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Four time world land speed record-holder one of thousands applying to enrol at Canterbury

January 15, 2015

A four-time world land speed record-holder, who has applied to study at the University of Canterbury this year, will give a public talk on campus on February 3.

Kevin Clemens is to study mechanical engineering at the university and his lecture next month will cover the aerodynamic development of land speed record vehicles and the fear of flying: avoiding the hazard of the car or bike becoming airborne.

Clemens has constructed a series of electric motorcycles in his workshop in Minnesota in the United States and set world and US national records at the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

In the history of land speed record attempts, as speeds notched upwards, vehicles would occasionally lose their tenuous grip on the ground, becoming airborne projectiles. Wind tunnel studies were first used to tame this tendency for Malcolm Campbell’sBluebird which broke the 200 mile per hour (320kph) barrier in 1928.

Clemens will work this year with the University of Canterbury’s wind tunnels and Blue Fern supercomputer to develop designs with greater aerodynamic efficiency to attain faster speeds on the Salt Flats, while keeping the machines firmly planted on the ground.

His February 3 talk will examine land speed record vehicles from the earliest days to the present. Clemens has taken part in many exciting journeys including the 35-day Beijing to Paris rally in a 1929 Chrysler Model 75 Roadster.

He has driven north of the Arctic Circle in the dead of winter, across the searing deserts of China and Mongolia in the heat of summer, through perils in the republics of the former Soviet Union, in 55 foreign countries and all 50 states.

Clemens is one of thousands of students applying to enrol at the University in 2015. The university has seen a surge in new international students applying in engineering and business. These applications contribute to an overall 15 percent lift in new international student applications. Domestic applications are in line with last year and 2015 forecasts.

The university will know the number of students enrolled to study in 2015 by early March. Any students considering enrolling at the University of Canterbury this year can call 0800 VARSITY (827 748) with any query.

The University of Canterbury is offering students new to the university this year a return economy airfare anywhere in the world for the opportunity to study abroad next year at one more than 50 partner universities worldwide.

The UCXchange programme gives students the opportunity to study for a semester at one of UC’s more than 50 partner universities worldwide as part of their University of Canterbury degree.

Students can choose to study in some amazing locations such as Beijing, Singapore, Hong Kong, Spain, France, the United Kingdom and the United States. The University of Canterbury free air fare offer is to all eligible full time students making satisfactory academic progress this year. For further information see: www.canterbury.ac.nz/international/exchange.

ENDS

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