Reid Antony Railton, Cheshire-born automotive engineer par excellence, created an extraordinary range of cars. He rose to renown during the 1930s as chief engineer at Thomson & Taylor, Brooklands-based racing-car builders. There he realised the dreams of that era's top men of speed, including Tim Birkin, Malcolm Campbell, Whitney Straight, John Cobb, Raymond Mays and Goldie Gardner. His great cars powered them all to sensational racing and record-breaking success. This magisterial book, by one of the world's foremost automotive historians, tells Reid Railton's personal and professional story in superb detail and fascinating depth, with special focus on Reid's unique insights--amounting to genius--and technical accomplishments.

Harry retired from business in 1990. He joined the Vintage and Veteran Club (VVC) in 1969, serving on the committee for 10 years and was Chairman for 3 years. Honorary Life Membership of the VVC was bestowed upon Harry in 1996. He is still the current Club Dating Officer, a position held for the past 29 years. He also held the position of Vehicle Dating Chairman for the South African Veteran & Vintage Association (SAVVA) for 14 years.

The tale of Crusader, the jet-powered boat of 1952, appears to be a simple one about the ambition of John Cobb and Reid Railton, two unassuming but deeply gifted men, to break the water speed record on Loch Ness only for their efforts to end in tragedy. In fact the story behind that fateful outcome -- Cobb's death on his first high-speed run -- is a complex web of clever design and inspirational endeavour mixed with personality clashes and errors of judgment. After many years of research, including access to a wealth of original documentation, Steve Holter unravels the entire saga of the ill-fated Crusader and presents a compelling detective story. John Cobb: the modest businessman with such a thirst for speed that he wanted to become the fastest man on water as well as on wheels after setting his land speed record of 396.196mph in 1947. Reid Railton: inspired designer and long-time friend behind Cobb's greatest speed accomplishments, notably with the Napier-Railton (holder of the lap record at Brooklands) and the Railton Mobil Special (land speed record car). In-depth study of Railton's innovative 'three-point' hull design for Crusader, with two rear sponsons and a single 'planing shoe' at the front -- plus a De Havilland Ghost jet engine delivering 5,000lb of thrust. Evolution of the design in parallel with testing of scale models, including a miniature jet-powered version evaluated near Portsmouth Harbour. Assessment and description of boat-builder Vosper's wooden construction, under Peter Du Cane's direction. An exhaustive account of proceedings at Loch Ness, where Cobb finally attempted a high-speed run on 29 September 1952 and achieved 206.89mph, faster than anyone had previously gone on water. Analysis of the structural failure that destroyed Crusader and killed Cobb. Much of the story is told in the words of the key protagonists, drawing in particular on correspondence and written accounts from the key people involved, most notably John Cobb, Reid Railton and Peter Du Cane.

The 1928 quest for the Land Speed Record on the sands of Daytona Beach was a first for America, a singular mix of technology, thrills and tragedy. Tens of thousands lined the dunes along the beach, a crowd larger than any yet seen at Indianapolis 500. Three contenders, two Americans and a Briton, raced for the ultimate distance-averaged top speed, in magnificent machines built by different schools of design. This book chronicles the high-speed drama. The top American driver, Frank Lockhart, 25, survived a spectacular accident and rebuilt his Stutz Black Hawk, only to meet his fate in the new runs. The facts and myths behind the competition are examined in depth for the first time, along with the innovations and fatal mistakes of vehicle design.

Popular Mechanics inspires, instructs and influences readers to help them master the modern world. Whether it’s practical DIY home-improvement tips, gadgets and digital technology, information on the newest cars or the latest breakthroughs in science -- PM is the ultimate guide to our high-tech lifestyle.

This book examines the industrial monuments of twentieth- century Britain. Each chapter takes a specific theme and examines it in the context of the buildings and structure of the twentieth century. The authors are both leading experts in the field, having written widely on various aspects of the subject. In this new and comprehensive survey they respond to the growing interest in twentieth-century architecture and industrial archaeology. The book is well illustrated with superb and unique illustrations drawn from the archives of the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. It will mark and celebrate the end of the century with a tribute to its remarkable built industrial heritage.

A nostalgic look at the world's best-loved and most significant automobiles Drive down memory lane with this celebration of 150 of the world's greatest cars, from the weird and wonderful to the largest, fastest and most infamous. From 0 to 150 take a journey through the first steam-powered vehicles and the Model T Ford, to favourites like the James Bond amphibian car, the holder of the supersonic land speed record and the latest Air car recently hailed as the true car of tomorrow. Just the thing for boys of all ages! A nostalgic look at the world's best-loved and most significant automobiles Drive down memory lane with this celebration of 150 of the world's greatest cars, from the weird and wonderful to the largest, fastest and most infamous.From 0 to 150 take a journey through the first steam-powered vehicles and the Model T Ford, to favourites like the James Bond amphibian car, the holder of the supersonic land speed record and the latest Air car recently hailed as the true car of tomorrow. Just the thing for boys of all ages!