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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Project Manager Frank
Swanston Crosses Final Finish Line
Lymington, England - It is with profound sadness, that we announce the
sudden passing of Frank Swanston, Project Manager for the British Steam
Car Team, who died unexpectedly on Wednesday 1 August 2007 from
complications of lung cancer.
"He was taken so suddenly," said Team Administrator Lynne Angel, "he
will be sorely missed. Frank was a dear friend as well as work
colleague. When he arrived we all came together; he was the father
figure of the team. We relied on him so much."
Team owner / driver Charles Burnett III, still stunned by the news,
remarked, "Frank was such a font of wisdom; he seems to have driven
every kind of race car under the sun. He was a huge resource of
experience and knowledge for our land speed record project. This is a
heavy hit for all of us."
Frank Swanston was a consulting engineer well known in motor racing
circles; his four-decade long professional engineering background was
firmly rooted in race car design, vehicle development and build programs
including prototype work.
From rally to touring cars, historics to Formula One, he was also a
track test driver and top-notch fabricator - impeccable credentials to
lead the final phases of the vehicle build, testing, development of the
steam car record attempt.
His past postings included: Race Engineer at Hexagon, Technical Director
at Turbo Tork, Chief Engineer / Race Engineer at Janspeed Motorsport,
Technical Engineer at Janspeed Engineering and Consulting Engineer at
Powertrain Developments. Further information can be located at:
www.frankswanston.co.uk
Peter Candy, engineering consultant to the team, friend and colleague of
Frank's since the late 1980's, reflected, "Anyone who worked with him
benefited from the experience, I could trust whatever he told me. When
Frank was Director of Janspeed, they pioneered turbo-charging
conversions long before the OEMs woke up to power boost potential for
engines. He also prepared dozens of MGF sports cars for a race series
and helped develop a London taxicab prototype to run on propane that
passed all applicable emission tests in force at the time. Frank also
campaigned such iconic racing machines as the Lister Jaguar and Birdcage
Maserati."
Team mate Peter Prove, who also worked with him at Janspeed, shared his
observations, "Frank brought credibility to our steam project; he had
earned such immense respect from everyone who knew him and worked with
him in motorsport. People knew if Frank were involved, it was a serious
project."
Peter continued "He was good engineer, good person and good friend.
Frank created a comfortable working environment, one where you could
come to him with problems and not feel you were going to be in trouble.
Frank had an engineer's analytical mind and could sort out problems
properly without fuss or drama. You knew where the lines were drawn yet
he trusted you to do whatever job he assigned you. His management style
was that of mutual trust."
Frank Swanston spent so many years leading many racing teams that he
could sense when things were off kilter with people. Peter concluded
with this insight: "He had the ability to help you through rough patches
in your personal life and had wide shoulders that you could lean on if
you wanted to."
Perhaps the words of Pam Swanston, Frank's wife, sum up how the team
felt when the news slammed home earlier yesterday, "Why do they always
take the most kind and generous of this world?"
The Steam Car Team mourns Frank Swanston's passing and extend the
deepest sympathies to his entire family.
The Funeral was held at
Beaulieu Abbey, Beaulieu, Hampshire on Wednesday, 15 August 2007. The family
has requested that donations be made instead of flowers to: The Oakhaven
Hospice. Donations can been sent to the funeral directors,
F.W. House & Sons, 33-34 St Thomas Street, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 9NE
(cheques payable to: The Oakhaven Hospice)
For further information contact: Lynne Angel on 0845 0700844
or by email:
lynne@ecoengine.co.uk
A Book of Condolence has been set up for
people to record their messages. If you would like to send a
message of condolence, please send an email to
steamcar@harlequinhouse.com
Timetable/Status as of 2 August 2007
British Steam Car Appeal
A new website -
www.britishsteamcarappeal.co.uk - supporting the project has been
launched.
Visit this website to find out how you can be part of history.
By donating £1.00 you can buy a square on the Union Jack displayed on
the car. The Union Jack will eventually be transposed onto ‘Inspiration’
and when she rests in Beaulieu Motor Museum the public can look through
a magnifying glass and see their name. It can be said that those people
placing their names on the car will go also be making the attempt at the
Steam Record. You can read the press release about the project
here.
Project Update
The British Steam Car
Challenge – which will attempt to set British and World Land Speed
Records in excess of 200mph – received a considerable boost recently
when Slough Heat & Power in Berkshire provided some steam from a
purpose-built gantry to assist the team in their initial trials. Click
here to read full text of press release.
The Project also received a
big boost when the Challenge was featured in the Motoring section of the
Daily Telegraph (21 October 2006).
News from our Sponsors
Bodycote
International has joined the sponsors list. Bodycote is the world
leader in the provision of testing and thermal processing services to a
wide range of industries, operating from over 290 facilities in 28
countries, and has been able to help the project with the new boilers.
Team Inspiration
The next Open Day will be held on Sunday 11 March 2007. To book
for this event, simply complete the
booking
form and return to the Club Office. Reports of all the
club days are available on the website.
Sales of the Team Inspiration Merchandise are going well, so if you
haven't bought your limited edition items, don't forget that it is only
available through the Project Office. To view the lines still
available, click here.
Team Inspiration Members are thrilled to learn that their fund-raising
activities are being put to good use. The money raised by Club Members
is being used to pay for the front end, the nose, of Inspiration to be
designed and manufactured. It is the aim of the fund to raise £5,000 and
to find out how much is currently in the fund
click on this link
to the Inspiration Nose Fund. The Team Inspiration Office would like to
send a big thank you to Mr David Bartrop, one of Team Inspiration's
founder members, has recently sent a cheque for £250 towards the nose
cone fund.
Boilers
The Steam car boilers are now able to supply a stable, continuous,
controlled flow of superheated steam at the correct pressure and
temperature. However, the boiler testing has shown a limit in total
steam flow. Modifications are being carried out to the boiler designed
to increase its capacity. The boiler test program will continue over the
next few weeks until our flow rate requirement is met.
Turbines
The turbine rotors and spin test adaptors were balanced by Jim Watson of
Schenck at the Rotech Spindle Services facility in Slinfold, West
Sussex, early this year.
After balancing the adaptors and turbine rotors were assembled and taken
to Qinetiq for spin testing. Successful spin tests up to 15,000
rpm were carried out on both the first and second stage turbines.
The turbine rotors have now been fitted into their housings., which in
turn have been attached to the final drive unit.
Brakes
PDS are continuing their
sponsorship of the project by manufacturing the purpose designed brake
calipers and associated fittings. The special brake discs and their
mounting bells are being manufactured.
Bodywork
Vintage Cars has almost
completed the rear aluminium body section. However, we have put it on
hold at the moment in case the final modifications to the boiler design
result in minor bodywork changes.
Dashboard
SPA has produced a dedicated electronic instrument panel complete with
speedometer, rev-counter and warning lights as well as a programmable
multi-function digital panel.
Powertrain
The turbine/final drive assembly has now been mounted onto a dynamometer
and connected to a test boiler, ready to commence the running in
and power test programme.
Pressure Vessels
All of the pressure vessels are now completed and proof tested with the
exception of the water tanks, which are being manufactured by
CTG.
Chassis and suspension
The rolling chassis is complete and ready to begin the installation of
all of the ancillary parts. The rollover safety cage and main chassis
frame are prepared and will be completed with the installation of the
last boiler and powertrain mounting components, once the boiler testing
and dyno tests are completed.
Last
updated 15 August 2007
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