Base Camp established for world speed record attempt.

The British Steam Car team arrived at Edwards Air Force Base on Monday 29 June and despite temperatures of over 100 degrees they have now established Base Camp.

Team Manager, Matt Candy, says: "There's a lot of work to do before we can make the record attempts. We have to set up our communication system, check the radios, assemble the fuelling rigs, unpack the tools, obtaining the propane, get the fridge working and put the toilet in place. It's a bit like an Everest expedition but in baking heat rather than the freezing cold!"

One of the most nerve-wracking tasks was to check for any damage to the British Steam Car during transit. Fortunately, and this was largely because of the special shipping container which was made for it, the car arrived just as it had left the UK 21 days earlier.

Because of the high temperatures, the team has been working from before 5am. After 9am, the heat is unbearable. This will affect the timing of the record attempts too.

Candy says: "It can also get quite windy and by the afternoon it can get up to 20-30mph, we can't run the car if the wind is over 15mph."

Safety equipment to meet the regulations of the Southern Timing Association – the recognised body for Land Speed Records – has been fitted to the British Steam Car. Today the car will be inspected by representatives from the Southern Timing Association and the FIA (the international governing body of motor sport).

Tomorrow the team's test driver, Don Wales will arrive and dynamic test runs will start on Monday 13th July.

Candy says: "We then have a window until the 24th July in which to make the record attempts. Potentially, each run could be an attempt on the record but to qualify as an official record we have to turn the car around and make a run in the opposite direction within 60 minutes. Obviously, if a first run is not at the required speed we shan't attempt to go for the record. Instead, we'll wait and make another attempt to get a fast first run.

Test Driver Don Wales and members of the team are available for interview.
For further information, please contact Rebecca Nicholls at Eventageous PR Ltd
On Tel: 01452 886380, 07749 852481 or email: Rebecca@eventspr.co.uk