Land-speed racer with Tucson ties fails in record attempt

A turbine-powered land-speed race car with Tucson ties failed to make a run at a new class record over 500 mph at Speed Week, Aug. 13-19 at the Bonneville Salt Flats, after running afoul of problems with its drag parachutes.

Turbinator II, a 500-horsepower, turboshaft streamliner owned by Utah-based Team Vesco, successfully tested turbine engine controls provided by Tucson-based Arizona Turbine Technology.

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But the racer’s drag chutes opened prematurely on qualifying runs, possibly because of rough salt-flat conditions, Team Vesco said.

Vesco expects to fix the problem and make a run at the record at Bonneville during the World of Speed event, Sept. 10-13.