Dateline Vienna:
At this morning's press briefing, reporters were given further insight into the dramatic design concepts woven into the fabric of Team Schwartz's revolutionary monohull record boat.
Assistant Press Secretary, Dr. Ernest Spin, chronicled the many aspects of the Schwartz Concept. " We are using more horsepower per pound than anybody else (code named "Schwartzpower"). Questions on details, engine design , fuel, torque, and displacement were not answered, however, Dr. Spin did offer: "In fact, on paper, we calculate that, given our power to weight ratio, we can break the record running up Niagara Falls....even in warm weather." Spin chuckled as he added: "Of course we would never attempt such a thing, even though it is rumored that one of the American challengers is considering an unmanned, radio controlled, record attempt in the other direction......... down the Falls." When pressed for information as to which challenger, Dr. Spin replied: " I cannot divulge the manufacturer, but let's just say that we don't consider that approach fair.....even in North Carolina."
Spin continued: " Clearly we are using all of the traditional monohull aero and hydrodynamic upgrades, hi lift air foil on the deck and sides, ultralight composites, oversized strakes, pads, 3 beaks (rumored to be one on top of the other), back porch for extended length, and adjustable winged stabilizers on the drivers' helmets ( The patented Schwartz Aero Helmet (SAH))."
Asked about the "patented" Schwartz Inverted Step Design (SISD) Dr. Spin became very enthusiastic: " We have discovered a whole new concept in hull step design....Our tests indicate that steps increase speed....but only when molded into the cockpit floor......and on the transom surface between the outdrives..... so we immediately patented this before our competitors could claim authorship." He continued:
"We are also using steps on the hull to give the press something to talk about."
Finally, Dr. Spin brought out Technical Director, Giancarlo Bravado, for further comment. "With all that, we knew we needed something really dramatic to boost our speed beyond belief." Bravado said: "I am proud to announce that our greatest advancement was in the unique shape and lift characteristics built into our deck cleats.... code named "Schwartzlift"." Asked where this design came from Giancarlo offered:" I doodled the design at a truckstop one night after pulling a 47 hour cross Alps run to Hamburg". Asked for his qualifications in aerodynamics Bravado responded: " I've been a truck driver for years and have spent hundreds of hours watching my hand as I held it out the window in the speeding air. Sometimes, depending on the angle, it would go up, and sometimes it would go down in the windstream...... I used the "up" angle." Reminded that most high speed offshore hulls use retractable cleats, Giancarlo, responded: "What does retractable mean?"
Reporters, who were enjoying a breakfast of Eggs Benedict and Champagne, then asked the whereabouts of reclusive scion, Horatio Schwartz. "Mr. Schwartz is indisposed, as he is suffering from a headache that he feels is a direct result of testing prototypes of the new radical Schwartz Aero Helmet (SAH)." said Dr. Spin.
Questions then turned to the whereabouts of Schwartz Press Secretary, Sterling Hyperbole, and his strange yet familiar accent, whereupon the proceedings were halted as a fistfight broke out.
More to follow