SAIMechE Lecture tour astounding success

SAIMechE recently hosted yet another successful John Orr Lecture tour. This year the Lecture was delivered by Wing Commander Andy Green, the ‘Fastest Man on Earth'. Wg Cdr Green, BLOODHOUND SSC's driver, holds the current World Land Speed Record (1227 kph). Driving Richard Noble's Thrust SSC in 1997, Andy set the world's first and only supersonic land speed record at an astonishing 763 mph, driving literally ‘faster than a speeding bullet'.

Through SAIMechE, a number of prominent meetings, interviews and presentations to school learners were held. But the highlight was the five very well attended Lectures around the country, giving great exposure to this exciting engineering adventure.

Besides the great recent newspaper coverage and magazine write-ups to follow, Andy featured on SABC news, Expresso TV talk show and numerous radio interviews.

Needless to say, SAIMechE is very proud of its association with this enthralling engineering adventure.

This year’s lecture was probably the best attended, after each of the five Lectures had to be moved to bigger venues to accommodate the overwhelming response for attendance.

This Project is linked through a major education programme into schools across the UK and (through a hugely successful website, www.BLOODHOUNDSSC.com) to students around the world. The Project aims to inspire the next generation of young engineers and scientists, while setting the most remarkable Land Speed Record of all time – 1000 mph.

SAIMechE is sincerely grateful to Wg Cdr Andy Green for the time and effort put into this lecture, and for contributing to the success of this year’s Lecture. It is an honour and a privilege to have a guest of his stature. We further would like to thank the Wits University for once again hosting the main lecture. The event symbolizes the very close historical association between SAIMechE and the University.

SAIMechE wishes to convey a special thanks to Europcar who have extended very favourable terms on the vehicles we hired during the Lecture tour. Their support of this initiative is noted with thanks and much appreciation.

Pictured above is the gift from SAIMechE to Wing Commander Andy Green - a token of appreciation for Andy delivering the SAIMechE John Orr Lecture. The beaded wire car was specially made for SAIMechE through the Hillcrest HIV/AIDs Home.