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Powered Streetluge World Record
  This summer I will be attempting to break the world record for a powered Streetluge. Billy Copeland from the USA holds the current record for a Rocket Powered Luge at 98.5mph. Using a miniature jet engine supplied by Heward Microjets I aim to achieve speeds of 120mph plus. Thanks also to Crowtree and VXB Bearings for their support.  

Three days before Christmas, 2005, IWC Media contacted me about helping with a show they were making for Sky TV. The show was to have two presenters trying to out-do each other in various daredevil stunts. For the episode they wanted to attach rockets and a miniature jet engine to a Streetluge and see how fast each could go. Using 12 rockets Tania Zeatta reached a maximum speed of 50mph. Jason Plato, using a 60lb thrust jet, reached nearly 80mph after only 500m and was still accelerating when he cut the motor.

Heward Microjets were the suppliers of the jet for the attempt and became interested about the world record when I mentioned it to them during filming.

  

I regularly reach speeds in excess of 60mph when racing, and have even exceeded 70mph on occasion. This is on tight roads, often with hairpin corners and in close quarters with other riders. Given a straight, steep and long road it is possible for a Streetluge to achieve speeds around the 80mph mark, but due to the limitations of gravity it is nearly impossible to go beyond that.

Billy Copeland holds the current record for a Powered Streetluge at 98.5mph using model rocket motors. While rockets offer a huge amount of power they also have many disadvantages. Rockets use up their fuel very quickly, once they have run out the run is over. Rockets do not have any means of control, they are either on or off and once you ignite them there is no stopping. These characteristics make it very hard to correct even small mistakes and then continue to make a successful run.

While a jet engine may not have the same power as rocket motors it has many advantages which make it the obvious choice. Because the jet does not give out all its power over a short period the acceleration is smoother and more controlled than with rockets. If you feel that you are starting to loose control you can slow the engine to make corrections and then continue accelerating towards maximum speeds.

At present we know that a jet powered Streetluge can easily achieve 80mph in a short distance and time. Last year American Bob Swartz also achieved a speed of just below 90mph using a jet powered Streetluge. This was an even smaller jet than the model used on the TV pilot, but it did have a much larger fuel supply. The jet used by the American was a 52lb-thrust engine designed for model aircraft. The jet for the TV show was a 65lb-thrust model. For the record attempt Heward are supplying a jet that will give out 80lbs of thrust, but adapt it and add a reheat (afterburner) so that it should give out 120lbs of thrust or higher.

With the help of Heward Microjets, Crowtree and VXB Bearings I have set an initial target of 120mph and will build up from there if I feel the equipment can take it.

 

Only through sponsorship will this project be made possible. Sponsors are mostly needed for the equipment, but also to cover various costs where products cannot be donated.

The main priority to any potential sponsor is good exposure for their company or brand. In return for sponsorship I am offering the opportunity to place your branding on the record breaking equipment, display banners at the venue and place adverts on this website. The record will be filmed and is likely to be aired on prime time TV. The additional press and magazine coverage will also boost the attempts profile. This provides an opportunity for major exposure, at a fraction of the cost normally associated with advertising.
If you are interested in sponsoring or covering the attempt please contact me at: joeldking@hotmail.com
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