Supersonic Race Live on the Internet

25 September 1997

Duel in the Desert to Break the Land Speed Record 
and Supersonic Barrier 
Available to Web Surfers Around the World

For Immediate Release

        LOUISVILLE, KY., & SACRAMENTO, CA., SEPTEMBER 24, 1997 -
Beginning today, The Auto Channel, in cooperation with the ThrustSSC
team and Microplex Systems Ltd., will be presenting exclusive live
photo coverage of the current attempt to break the world's land speed
record and the sound barrier.  The trials are being held at the Black
Rock Desert in Northwestern Nevada (105 miles North of Reno).

        Current record holder Richard Noble leads the ThrustSSC team.
Driving the Thrust2 car in 1983, Noble set the record at Black Rock
Desert with a speed of 633.468 mph.  The new vehicle, ThrustSSC, is
driven by Andy Green, an RAF fighter pilot.  ThrustSSC is powered by
two Rolls-Royce turbojet engines and was designed to hit speeds in
excess of 800mph.  The speed of sound is approximately 750 mph.
Yesterday, September 23rd, ThrustSSC actually reached the highest
speed through the measured mile to date of 719mph.  However, in order
to qualify for a new record the vehicle must make two runs through the
measured mile within one hour of each run.  Unfortunately, a
malfunctioning computer prohibited the team from making the second run
within the allotted time.

        Attempts to break the record will resume on Thursday,
September 25th.  Concurrent with the ThrustSSC assault on the speed
record is the attempt by Craig Breedlove and his Spirit of America
team to break the existing mark.  The Breedlove team is also
on-location at Black Rock, making this dual attempt an historical
event in itself.  While Breedlove was successful in reaching 675 mph
at Black Rock in October 1996, his highest peak speed this year has
been just 391 mph.  The Spirit of America plans to run again on
Friday, September 26th.

        The Auto Channel will also have a video crew on location at
Black Rock for interviews and some exclusive video footage of the dual
attempts.  The coverage can be accessed through The Auto Channel
internet network at "http://www.theautochannel.com".  The live photo
coverage requires no special "plug-in" or player.  However, internet
users wishing to view the video clips and interviews will need the
VXtreme plug-in.  This can be downloaded for free at either The Auto
Channel or through the VXtreme website at 
"http://www.microsoft.com/netshow/vxtreme/software.htm"

        The live pictures are made possible through the use of three
digital cameras and Microplex NetworkEye frame servers.  The
NetworkEye is a low-cost device that allows digital cameras to be
positioned anywhere, and to serve up captured images to a computer
network.

        The Auto Channel is sponsored by Pennzoil Products Company.


Company Contact:
Marc Rauch
(502) 584-4100
(916) 852-1956
email: mjrauch@theautochannel.com