Snowspeed
Snowspeed is gravity powered snow sledge that has been designed to beat the world speed record.[1]
Its design deliberately resembles Formula 1 racing cars because this will help it achieve speeds of up to 250km/h (155mph).[2]
The current speed record is held by Guy Martin, who achieved 134.36km/h (83.49mph) in 2014.[3]
The sledge has been created by a team of Norwegian speed enthusiasts, lead by designer Nima Shahinian, journalist Jorn Madslien and entrepreneur Tom Ruud.[2]
The team has produced three sledge prototypes to date: A full-size model, a 25% clay model, and a 50% model designed for testing in a wind tunnel, with a fourth under production to be completed during 2016.[1] Tests have been carried out at [Toyota Motorsport GmbH] - TMG, the current second-best endurance racing company in the world.[4]
Early tests revealed that the Snowspeed prototype III design needed a bit more rear-end stability, and those adjustments are the team's focus during 2016, before an attempt on the record is due to be made towards the end of winter 2017.[5]
References
- ^ a b Daily Mail: Sleighing world records is snow joke: 'Fastest sledge on Earth' with a top speed of 155mph will take to the slopes next year
- ^ a b BBC News: Snowspeed: Why shouldn’t a sledge go at 150mph?
- ^ Guinness World Records Video: Watch Guy Martin speed to sled world record
- ^ New York Times: An Untimely Stall by Toyota Gives Porsche the 24 Hours of Le Mans Title
- ^ ARS Technica - World’s fastest snow sledge is being built in Germany