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The last weekend of February at Elvington will see many full size speed machines from the old to todays projects even the rebuilt Donald K7' Bluebird will be there it already has been fired up. Gas turbine drag racing cars will be fired for static fire ups. My friends steam jet bike will be on...

I was at the refurbished Melbourne Raceway it was busy with cars and motorcycles the future looks good the second permanent drag strip donations made it possible. My friend who used to watch me competing when 12 years old tested his latest creation a steam jet bike. He learnt a lot it was very...

Last year I said goodbye to my flash steam hydroplane and all its parts. The new owner is an ex flash steam record holder so know it's in good hands. Am now involved in making a full size power unit based on the record model hopefully to power a wheeled vehicle. As involved in the past and...

After a long break from the forum will give a few details of what’s been going on. A few years ago I was ill and that curtailed me running my flash steam hydroplane. That model is now in the capable hands of another flash steam exponent and hope him the best. I know it was capable of exceeding...

I am making new inner and outer cases for my steam generator from 0.004" 316 annealed stainless for my 2014 flash steamer. Due to the length of the sheet it has to be extended using lockjoints as a safeguard I spot weld it as the intense heat can distort the lock joint. My spot welder has no...

I am remaking the steam generator outer and inner cases with insulation between out of 0.004" annealed 316. I lock joint the seams but with the intense heat on thin stainless it can open up. A strict weight limit on my class of flash steam hydroplane has to be considered so rivets, bolts etc are...

After last Sundays 129.33mph blast with the flash steamer I have redesigned the valve seat and guide to overcome a problem but now concerned about the cam follower. With the increased valve spring pressure the air hardening steel cam follower with stellite tip is having a hard time. It has been...

To see a 14cc high speed steam engine at work have a look at this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJBG7k3DIms&list=HL1375468978&feature=mh_lolzAfter many years of frustration and development it is so gratifying to see ones model finally come to fruition. As the video shows I was like a kid with...

Had an exciting day at Kingsbury Water Park modifications that had been done to my flash steam hydroplane worked. First run over 500metres (5 100metre laps) recorded a speed of 129plus mph with two laps at 130mph if timed later would have been faster. It just kept going faster but on the second...

I have some oil hardening ground flat stock that I need to rivet and silversolder another piece to. Hardening is not required but what will the effect of the silversoldering have on the steel. Do I just place the hot soldered part in a sand bath to cool slowly or will the soldering temperature...

On Sunday had my first chance of 2013 to see if the lighter piston was a success on the steamer. First and second runs were frustrating as the engine stopped on the second lap. It seems the engine is now running hotter and steam inlet poppet valve needed more clearance. Stripped engine and...

On Sunday I was watching and talking to motorcycle speed record contenders riders and helpers at my local 1.9mile airfield. They were testing and having shakedown runs one with his turbine thrust driven streamliner before going over the pond next year to Bonneville. This was a nostalgic time...

After many years using my original flash steamer engine water pump for testing I decided to make a test pump from my odds and ends box. The gauge showed 4000psi. Some years ago a new generator made from 321 stainless developed longitude cracks after the hydroplane had a sudden dive to the bottom...

As I am in pursuit of that extra mph on my flash steam tethered hydroplane I enquired on another thread about piston design and initial tests with a lightened piston motored on the lathe look promising. I tried to run the engine on compressed air but need about 150 lbs squ ins to turn it over...