New Trend Dorsum Inward 1902-03, Racing Was Pretty Unsafe Too Wacky... They Didn't Accept A Lot Of Power, Or Advancements, Merely They Could Get Through Walls Unscathed

Back inwards 1902-03, Walter C. Baker built iii streamlined electrical racing cars. Called “Torpedoes,” these all-but-forgotten electrics should live remembered for 4 proficient reasons: 
  1) They allowed Walter Baker to function the outset human inwards history to interruption the 100-mph barrier inwards a motorcar; 

  2) the Torpedoes’ bodies were remarkably streamlined, decades ahead of anything similar;
  3) because Walter Baker regularly crashed his cars, none of his speed marks went into the tape books. Even inwards his ain day, he became known equally “Bad Luck Baker;” and
  4) what in all likelihood saved his life inwards all those crashes were plain, elementary shoulder harnesses, an persuasion 1 time to a greater extent than much likewise modern for the times.

 

Baker mounted xi batteries summation a 14-horsepower electrical motor behind the seats as well as ran double chains to the parent axle.

 On Memorial Day 1902, May 31, the Automobile Club of America held speed trials on the streets of Staten Island, N.Y. Baker intended the Torpedo to ready records that would overwhelm the makers of steam- as well as piston-powered machines. Rumor had it that the Torpedo was proficient for 120 mph, which at that fourth dimension was roughly double the World Land Speed Record.

Baker chose to drive the Torpedo himself. His rider as well as brakeman was the company’s primary mechanic as well as electrician, E.E. Denzer. Baker as well as Denzer covered the flight kilometer inwards sixteen seconds, running just 100 mph, as well as they were however accelerating when Baker lost command crossing a ready of trolley tracks.

 His steering went limp and, equally Denzer yanked the brake lever, the automobile left the route as well as smashed sideways into the crowd. Two spectators were knocked apartment but non injured. H5N1 tertiary died instantly. The Torpedo spun 180 degrees, as well as thus stopped.

Baker as well as Denzer stepped out unscathed as well as were right away arrested for manslaughter. But the law released them only equally quickly, because the crowd had crossed protective barricades. Despite the accident, Baker had ready a novel tape for the flight kilometer, albeit unofficially.

Then, inwards Aug. 1903, Baker entered both Torpedo inwards a especial outcome for electrical cars almost Cleveland. H5N1 human named Chisholm drove one, started on the pole as well as was doing fine, until he got sideswiped past times a Waverly Electric. Chisholm crashed as well as knocked downward 4 spectators. No 1 was badly hurt, but Walter Baker, who’d been driving the instant Kid, decided to hang upwards his goggles as well as halt running into people.

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http://www.rokemneedlearts.com/carsindepth/wordpressblog/?p=1028

Looks similar Tim has the makings of a book, equally he's spent vii years researching to compile 75 pages of information on the theme of the Baker Electric Torpedo.

He hasn't printed it yet, but y'all tin flaming read it on a Kindle. Yes, I've pointed out to him that people who similar one-time cars similar other one-time fashioned things similar hardcopy books. I don't think he's going to genuinely bring whatever of thousands of mass makers genuinely impress to a greater extent than or less copies of his textile into a mass though.

I would. Once you've done that, you've created a lasting monument to your efforts of inquiry as well as volition forever later live known equally an author. 

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