The guy working on the car explained it was a replica of the 1902 Baker Torpedo ELECTRIC racer. In the early 1900s, Walter "Bad Luck" Baker tried twice to set a land speed record in this car, but crashed on both occasions, so the speeds he reached weren't officially recorded. The replica was built with modern materials, but otherwise was as faithful to the original design as possible. It was built to prove Baker's 114 year-old design was capable of the speeds it was claimed he attained back at the turn of the 20th Century.
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Last night, I was looking for something to stream on Netflix, and quite accidentally stumbled across the show that features the replica Torpedo! Since the show is available to the public now, I don't think they'll mind if I post my photo and maybe drive some traffic to their content. To see the replica in action, search Netflix for the original program, White Rabbit Project. The specific episode with the Torpedo is Season 1, Episode 10, titled "Speed Freaks." Fans of Mythbusters will recognize the hosts, Grant, Tory and Kari; the original "Myth-terns."
Also, google "Baker Torpedo" for the full, and often contradictory, details of this nearly lost piece of automotive history, and Walter C. Baker, the visionary nut job behind it.
Enjoy,
-- Doug
P.S.: I never got to see the car run the length of the runway that day at the airport. By the time I left, they had only gotten it to roll about 15 feet under power. I mention this because the show makes it appear as though the car had one successful test before it was skinned, then Tory says, "Let's skin it and break some speed records!" Now you guys know more of the inside scoop.
