The surface of Haakskeenpan in the Northern Cape Province is made up of soil dominated by clay and silt fraction minerals as well as varying percentages of halite (table salt or sodium chloride). The specific composition of the pan soils as well as the effect of the sodium yields a very flat surface that is for all intents and purposes the same as free water level. In wet conditions the soil particles are dispersed and without any cohesion. Under dry conditions such soils and surfaces are ideal for the setting of land speed records in wheeled vehicles (or “cars" for the more down-to-earth of us!).
In September 2015 the Bloodhound team (UK) will bring the Bloodhound Supersonic Car (SSC) to Haakskeenpan for an attempt at breaking the current land speed record that stands at well over 1200 kph. In September 2016 the same team and car will return to attempt 1000 mph (1609 kph)! While the vehicle is a technological marvel the pan characteristics are less well known. The Haakskeenpan Challenge will focus on the following aspects:
- Description of soil samples from the pan with respect to dispersion and stability effects. Comparison of pan soil with sandy loam soils from Mpumalanga as well as comparison of the effects of Na vs Ca related to dispersion and flocculation.
- Calibrating of a bicycle mounted accelerometer to determine the relative smoothness of a road surface. Calibration to be extrapolated to data generated on Haakskeenpan.
- Integration of data to draw conclusions on the effect of the soils of the pan on the Bloodhound SSC vehicle during its record attempt drive."
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