Pioneer 1 (land speed racer)

Pioneer 1 is a Soviet FIA Group VII[1] land speed record car built in 1960 under the guidance of sportsman and engineer Ilya Aleksandrovich Tikhomirov.[2] Derived from the Kharkov-L1, the body was aluminum and the wheels a magnesium alloy. It was powered by two gas turbine engines (1,000 hp (750 kW) each at 50000 rpm) mounted either side of the driver.[3]

The second stage of each turbine drove a planetary reduction gearbox, mated to a central driving unit pirated from the Kharkov-L1.[4] The turbines were fitted with a water-methanol injection system.[5]

Pioneer 1 weighed in at 485 kg (1,069 lb), making her eligible for FIA Class 1 (500 kg (1,100 lb) and under). She was claimed to have set a Class 1 record of 303 km/h (188 mph) for the measured kilometer at the Baskunchak dry salt lake, and was the first Soviet land speed racer to exceed 300 km/h (186 mph).[6]

In 1962, the power of the engines was increased to 1,350 hp (1,010 kW), while weight rose to 495 kg (1,091 lb).[7] The improved car raised the Class 1 and Soviet national records for the measured kilometer to 306.6 km/h (190.5 mph).[8]

In 1963, Tikhomirov modified Pioneer 1 even further, to create Pioneer 2M.[9]

Notes

  1. ↑ Soviet Cars (retrieved 25 November 2015)
  2. ↑ Soviet Cars (retrieved 25 November 2015)
  3. ↑ Soviet Cars (retrieved 25 November 2015)
  4. ↑ Soviet Cars (retrieved 25 November 2015)
  5. ↑ Soviet Cars (retrieved 25 November 2015)
  6. ↑ Soviet Cars (retrieved 25 November 2015)
  7. ↑ Soviet Cars (retrieved 25 November 2015)
  8. ↑ Soviet Cars (retrieved 25 November 2015)
  9. ↑ Soviet Cars (retrieved 25 November 2015)

See also

External links


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