British land speed record team on tour

Following its success in establishing five new International and American speed records at Edwards Air Force Base in California in August, the British Steam Car team has begun a tour of the UK. The British Steam Car has already appeared on BBC Breakfast and the team was the subject of a 30-minute documentary on BBC2 on 18 November (still available on iPlayer).

The next appearance will be at the Goodyear Head Office in Birmingham on Wednesday 13 January for which there is a press call and photo opportunity at 12 noon (see below for more details). James Bailey, Communications Manager, Goodyear, says: "As tyre supplier to the British Steam Car team, we congratulate them on their record. This is yet another Land Speed Record for Goodyear, who set a record in 1963 to have the first tyre to exceed 400mph (Craig Breedlove driving Spirit of America). Since then, Goodyear tyres have also been chosen for the British-made JCB DieselMax car, which set a 328mph record for diesel powered vehicles in 2006. We are all looking forward to welcoming the car and team to our head office."

The British Steam Car will then be on display as a unique attraction at the Autosport International Show at the NEC from 14 to 17 January (Hall 7, stand numbers 7010 and 7015). Some of the body panels will be removed so that members of the public can see the complex internal arrangement of the British Steam Car. Key members of the British Steam Car team will be available to answer questions, including record-breaking driver, Don Wales and Project Manager, Matt Candy.

As well as the opportunity to sit in the cockpit of the British Steam Car, members of the public can purchase limited edition commemorative merchandise including signed photographs, mouse mats, mugs, t-shirts and 2010 calendars. Footage of the record-breaking runs will be played on the stand.

Later in 2010, the British Steam Car team will visit a number of shows around the country while on 22 April a special “Evening with the British Steam Car Team” and car is being held in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire with tickets costing £8. The proceeds will help support the UK tour for which generous sponsorship has already been received from Micro Movements, Goodyear, Spirax Sarco and WTW Truck Hire.

Full details of the British Steam Car UK tour as well as more information about the team and the record-breaking successes are on steamcar.co.uk.