Henry Ford. Land Speed Record: flying-mile Sanctioning body: AAA Date: January 12, 1904 Driver: Henry Ford Car: The Red Devil 999 Speed: 91.37 mph Location: Lake St. Clair Engine: four-cylinder, 1,155.3 cubic inches Why? This conversation: Henry Ford: She almost burned-up. Harold Wills: Needs a better carburetor. Ford: Let's go after the record. We got up to sixty. She can top seventy seven miles an hour on a straight track. Otto Barthel: [Barney] Oldfield might need more practice. Ford: I'll race her...and get the world's record! Wills: That fire spitting is no good. You'll kill yourself, and the valves need work. Ford: We need a straight track. Barthel: Down on that side of the lake, we can clear the ice. The fishers ain't there. Ford: All right! Get the world's record!
Yep, that short haired guy. I grew up waiting to read about his next high speed endeavor. Don Vesco rates pretty high in my book after I watched him wait on the line at Bonneville in 1998 until the clocks were moved from the short track and then crank a 400+ run.
Anyone who's actually driven it on the clock; because I haven't and REALLY want to. I respect everyone of those who take on what's involved. Vance
Rollie Free for this picture that has inspired me everytime I look at it. Glenn Curtiss for having the balls to ride a V8 airplane engine with two wheels in 1907 and for inventing the handlebar throttle. Burt Monro after leaning about his heart and determination. Mickey Thompson for using 4 Pontiac engines. Ray in CT
who? The guys I grew up with in the early/mid 60s Dr. Nathan Ostich in the Flying Caduceus Athol Graham in the City of Salt Lake Spl. Craig Breedlove in the Spirit of America Art Arfons in the Green Monster Walt Arfons in the Wingfoot Express Mickey Thompson in the wheel driven Challenger I the Summers Bros. in the wheel driven Goldenrod why? Because this was the last great era of mano-a-mano top level land speed competition with the ultimate hot rods built by mechanics and fabricators in garages and shops, not by engineers and scientists in laboratories and wind tunnels.
Mickey Thompson, Al Teague, George Bentley.......TONS of them Oh and Tom Senter because I lived 3 doors down from him and would go to his place and be the annoying kid that would watch him build his Ardun every year for the Salt.......I still keep in touch with his kids RIP Tom
Peek Bros with their gorgeous blue A roadster inthe late 60s. Sponsored by Kenz and Leslie. Their car was one of the first I saw as a kid on the cover of one of his old Hot Rod mags that I still have. made a heck of an impression on a lil dude.
Anyone who has strapped his (or her) arse into a vehicle and tore across the salt. Yes there are big names that stand out but it takes all the little guys as well. Doc.
Kent Fuller, Mike Bishop, and Gene Winfield, because they are still living life at full throttle. We all know the big names, but these guys are in their sixties, seventies, and eighties and still living the dream. Looking forward.
I second all the names that have been mentioned, but Al Teague would have to be the top for me. I saw him skate George Bently's 29 throught the 5 mile at 268. Scared the hell out of all of us standing there, but "Elwin" got out as cool as a cucumber and wanted to know how soon they could make the return pass. Then, in his moms garage, he single handedly engineered, and built his 439 mph 'liner, mostly on his own nickle. Burke Lesage introduced me to Al about 12 years ago at a car show where SCTA had a display of LSR cars. Al had the liner there, and I after looking inside the cockpit, I mentioned that he must not be claustrophobic. He said "it's roomy once you slide in, try it"! He actually let me set in it, and closed the canopy. While it wasn't as cramped as it looked, I could not imagine being strapped in with that huge fuel burning hemi right behind my head. Al teague has a huge heart, and the nads to match!
I have to go with Al. Really fast and really a good guy. Went out of his way to make a new guy feel at home 30 odd years ago. Yeah Burklands, Kugel and so on. Lots of my heros out there. Can't forget Dave Dozier. I could go on for pages. Markleys. Where do I stop? Wouldn't be much of a list with out John, Don, and Rick Vesco. Two more who have done so much for the association Mike Cook and Elmo Gillett.
I wonder how many folks here had even heard of Burt Munroe before they made "The Movie". I guess my favorites would have to be Breedlove, and the Afrons. Seems like they were swapping records every week "back when". But you can't short change Mickey Thompson, Al Teague, the Summers brothers,........ there's no end to the list. Larry T
Craig Breedlove... When he ran it off course, clipped a few telephone poles and ended up in a lake...his first words, when they got to him, were how fast did I go! Arfons, Mickey and Breedlove. They were my hero's. I liked it better when they had drive shafts instead of afterburners but they are all super cool to me.
never been to the dry lakes, but a drag racing bud from the old days was a member of the 200 mile club. van prothero. his 67 camero held a ,b ,c & d production records. totally a home grown effort.he drove many big buck racers crazy cuzz he would beat them. also jim stevens , i think last i herd he still races his NHRA 29 pu ford [ b/sr] at the dry lakes with a flathead motor in it.
I would have to say Gary Gabelich. Gary and I went to High School together and remained friends until his untimely death in 1983. He set the land speed record in 1970 at 622.407 MPH driving the "Blue Flame." He was also a test astronaut during the race for the moon and an accomplished drag racer as well. I feel fortunate to have known him. May he rest in peace.
622.407 - I had a poster of The Blue Flame on my wall as a kid, woke up every morning and that was the first thing I saw, 622.407 mph Breedlove, M/T...they all make my list........ Al in CT
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