Rugby engineer builds remote-controlled car capable of more than 250mph
Stephen Wallis reached an even higher speed at a later event
A mechanical engineer from Rugby has designed and built a remote-controlled car that clocked 250.67mph at a speed event in North Wales.
Stephen Wallis took eight months to develop his car, named Mach Reaper, before running it at Llanbedr Airfield during a Radio Operated Scale Speed Association event.
According to engineering software company PTC, the speed exceeded the previous Guinness World Record for a remote-controlled car.
A few weeks later, Wallis recorded a higher speed of 256.47mph at an unofficial event.
He is now exploring plans for a car capable of exceeding 300mph.
Wallis developed his engineering skills at companies including Royal Enfield, Triumph Motorcycles and Greenjets.
He used PTC’s cloud-based Onshape design software to create most of Mach Reaper’s 40 components.
Most parts were made using 3D printing or by hand, while aluminium and carbon-fibre components were manufactured externally.
Stephen Wallis said: “At these speeds everything becomes difficult. Aerodynamics, tyres, electronics and reliability must all work together and there have been many iterations along the way to fine tune performance.
“I first used Creo while studying mechanical engineering at Imperial College London in 2002 and have continued to use PTC solutions throughout my career in motorcycle and product development.
“When I started the Mach Reaper project, Onshape gave me the flexibility, accessibility and design capabilities needed to move quickly from concept through to testing and refinement.”
Wallis used simulation tools to test different suspension and wheel designs, helping him refine the car before its speed runs.
The software also allowed him to continue designing while away from home and share files with manufacturers producing parts for the project.
Alongside exploring how to take Mach Reaper beyond 300mph, he is supporting his son Roy’s own remote-controlled car record attempts.
He also shares his engineering work through his YouTube channel, which attracts tens of thousands of regular viewers, according to PTC.