Not turbans! TURBINES!!

November 5, 2004 4:34 AM

The British Steam Car Challenge... hey no sniggering at the back! Turbines in cars are cool but they aren't new. You may know about turbines in wind farms, planes, real choppers, toy choppers and awesome boats, what about taking the virtual nuclear reactor tour? So, how does a turbine work?
BIK'er [BushIraqKerry] Free Thread
posted by DrDoberman (9 comments total)

EINBIKFIYMATIIer [ExceptIt'sNotBushIraqKerry FreeIfYouMentionAllThreeIsIt?

Good stuff, thanks, Doc. I have mixed feelings about breaking the land speed record for steam. In some ways I think it's nice that the original 1906 record stand (despite the 1985 Barber attempt) as it is somehow fitting that it is paired with the technology of the time. On the other hand, records are set to be broken, and you can't let sentimentality get in the way of cool stuff.

Turbines *are* cool, you're right. Much cooler than combustion engines. I don't think everyone should have a right to own a combustion engine, personally...
posted by nthdegx at 5:10 AM on November 5, 2004

There won't be any turbines on wind farms if Bush continues to promote America's dependence on foreign oil. ;-P
posted by Turtles all the way down at 5:59 AM on November 5, 2004

Does the steam car have to be green? Because I heard that was bad luck.
posted by ba at 7:02 AM on November 5, 2004

boy, that thing is linestreamed like sixty. /differenceengine
posted by caution live frogs at 7:08 AM on November 5, 2004

BIK'er [BushIraqKerry] Free Thread

You think that's going to stop them?
posted by ed\26h at 7:45 AM on November 5, 2004

That's OK Canada will be happy to sell the USA all the wind we can capture.

Man who would have though Alberta would be the Canadian leader in wind power electricity generation.
posted by Mitheral at 7:54 AM on November 5, 2004

Does the steam car have to be green?
Way back in the day, european countries were given their own national colour to race cars with. Great Britain was given dark green, commonly known as British Racing Green. I imagine this is the inspiration for the car's colour.

BIK'er Free Thread
You think that's going to stop them?
Nope ed\26h, but it will make them look dumb and unimaginative if they mention do ;)
posted by DrDoberman at 8:40 AM on November 5, 2004

...dumb and unimaginative if they mention do
...dumb and unimaginative if they do
Curse the close proximity of the Post and Preview buttons and my clumsy sausage fingers!
posted by DrDoberman at 8:58 AM on November 5, 2004

doh!
posted by pekar wood at 3:48 AM on November 6, 2004