RE: Back Sliding/Land Speed Records

[<mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ken, you are right that the American Spirit never made a record run.

I think Frank may have been confused with Craig's LSR run of 407 mph on Aug. 5, 1963, in the Spirit of America, powered by a J-47 jet engine. 

Regarding Internal combustion engine wheel-driven LSR's of that era, on Nov. 15, 1965, Bob Summers drove his "Golden Rod", equipped with (4) Chrysler engines to a wheel-driven LSR @ Bonneville of 409 mph. 

This was the record Breedlove was trying to beat with the American Motors wheel driven streamliner, the "American Spirit". The American Spirit was powered by a modified fuel-injected, supercharged 390. Unfortunately, due to bad weather, both ends of the 10 mile course were under water, so Craig was not able to even challenge the record. 

That same year, in August, the annual Bonneville Speed Week was cancelled by rain. This was the week that the Javelin Speed Spectacular was to take place. The Javelin Speed Spectacular was then moved up to November. Craig drove the fastest of those (3) Javelins to a peak speed of 161 mph in a two-way, one mile run on the salt flats. 

Between runs with the Javelins, Craig made a few runs with the AMX, now powered by the injected, supercharged 390 taken from the American Spirit. This is the AMX, powered by the 390 from the American Spirit, that made the 2-way average speed of 182 for the mile, with a peak speed of 189. The USAC timed and certified each of the 2-way runs Craig drove in the Javelins and the AMX. This was the day Breedlove said he was doing over 200 mph on a one way run, but was not able to back it up with a return run, so it does not count and the speed was never official or certified.  

One of our South Bay AMX Club members, Joe Terrill, owned that same Breedlove Bonneville AMX in the 80's. Joe had been drag racing it, but decided to restore it to its appearance during its Bonneville days. I donated the dash that went in the Breedlove car and an aluminum scoop under the rear window. My co-manager of our South Bay AMX Club, Mike Maher, reworked that scoop, reproduced the decals on the car and rewired the car among other things. The restored Breedlove AMX was then first shown at the CACI San Jose Western Regional Meet, produced by the South Bay AMX Club. Other notable cars at that same show were the Shirley Shahan "Drag On Lady" then owned by Cary Wallace and Ted Robert's Penske Trans-Am Javelin. 

I believe with better weather, Craig could of run a 2-way average of over 200 mph, but as you know, a mud slide at Craigs shop, buried the AMX under mud, and buried any hopes of a return to the salt with that 390 AMX. 

So unfortunately, due to bad weather, mudslides, etc., there is still no certified Land Speed Record of 200 mph or more by an AMC. Over the years I have had the honor of speaking with Craig Breedlove at various car shows. Craig Breedlove has always been a hero of mine, and when I asked him, Craig Breedlove signed the glove box of my 69 BBB 390 4sp AMX with a black sharpie pen. You can see pictures of Craigs signature on my AMX that I posted over at the AMC Forum. Sincerely, Pat   South Bay AMX Club

=============================================================
Posted by wixList Archiver -- http://www.amxfiles.com/wixlist