Do you like trucks? Record-breaking heavyweight monsters that will amaze you at first sight (photos)

The first fastest truck in the world was a steam-powered prototype created by founder Benz. At that time, the car rushed past the extras with lightning speed, enveloping them in clouds of steam, so much so that they did not have time to record the record speed. They did not attach much importance to this, since it was believed that the main purpose of trucks was to transport materials and goods to the right place from the required point. They were treated exclusively as heavyweights, leaving the right to records to aircraft and racing machines.

"Phoenix"

Before deciding on the fastest truck in the world, it is worth noting that races on large vehicles were held regularly. The main purpose of such races is to entertain the public with clumsy maneuvers and powerful roar of engines. Not many people dared to set speed records on such units.

For example, racer Carl Heap (after retiring) and his friend Robert Slagle still planned to create the fastest truck in the world. Designers began preparing to test the prototype in 1987. It is worth noting that the car was built by colleagues with their own hands and was equipped with a diesel power plant. The weight of the equipment is 8.5 tons, the length is over nine meters.

The unit was called UDT, and they decided to conduct the race at the bottom of a dry lake in the vicinity of the city of Bonneville. The first record was 254 km/h. The car received its nickname “Phoenix” for a series of unsuccessful starts, during which it broke down and burned. Photo of the car is presented above.

Table of speed limits on Russian roads

Video: Road speed and its limitations

The world's fastest Volvo truck

In this category, the Swedish company presents a car from the “hybrid” segment. The name of the car is Mean Green. When designing this equipment, the most innovative and advanced technologies in the combined installations industry were introduced. Under the hood of the original vehicle is a set consisting of an electric motor and a diesel engine. At one kilometer the car can accelerate to 153 km/h. The record speed is 236 km/h. Such impressive characteristics are achieved thanks to the total power of the power plants, amounting to 2100 horsepower.

Car speed

Passenger cars are the most common vehicles; almost every family has one.

Standard restrictions for passenger cars are the following:

• The speed limit in a populated area is 60 kilometers/hour;
• Maximum speed outside the city (settled areas) – 90 kilometers/hour;
• The permitted speed on highways and highways is 110 kilometers/hour.

There is one more important nuance in this list. In courtyard areas, that is, directly in residential areas, speed is limited to a minimum, no more than 20 km/h . The risk of an accident with a pedestrian in a residential area is much higher than just on a busy road passing at a relative distance from apartment buildings. Thus, the speed limit is a reasonable and reasonable requirement.

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There are three types of signs (see below):

• Prohibition sign (No. 1 and No. 2) – reduces the maximum speed, can often be found in areas under repair or near schools, hospitals, and other public places;

• Mandatory sign (No. 3) – sets the speed limit for a given section of the road. For example, it can be equal to 90 kilometers per hour, so as not to create unnecessary traffic jams;

• Recommended sign (No. 4 and No. 5 (end zone)) – similar to the mandatory sign, but is advisory and not mandatory.

"Scania"

Scania is considered one of the recognized leaders in the automotive industry. It produces the fastest truck in the world among production models under the symbol R-730. The machine was developed taking into account use under increased and constant loads. The vehicle cabin is designed to withstand severe mechanical and vibration impacts. In addition, Scania has improved handling and a modernized suspension, allowing it to overcome serious off-road conditions.

Power unit characteristics:

• Working volume – 16.4 liters.
• Torque – 3500 Nm.
• The total weight of the road train is 40 tons.
• The speed limit is 200 km/h.

LeTourneau Overland Train - a long road train

And I would like to call this creation a self-propelled “snake”. This monster was created back in the sixties, and was intended to supply the army with cargo. They had to be transported off-road, along destroyed roads. The development belongs to the American company LeTourneau. The unit consisted of twelve trailers, with a total length of one hundred and seventy meters. It was controlled by an electronic system; commands were sent to the steering mechanisms of the trailers from the remote control in the tractor.

"Shockwave"

This is one of the fastest trucks in the world (photo below) several times exceeded the achievements of the cars reviewed before. The unique record holder was created on the basis of the Peterbilt-359 tractor, popular in the 80s. Naturally, radical modifications were made, leaving virtually no trace of the original. The chief designer of this unit is former racer Less Shockley. Under his leadership, a whole group of specialists was assembled, whose goal was to create the fastest truck in the world.

The original equipment is equipped with three Pratt & Whitney J3448 jet engines placed on a 260-inch base. It is worth noting that these engines were used for military aviation. Power and traction figures are calculated for speeds up to 400 meters in 6.6 seconds. Each “engine” has a power of 12 thousand “horses”. The vehicle weighs almost seven tons. The car's record speed is 600 km/h. The use of the jet giant is purely for entertainment purposes and competitions in all kinds of speed parameters. Shockwave even competed with airplanes. Nevertheless, there was a competitor who broke this record.

Traffic speed

Traffic regulations regulate in detail the speed limit for all types of vehicles. The main categories are the following parameters:

1. Terrain;
2. Type of vehicle – truck/passenger car;
3. Presence of dangerous cargo in the car;
4. Presence of people in the car – there is movement without passengers or there are people in the vehicle (especially children or groups of people).

In addition, additional road signs may regulate the maximum speed limit. You cannot ignore them and allow speeding to happen.

The rules are based on two important concepts:

• The first concept is the braking distance of vehicles . The concept is derived exclusively from physical laws. Braking distance is the distance a vehicle will travel with the brake pedal pressed. The distance is affected by speed, roadway surface, and vehicle weight.

• The second concept is stopping distance . The concept refers to the distance in meters that the car will travel until it comes to a complete stop from the moment the driver detects a dangerous situation. As you might guess, the stopping distance consists of two components - the speed of the driver’s reaction to a dangerous situation plus the braking distance itself. Many factors influence the speed of the reaction. Such factors include visibility and a relatively subjective concept - the psychophysiological state of the driver.

If the roadway is poorly lit or there is fog, all this will lead to a slower driver's reaction in case of danger. In addition, the driver himself may not be concentrated (for example, due to lack of sleep), which will similarly lead to an increase in the stopping distance. Safety – personal, pedestrians, and other drivers – depends on concentration. If you approach the issue inattentively, drive with violations, or for failure to comply with traffic rules, you should prepare to pay a fine or even criminal punishment.

Based on physical laws, statistics and international practice, speed limits were developed in the traffic rules, provided for different areas and conditions.

"Hawaiian Eagle": the fastest truck in the world

Under this original name, the most reactive vehicle among trucks competes at races. The project was created on the basis of firefighting equipment and has a rather unusual exterior, shocking viewers already at the acceleration stage. This unique vehicle is a radically modernized version of the “pozharka” produced in 1940. After decommissioning, the equipment was sent to a well-deserved rest. However, in 1995, a certain Shanon Seidel, out of enthusiasm, decided to buy an “old” car and turn it into a rocket on wheels. The reconstruction of the car took three years. As a result, practically nothing was left of the base. Instead of water tanks, jet power plants developed by .

Despite the fact that only two engines were installed, the Hawaiian Eagle managed to defeat its main competitor. A special parachute was used as the main brake, since no existing system could slow down a multi-ton vehicle at sky-high speeds. The current world record for the fastest truck in the world, the characteristics of which are as far removed from the original Ford fire truck, is 655 km/h. No one has yet managed to exceed this figure. However, in this area, everything can change at any moment; all that remains is to wait for original ideas and their implementation in reality.

Diesel Phoenix is ​​the fastest

It turns out that not only sports cars can take part in races and get prizes. Trucks are also good for this. Some even become the most active participants in racing, like this famous record holder.

The unique Phoenix diesel truck became the winner; more than once, while setting the record, it caught fire, broke down, and even lost its brakes... It is worth noting that the creators for a long time could not find the optimal tires for this monster. In the end, we settled on aircraft tires.

The largest KamAZ

A modern truck capable of transporting up to 32435 kilograms at a speed of 90 km/h - model 65801. Overall dimensions: 9280*2550*3450 mm, engine German Mercedes-Benz OM 457LA.V/4.

New heavy Kamaz

The truck is designed for transporting any goods over medium distances; it does not have a sleeping place.

autotune

The idea of ​​crossing a car with a jet plane has been exciting inquisitive human minds for decades, periodically giving birth to incredible designs. So, exactly 30 years ago, American racer Les Shockley created perhaps one of the most famous and craziest trucks of our time. Like a true American, Shockley acted on a grand scale and counting on the “wow” effect, not sparing about half a million dollars. He took an ordinary Peterbuilt 379 truck tractor and attached not one, but three Pratt & Whitney jet engines to it, folding them into a pyramid and pointing them slightly into the sky so that they (along with a huge wing) pressed the truck to the ground, preventing it from taking off.

And there is something to take off from - three turbojet engines produce a total power equivalent to 36,000 horsepower! True, the performance of jet engines is assessed by another indicator: traction force. It is also in perfect order, three engines together “pull” with a force of 8.6 tons. As a result, when this jet is launched from a standstill in afterburner mode, the pilot (well, you can’t call him a driver!) experiences overloads of 6 G, and the aircraft-truck spends only about 11 seconds.

During one performance, Shockwave easily consumes up to 700 liters of kerosene - they are spent not only on the race itself, but also on demonstrative spews of fire and smoke.

Along the way, Shockwave is considered the holder of the world speed record for full-size jet trucks - with a result of 605 km/h! He also distinguished himself by setting a world record for a quarter-mile distance, flying it in 6.36 seconds with a top speed of 409 km/h. How, you ask, can you slow down at such speeds? In addition to disc brakes on all wheels, two military aviation parachutes are also used: when they open during braking, the pilot experiences negative overloads of as much as 9 G!

For many years, “Shock Wave” (that’s how the name Shockwave is translated) performed in America at air shows, racing against airplanes. But the old man is not going to give up: in 2012, racers Neil and Chris Darnell bought it, modernized the filling, updated the appearance - and now the legendary truck is returning on a new tour dedicated to its own 30th anniversary. If you're nearby, come in and watch the trucks fly.