0-1000 mph in 22 Seconds

Rosco McGlashan is an enthusiast in motorsport and engineering with a goal to break the 1,000 mph land speed record. He has transitioned from a 250 mph rocket-powered go-kart to designing a 200,000 horsepower vehicle. The script provides a historical overview of the land speed record, starting with the first record set in 1899 at 39.2 mph to the progression of vehicles and the eventual use of jet and rocket power. It highlights key milestones, such as the Sunbeam Slug, Malcolm Campbell's Blue Bird, and the Thrust SSC, which achieved 763 mph. The narrative also introduces the Bloodhound LSR team and the Aussie Invader 5R, Rosco's current project, emphasizing the passion and innovation behind these attempts.

The script delves into Rosco McGlashan's personal journey with high-speed vehicles, starting with 'The Crazy Horse', a V8 Chevy powered motorbike, and moving on to a rocket-powered bike that was banned in Australia. It discusses his venture into four-wheeled vehicles with a rocket-powered go-kart reaching 253 mph. The narrative then shifts to Rosco's land speed record attempts with the Aussie Invader series, beginning with the Invader 1, a jet-powered dragster, and continuing through the Invader 2, which utilized a jet turbine from a Mirage fighter jet. Despite a crash that ended the Invader 2's campaign, Rosco's determination led to the development of the Invader 3, which broke Richard Noble's world mark in 1996, albeit unofficially due to weather conditions.

The script outlines the engineering challenges and innovations behind the Aussie Invader 5R, Rosco's vehicle designed to break the 1,000 mph barrier. It details the car's construction, including its bipropellant rocket engine producing 62,000 pounds of thrust, equivalent to 200,000 horsepower. The vehicle's size and weight, largely due to fuel requirements, are highlighted, as well as the importance of aerodynamics in maintaining stability and control at extreme speeds. The process of designing the car involved understanding air resistance and working with rocket expert Peter Beck to ensure sufficient thrust. The Invader 5R's unique features, such as its long chassis, massive wheels, and the driver's cockpit position, are explained, emphasizing the engineering team's ingenuity and the project's ambitious nature.

This section of the script addresses the technical challenges in designing a vehicle capable of reaching 1,000 mph. It discusses the complexities of fuel delivery in a horizontal rocket engine, solved by using long aluminum tubes with pistons to push propellants into the engine. The script also explains the importance of the vehicle's chassis design, which is 12 meters long and made from high-grade steel, and the massive wheels made from aerospace aluminum. The positioning of the driver's cockpit is highlighted for safety and visibility, with considerations for the high vibrations experienced at such speeds. The narrative also touches on the need for multiple throttle pedals as a safety measure to prevent the driver's foot from getting jammed on the throttle pedal during high-speed runs.

The script explores the critical role of aerodynamics in the Invader 5R's design, focusing on elements like the nose cone, tail fin, canards, and the V-shaped underbelly. These features are crucial for maintaining stability and control at transonic and supersonic speeds. The challenges of passing through the sand barrier are discussed, with the car's V-shaped chassis designed to provide stability when encountering shock waves. The importance of the nose cone in setting up airflow over the car is highlighted, and the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to optimize the car's design for high-speed stability is explained. The script also mentions the need for real-world testing to gather data and ensure the car's aerodynamic stability at extreme speeds.

The final paragraph details the Invader 5R's braking systems and safety measures designed to safely decelerate the vehicle from 1,000 mph. The script outlines five braking systems: engine shutdown, hydraulic air brakes, a high-speed parachute, a low-speed parachute, and an emergency brake. The narrative explains the sequential deployment of these systems, starting with engine shutdown and air brakes at 800 mph, followed by the high-speed parachute at 600 mph, the low-speed parachute at 400 mph, and finally, the use of high-speed disc brakes at 200 mph. The emergency brake, a hydraulic steel ram, is described as a last resort in case other systems fail. The script concludes with an acknowledgment of the technical and financial challenges of the project and Rosco's determination to succeed, encouraging viewers to read his book for a deeper understanding of his journey.