What we told the judges
THE BLUE FLAMER: a tribute to the 1970 Blue Flame, the natural-gas-powered rocket car that hit 622.4 mph at Bonneville and held the land speed record for 13 years. Ours is a MINI Cooper R53 in 1978 Trans Am blue with a 3D-printed phoenix on the hood. Car number: 622.4 (mph in small letters).
Natural gas is methane. Our team captain is an 82nd Airborne veteran who was famous from high school through the barracks for lighting his farts on fire. His nickname was the Blue Flamer. This car runs on natural gas made the old-fashioned way. Proudly sponsored by the American Gas Association (different Americans, different gas).
Educational payload: the US supply chain leaks about 2.3% of all gas produced as raw methane, which is 80x more potent than CO2 over 20 years. We'll paint the leakage numbers on the doors so you learn something while you laugh at us.
Paddock program: the Flatulence & Flavor Cookoff (best chili wins, judged on both criteria), and live ignition demonstrations with a fire extinguisher and a safety officer who has already regretted volunteering.
Two years of driveway rebuild, a home-welded cage, and 3D-printed body panels from LiDAR scans because we couldn't afford real ones. We go fast, we go loud, and our fuel source improves with beans.
The fastest fart in Texas
On October 23, 1970, Gary Gabelich drove the Blue Flame to 622.4 mph at Bonneville. The car was powered by liquefied natural gas. The record stood for thirteen years.
Natural gas is methane. Our team captain, a veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division, spent high school and the barracks proving that methane can be ignited on demand. His nickname followed him for thirty years. Now it is on a car.
The Blue Flamer is a MINI Cooper R53 painted 1978 Trans Am blue, wearing a 3D-printed phoenix on the hood and the number 622.4 on the doors. It runs on natural gas made the old-fashioned way.
Painted on the doors
The joke is dumb. The numbers are real, and they're going on the car so you learn something while you laugh at us.
- 2.3%
of all US natural gas production leaks straight into the air as methane before anyone burns it.
- 80×
more potent than COâ‚‚ at trapping heat over a 20-year window.
- $2 billion
worth of gas lost every year. Enough to heat ten million homes. Leaking, for nothing.
Sources: Alvarez et al., Science (2018); IPCC AR6. We'll cite them on the rear bumper too.
Paddock program
The Flatulence & Flavor Cookoff. Bring a pot. Entries are judged on taste and on downstream output. Beans are encouraged. Recipes will be published here after each race.
Live ignition demonstrations. Scheduled between sessions. A fire extinguisher will be present. A safety officer will be present and will already regret volunteering.
Free methane education. Ask any crew member where their gas comes from. They will tell you. At length.
The car
Two years of driveway rebuild on a 2006 MINI Cooper R53:
- Engine and transmission rebuilt
- All four corners, front suspension, urethane bushings throughout
- Larger aluminum radiator, opened airbox, one-ball exhaust
- Custom roll cage, cut and home-welded
- Race seats, harnesses, kill switch, fire suppression
- Sunroof delete panel and hood scoop 3D-printed from LiDAR scans of the car, because real ones cost money
Build log and photos coming soon. There are a lot of photos.
Proudly sponsored by
- American Gas Association
- Bumphole Racing
- Beans of Corpus Christi
- Methane. It's what's for dinner.
None of these organizations know we exist. The American Gas Association is not the one you're thinking of. Different Americans, different gas.