| Since moving from the UK to California with my MGB just over 18 months ago I've had a few highs & lows; for example, getting my MG wiped out on the freeway by a wrong-way driver was a pretty low point. However, getting it rebuilt (to the same standard as I built it) by C&J Classics of Orange County was a much more uplifting experience - thanks Chris & Jenny. But the all time highlight, so far, was being at the Black Rock Desert, Nevada on the morning of 15th October 1997 watching Richard Noble's ThrustSSC, piloted by Andy Green, setting the world's first supersonic land speed record. | 
Andrew Graves sitting on
ThrustSSC. |
At work we have what is known as a T1 connection to the Internet, this means
that World Wide Web pages load in seconds. Throughout September and October I
was able to leave my Web browser on the ThrustSSC Web site
(www.thrustssc.digital.co.uk) and follow the progress of the team through their
three live cameras and frequent update bulletins; I shared in their excitement,
their triumphs and their angst (e.g. snow falling on the desert). On Friday,
12th October I had a feeling that something was going to happen that weekend -
the team had been out on the desert playa for 5 weeks but something told me that
the conditions would be right this weekend.
On Saturday, I hastily arranged
a flight, motel room & rental car and found myself the following morning on
the Black Rock Desert, Nevada. Alas, it was not to be, the desert playa was
still too soft at one end of ThrustSSC's 14mile tracks so there was no run.
Unfortunately I had to be back at work on Monday so returned to California that
evening.
The next day I was kicking myself - on Monday afternoon ThrustSSC
became the first car in history to break the sound barrier. I could have stayed
one more day and seen it!! However, they had failed to get the record so I still
had a chance to witness a part of history.
| I have a very understanding boss and on Tuesday he let me take time off at a moment's notice - even though I told him that I didn't know when I'd return. The information from the Web site looked like another run was possible on Wednesday, but as I'd already seen - on the desert, you just never know. |  The Team after setting the World's First Supersonic Land Speed Record. |
I toyed with the idea of driving up to Nevada in the MG but still being
slightly wary of Freeways (and their inhabitants) I decided that the 8 hour
drive would be best done in a rental car! After staying the night in a motel in
Reno, I awoke at 4am and set out for the desert - still two and a half hours
away. When I arrived, I joined about a hundred people at the spectator area,
some equipped with scanners to follow the team's radio transmissions. I met
Tommy Myers from Virginia City who, unlike me, had ventured out to the desert in
his MGB.
We watched ThrustSSC being towed out from the pits to the southern
end of the tracks (to our right) and at 09:01 over the radio we heard Jayne
Millington (Radio Controller and Andy Green's girlfriend) give the warning
"Engine start in 2 minutes". Pretty soon we saw the giant rooster tail of dust
rising behind the car as it noiselessly made its way towards us - at that speed
the sound trails the image of the car by about 5 miles. The car passed us and
entered the measured mile - it was travelling at over 700mph but to be honest
the run didn't look or sound very impressive.
| We remembered the news reports from Monday which said that sonic booms had been hard to discern above the sound of the engines so were delighted to learn over the radio that the run had in fact been supersonic and people at the other end of the tracks had heard two booms - apparently it depends where you are standing. |  Tommy Myers of Virginia City, NV who ventured onto the desert in his MGB. |
The following hour was one of the shortest in history; it seemed like just
ten minutes - the team had to turn the car round and prepare it for a second run
in the opposite direction. For a world record, the car had to pass through the
measured mile within one hour of it's previous run and on the Monday the team
had missed it by 47 seconds.
With just over 5 minutes to spare we heard the
warning that engines were starting and breathed a sigh of relief. The tracks
were so long that we saw the rooster tail from over the horizon before we saw
the car. It entered the measured mile and came streaking towards us - by the
time it was level with the spectator area it was already braking, trailing the
brake-chute behind it. But we still hadn't heard a thing - just silence. Then it
came, first the sound of the engines then BOOM, BOOM - two huge sonic booms
which seconds later echoed off the surrounding mountains. It was reported that
the booms upset pictures on the wall of the saloon in Gerlach, ten miles away
but I suspect they were already crooked!
Those of us in the spectator area
just looked at each other - lost for words, it was an incredible moment. We
waited around the radio scanners like expectant fathers for the results of the
run from the USAC Timekeepers and when they announced that the second run had
also been supersonic (Mach 1.02) a huge cheer went up.
Craig Breedlove's
Spirit of America team were also out on the desert and once it was confirmed
that they did not want to run that day (happily they didn't want to spoil the
party!) Jayne Millington invited all the spectators to join the team down on the
desert playa for the celebrations.
Our spectator convoy set out across the
desert and when I arrived at the pits complex Richard & Andy were already
being interviewed by the press. ThrustSSC was sitting somewhat ignored - an
ideal opportunity for a "sit on car" photo. It was good timing as a few minutes
later Mrs. Noble took charge and ordered everyone away from the car. (Later the
whole team were climbing all over the car for the "team photos".) However I
managed to get some memorable photos and they are currently published on the
World Wide Web at "http://www.andrewgraves.biz/ssc.htm".
It felt amazing to be involved in a part of history - one to tell the kids
(if I ever plan to have any!) Interestingly, the record was set one day after
the 50th anniversary of Chuck Yeager going supersonic in an aircraft for the
first time.
| As we drove back across the playa through the storm of dust from cars
in front - I was glad that I'd decided to leave the 'B at home - no doubt
Tommy is still cleaning bits of Black Rock Desert out of his air
intakes. by Andrew Graves (St.Albans MGOC, Californian Branch) |
 Front view of ThrustSSC. |
