8 May, 2015
To build a vehicle capable of exceeding 1000mph on land is no mean feat. To date, 763.035mph is the magic number, achieved in 1997 by Andy Green in Thrust SSC.
Now, Richard Noble, the team leader behind Thrust SSC, has assumed the role of project manager for Bloodhound SSC — a supersonic vehicle aiming for the 1000mph barrier.
So, what goes into building such a vehicle, you ask? Well, here’s a video, detailing the build (thus far) of Bloodhound SSC, in a mere 90 seconds.
At first, I wondered if I’d driven up the wrong driveway. The car in the garage was an early Mustang resplendent in royal blue with two broad gold stripes, which was not what I was expecting. I knew that Rodger Anderson, who made his name in Minis and a BMW 2002, was a Porsche man these days — the other end of the spectrum from American muscle. I had no idea of his affection for Detroit iron. It didn’t take long to discover just how passionate this former Saloon Car Champion is about cars, as long as they’re interesting.
Back from the brink – 1968 MGB GT
Auckland classic car enthusiast Kerry Bowman soon realised he had a massive job on his hands in restoring his classic 1968 MGB GT. When Kerry and his MGB first appeared in New Zealand Classic Car in March 2021, in “Behind The Garage Door”, the stripped-out shell had revealed some nasty surprises. Once the true extent of the hidden damage was discovered, the work would normally have been handed over to a professional fabricator. However, with the assistance of experts such as MG specialist restorer, Paul Walbran, Kerry has completed an impressive restoration and saved this car from the scrapheap.
