[2011] Craig Breedlove Going for 800 MPH Land Speed Record in 2013

Fox News ^ | November 03, 2011 | Chris Weiss

[SunkenCiv]

Lately, all of the absolute land speed record talk that we've been reading about is in relation to the Bloodhound SSC, a beast of a jet/rocket-engined streamliner with visions of 1,200 mph. Right now, though, the record stands at 763 mph...

[SunkenCiv]

(normally the image goes here, but this is Fox)

[Paladin2]

At those speeds contact with the salt is optional.

[umgud]

Breedlove has a long record of breaking records. He was my childhood idol. He is now 76 years old.

[JRandomFreeper]

What is the speed of sound where they intend to run it?

/johnny

[muir_redwoods]

How’d that work out for him? Back in 2013, I mean.

[Jack Black]

Yeah, I question whether it’s really land speed if it’s basically a rocket on wheels. I’m sure some fighter jets go really fast prior to takeoff, too.

Big difference between that and a wheel-driven vehicle in my opinion, which is really the more legitimate version of the land speed record.

All those speeds are crazy, couldn’t imagine even watching them, but would love to.

[Billthedrill]

I think it's about 748 mph at Bonneville. The last record by ThrustSSC was the first supersonic record at 763 mph.

Personally I'd change the rules. You run one way, stop, purchase a sixpack of beer, and then run the other way. Average the time. That's a relevant record. IMHO.

[Paladin2]

If you ain't drivin', its all way too academic.

Do, not watch.

etc.

[Steely Tom]

Breedlove has a long record of breaking records. He was my childhood idol. He is now 76 years old.

I was very into Craig Breedlove too, when he when pushed the Spirit of America to 407 mph in August of 1963. I read about his accomplishment in Popular Science as a third-grader. It was - now that I check the date - one of the last cool things that happened before the Kennedy assassination.

The car used the J-47 jet engine, which at the time was pretty much the hottest engine in the world. Powered the F-104 Starfighter, the B-58 Hustler, and the F-4 Phantom.

Also - I found out later - was the source of the sound of the engine that powered Dr. Quest's (Jonny Quest's dad) private jet airplane.

I hope he survives this one.

[SunkenCiv]

Iconic driver Breedlove keeps low profile in Rio Vista
August 2013
http://www.dailyrepublic.com/news/riovista/iconic-driver-breedlove-keeps-low-profile-in-rio-vista/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Breedlove

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluebird_CN7

[Paladin2]

"You run one way, stop, purchase a sixpack of beer, and then run the other way. Average the time."

I wanted to get one of these that I saw for sale one time to make beer runs under extreme winter conditions, but the misses said "nicht".

[umgud]

I’m 62 years old and was following him in the early 60’s.

[Calvin Locke]

There's a documentary on speed attempts, including the runs that set the 763 mph record.

IIRC, it was British team, the "car" did look like a plane, probably with reverse lift, and the wheels were solid aluminum (-ium...).

[dainbramaged]

He was my childhood idol.
One of mine, too - I met him at a custom car show in Seattle in the mid 60's, got his autograph and his wife's too. She held the women's land speed record at the time. I was 12.

[EandH Dad]

I’m pretty sure the average fighter jet is off the ground at well below 200. As long as some guy is willing to drive something anywhere near 800 mph, I don’t care what he’s driving. I ain’t riding along.

[Billthedrill]

Don't know why that didn't display. It's a Tucker Sno-Cat and I want one too.

These other people are being frivolous, we're being practical. How about the driver has to load up a little girl who says as they close the cockpit, "I wanna go potty" and you gotta get her to the service station before disaster happens? That's data people can use.

[Daffynition]

Steve Fossett’s Land Speed Record Car For Sale

[Paladin2]

“When are we going to git there?”

[Ticonderoga34]

Breedlove has a long record of breaking records. He was my childhood idol. He is now 76 years old.

I remember reading about Breedlove in Sports Illustrated when I was a kid many moons ago. I was wondering how old he was.

In any case, good luck to Mr. Breedlove. I hope he breaks the record.

[Paladin2]

That pic disappeared for me too.

Given my vehicular proclivities, I'd go for the extended Station Wagon model: