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14 Nov 2003, 08:58 (Ref:782934)
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Rookie
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 93
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Record Breakers
I was watching the programme on Land Speed record Breakers on Channel 4 , and although it had some good archive footage , I noticed there was no mention of John Cobb. In fact he was the first man to top 350mph and also 400 mph ( only one way though).
While I was doing some research, one website stated that he drove an earlier incarnation of Parry Thomas'Babs. It went on to say that far from being "an old lorry chassis with chain drive " as stated in the programme , Babs was actually based on the ex Count Zabrowoski Higham special or Chitty Bang Bang Can anyone confirm that. |
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14 Nov 2003, 09:35 (Ref:782965)
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Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 791
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Babs was formerly known as the Higham Special. Like the Chitty Bang Bangs, it was built by Clive Gallop for Zborowski, this time around a 27 litre Liberty aero engine married to the gearbox from the Count's old GP Benz. The chassis, while primitive, was purpose-built by Rubery Owen.
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__________________
Good friends we have, Oh, good friends we have lost Along the way. In this great future, You can't forget your past Bob Marley
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14 Nov 2003, 10:02 (Ref:782984)
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Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,814
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Yes, I noticed that they left out John Cobb - the Railton has got to be one of the best looking of the LSR holders. I think that it was missed because they were concentrating on the late 20s/early 30s.
Last edited by krt917; 14 Nov 2003 at 10:03. |
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14 Nov 2003, 13:32 (Ref:783188)
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 791
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Quote:
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__________________
Good friends we have, Oh, good friends we have lost Along the way. In this great future, You can't forget your past Bob Marley
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14 Nov 2003, 13:40 (Ref:783201)
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14th
1% Club
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 42,766
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krt917, I think you are right. The series tries to concentrate on two main contenders for that episode's Speed Machine.
That time it was Seagrave and Cambell. although it was, of course, impossible to not mention a few others who tried, succeeded or failed at the same time. The end couple of minutes just brought us up to date to contrast then and now I think. One thing that struck me was that some of the early records they were going for, say 200mph, is nothing nowadays. Road cars can do that! |
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Seriously not taking motorsport too seriously.
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14 Nov 2003, 14:05 (Ref:783234)
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Rookie
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 93
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But they were going for 200 mph only 20 odd years after the car had been limited to 4mph and it has taken another 80 years to get to 700mph.
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14 Nov 2003, 23:26 (Ref:783789)
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Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 791
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Quote:
 Steam buses of the 1830s were capable of 15mph or so, while the first officially recognised LSR was just over 39mph in 1898. Therefore it was a 400% improvement in 30 years. Thereafter the pace of improvement slowed (as might be expected) and it took another 35 years to register a further 100% gain to 400mph, but just another year to put on a further 50% to 600mph. |
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__________________
Good friends we have, Oh, good friends we have lost Along the way. In this great future, You can't forget your past Bob Marley
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