Craig Breedlove (born March 23, 1937) was a five-time world land speed record holder. He was the first to reach 400 mi/h, 500 mi/h and 600 mi/h, using turbojet-powered vehicles named "Spirit of America." March 23 is the 82nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (83rd in Leap years). ... 1937 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1970 land speed record being set at Bonneville Salt Flats by Gary Gabelich Land Speed Records 1898-2002 The information below is for self-propelled wheeled vehicles travelling over open ground. ... Spirit of America is the trademarked name used by Craig Breedlove for his land speed record-setting vehicles. ...
During the 1970s, Breedlove raced a rocket dragster powered with a lunar module motor fueled by hydrazine. This article provides extensive lists of events and significant personalities of the 1970s. ... Drag racing is a form of auto racing in which cars attempt to complete a fairly short, straight and level course in the shortest amount of time. ... Hydrazine is a chemical compound with formula N2H4 used as a rocket fuel. ...
In 2000, he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. This article is about the year 2000. ... The International Motorsports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame dedicated to enshrining those who have contributed the most to auto racing either as a driver, owner, developer or engineer. ...
CraigBreedlove (born March 23, 1937) was a five-time world land speed record holder.
Breedlove seemed more concerned about the car than his own well- being Monday after "Spirit of America" caught a jolt of wind, took a sudden right-hand turn at a record speed of 675 miles per hour, tipped on its side and careened a mile-and- a-half off course toward the edge of the dry lake bed.
Bill Breedlove, a cousin and the project's operations manager, said the wind was almost nonexistent five miles away at the top of the track, and the team was taken by surprise by its velocity down the course.
His father, Norman, was a motion picture studio special effects man. Breedlove's mother, Portia, worked at the studios as a dancer, performing with the likes of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
With sponsorship funds from Shell Oil Co. and Goodyear, Breedlove finished his revolutionary new jet-car in 1962 and took it to Bonneville, expecting to break Englishman John Cobb's land speed record of 394 mph in an effort to bring home the record to America for the first time in more than 30 years.
Craig returned to Bonneville with Spirit of America to defend his reputation with a new speed record of his own, at 468 mph.
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