Howmet TX
The Howmet TX (Turbine eXperimental) was an American sports prototype racing car designed in 1968 to test the competitive use of a gas turbine engine in sports car racing. Planned by racing driver Ray Heppenstall, the TX combined a chassis built by McKee Engineering, turbine engines leased from Continental Aviation & Engineering, and financial backing and materials from the Howmet Corporation.
| Category | Group 6 sports prototype | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | McKee Engineering | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Ray Heppenstall Bob McKee | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Tubular space frame | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbone with coil spring | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbone with coil spring | ||||||||
| Length | 154 in (3,900 mm) | ||||||||
| Width | 71.5 in (1,820 mm) | ||||||||
| Height | 46.5 in (1,180 mm) | ||||||||
| Axle track | Front: 58.5 in (1,490 mm) Rear: 56.5 in (1,440 mm) | ||||||||
| Wheelbase | 93.5 in (2,370 mm) or 91.25 in (2,318 mm) | ||||||||
| Engine | Continental TS325-1 2,960 cc (181 cu in) two-stage gas turbine mid-mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | 1-speed (electric motor for reverse) | ||||||||
| Fuel | Jet A | ||||||||
| Tyres | Goodyear | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Howmet Corporation | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | Ray Heppenstall Dick Thompson Ed Lowther Bob Tullius Hugh Dibley | ||||||||
| Debut | 1968 24 Hours of Daytona | ||||||||
| Last season | 1968 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
Although not the first attempt at using a turbine powerplant in auto racing, the Howmet TX was the first and is still the only turbine to win a race, earning two Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) race victories and two qualifying sprint victories during its only year of competition. The TX later set six Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) land speed records for turbines after being retired from racing.