Full press release:

Quantum-Jesse James Team Shatters the Land Speed World Record for a Hydrogen Powered Vehicle

IRVINE, California, June 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:QTWW) today announced that its advanced gaseous fuel injectors, fuel metering components, lightweight fuel storage system and powertrain engineering expertise successfully supported Jesse James in shattering the land speed record for a hydrogen powered vehicle. On June 16, 2009, Jesse James clocked 199.712 mph in the hydrogen 'Streamliner' at El Mirage Dry Lake Bed in the Mojave Desert, to beat the world record holder, the BMW H2R, which had attained 186 mph in Germany. This historic event will be shown as the season one finale of "Jesse James Is A Dead Man" premiering on Sunday, August 9 (10:00 PM, ET/PT) on Spike TV.

"Jessie James approached Quantum for our world-class expertise in hydrogen and advanced powertrain engineering," explained Alan P. Niedzwiecki, the President and CEO of Quantum. "This, I honestly believe, is world-changing," Jesse James said of the emissions-free race car. "We can't rely on gasoline forever. I'm paying it forward."

Jesse James' record setting run was supported by 24 Quantum hydrogen injectors that fuelled an 8-cylinder engine that was optimized to yield 704 HP. Quantum's patented fuel injector has been designed, tested and validated specifically for precision fuel metering and durable service with cleaner burning, dry gaseous fuels such as hydrogen and natural gas. With several years of R&D, Quantum's gaseous fuel injectors are featured in Ford's hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles and Prius and Escape hydrogen hybrid electric vehicles developed by Quantum.

The record-breaking Streamliner was fitted with 3 ultra-light weight, advanced carbon-fiber composite, polymer-lined 5000 psi Quantum hydrogen storage cylinders to help with vehicle performance and drivability. Quantum has supplied some of the lightest hydrogen cylinders in the world for weight-critical automotive and aerospace applications. Quantum has developed industry-leading 3600 psi natural gas on-board storage cylinders, and 5,000 and 10,000 psi hydrogen storage cylinders and related valves and pressure management systems.

The initial development of Jesse James' Streamliner was performed at Quantum's Advanced Vehicle Concepts Center in Lake Forest California. This facility is equipped with all disciplines and capabilities to take advanced powertrains and vehicles including hybrids, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen, and natural gas vehicles, from concept to production. Over the past decade, Quantum's expert team has developed and built 20,000 natural gas vehicles, 2,000 hydrogen and hybrid systems and vehicles, as an OEM, and also in partnerships with world's leading auto makers. Quantum has designed advanced hybrid electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and powertrains for the US Army, and for Fisker Automotive, for the award winning Fisker KARMA, a luxury plug-in-hybrid car that was introduced at the Detroit International Auto Show in January, 2008.

So the New York Times, in the midst of all of this fallin' sky hullaballoo about the state of the American auto industry, took time out to talk to a number of people within and peripheral to the auto industry about what America's manufacturers can do to get back on their feet. Jesse James talks about the superiority of Japanese and Germany vehicles, and then busts out with this: "Society's changing. Look, I'm a biker with tattoos, but I drive a Mercedes Smart Car and I would drive a hydrogen-powered one." How much you wanna bet Jesse's got a Gixxer motor in there? [Thanks to Brendon for the tip.]

Putting the Motor City Back in Gear [New York Times]

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If you're a Southern California type looking for something a little more wild, wooly and "Woo hah! Got you all in check!" this weekend than the straight-line action of the California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, the kids out at Irwindale Speedway have you covered. West Coast Choppers, Pick Your Part and Cisco Burger are sponsoring a $10k purse in a one-hour figure-8 enduro which should make body panels fly and heads spin. And yes, yer man Jesse James will be competing. [Thanks to Bumbeck for the tip.]

Irwindale Speedway

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