Nevada Focus: Local aerodynamics buff joins American speed team

Thursday, Sept. 25, 1997 | 3:36 a.m.

A lifelong racing fanatic, Langson was hired Sunday by Craig Breedlove's Spirit of America racing team as an aerodynamics consultant.

Breedlove is battling Britain's Thrust SSC in the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach to see which team will drive away with the world land speed record.

That takes a dash of at least 640 mph and Breedlove's car is experiencing instability in its rear end. It had to abort its best effort this month at 381 mph. Langson was hired to help solve the instability problem.

"It is extremely important to be perfect aerodynamically and under control at all times," Langson said. "The concept is good. We just have to make some small changes. Small and absolutely exact changes."

As the drivers reach the sound barrier, they pass through what is called a transonic phase as they enter supersonic speeds, he said.

The concussion from breaking the barrier could break the cars apart if they are caught in the transonic phase for too long.

Langson's wife Cathy is glad that it is not Bruce driving the car.

"It's scary to think that there is a human being driving the car," she said. "But I'm excited for him to be working on the team."

Langson said Breedlove's car is experiencing problems keeping its rear wheels on the ground as its speeds increase.

"That's what I do," Langson said. "It's a matter of pressures and vacuums on different parts and airfoils."

Langson said he worked with Texas A&M's Aerospace School on ground effects and the aerodynamics needed to counteract them. In three years of work, he said he developed a car that has enough downforce to drive upside down in a tunnel at more than 100 mph using different vacuums and airfoils to counteract the forces of ground effects.

Langson said he talked to Breedlove engineer John Ackroyd over the weekend about his experience and expertise.

"Within 30 seconds they realized I had something to bring to the team," he said.