THE men behind the Thrust supersonic car's record-breaking success are cracking open the champagne. Workers at Brookhouse Patterns Ltd, in Darwen, is a sponsor of the Thrust SSC car project, and supplied some of the technology which helped the British-designed and built vehicle to make history.

When the Thrust went supersonic, Brookhouse expertise was partly responsible for the stability of the car as it broke through the sound barrier.

Barry Turner, Brookhouse joint managing director, said: "Richard Noble, the driving force behind the whole project, approached us back in 1993 to ask if we could produce special composite tooling to manufacture the carbon fibre internal structure of the engine air intakes.

"This structure is very complex and must guide the intake air to the car's twin Rolls Royce Spey jet engines, so that both the engine output and the vehicle stability are at their peak.

"Richard approached us because he knew of our reputation in performance composites through our work in the aerospace and Formula One industries."

Brookhouse's contribution, which took six months to complete, was free.

Peter Turner, Barry's brother and business partner, said: "Apart from the fact that Richard Noble is a very persuasive person, both my brother and I believed in the project and felt it to be a privilege to be asked to contribute our own acknowledged expertise in performance composites."

The firm is made up of Brookhouse Patterns and Brookhouse Composites in Darwen, and Brookhouse Paxford in Huntingdon.

Their work will be featured at the 1997 Technology Management Roadshow at Blackburn Technology Management Centre, on Thursday, October 23, when organisers are hoping to speak to Richard Nobell via a video link.

To reserve a place on the free roadshow telephone 01254 692692.

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