In my day job I manage an online archive of video footage for the BBC. This is part of the commercial operations of BBC Worldwide, and is called BBC Motion Gallery. The business has been around for 20 years or so and we licence footage to other broadcasters, film makers, advertisers etc. Basically anyone needing moving images for their own production.
Sometimes particularly interesting footage makes it into the online repository and this time it’s worth sharing with LB. The subject? Thrust SSC (that’s ‘supersonic car’). Back in 1997, the BBC was there filming progress as Thrust SSC was tested in Jordan, before moving to the USA for its attempt on the World Land Speed Record. The car broke the speed of sound, reaching a top speed of 763.035 miles per hour (or for those modern metric people 1227.985 kilometres per hour). Which equates to one mile in about 4.7 seconds, or one kilometre in about 2.9 seconds. If only the daily commute to the office were as quick as that!
Clicking the link below takes you to the BBC Motion Gallery website and a selection of six Thrust SCC clips. You don’t need to register to play the clips, just click the “More” link next to each one.
http://www.bbcmotiongallery.com/Customer/ViewBin.aspx?binId=4fb5d92f-a681-4b0e-b5a2-4b55328e5b05
