucial, because not only could the car fall off, but coming in too hot could produce g-forces which could kill the driver. Making this even more difficult? This is the biggest loop ever attempted. So the guys from Fifth Gear—with the help of a physicist from Cambridge—planned the operation down to the last detail. Does stuntman Steve Truglia pull it off? Watch and see!

By Chris Bicknell

Bick66

Well, due to its impracticalities I’m sure you won’t be seeing one of these on the showroom floor any time soon–nor will it be the next cure-all solution to the energy crisis. However, I was very interested to see what this group of British builders is doing in their attempt to break the steam-car speed record. The current “official” steam-powered speed record was set in 1906 by Fred Marriott who achieved a top speed of 127.659 MPH, and for a brief few years this was the overall world speed record until it was broken by a gas-powered Benz in 1910. This 25 ft steam-powered car generates a healthy 360 horsepower but literally guzzles a ton of water every 20 minutes. Although last week’s Thorney Island test was unsuccessful due to an electrical malfunction, the British team plans to bring their steam-car stateside this August where they will attempt to smash the century-old record with expected speeds of over 170 MPH.

More pictures after the jump.

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