Monday 19th August 1985

Robert E Barber broke the 79-year-old speed record for a steam car when Steamin Demon, built by Barber-Nichols Engineering Co. [US] reached 145.607 mph (234.331 kmph) at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA. The wedge-profile car, weighing about 5,000 pounds, had a stainless steel boiler, weighing 1,000 pounds. when floorboarded, the steam at 1,000 pounds per square inch pressure was fed into a turbine of just 5 inch diameter, spinning at 6,000 rpm. The power from the turbines was transferred to the wheels. On its record run, Steamin Demon carried 60 gallons of water and 12 gallons of kerosene. This record however, is not FIA approved.