Craig Breedlove

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Spirit of America on exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago

An ad promoting Breedlove shattering speed records in a production AMC AMX

Craig Breedlove (born March 23, 1937) was a five-time world land speed record holder. He was the first to reach 400 mph, 500 mph, and 600 mph, using several turbojet-powered vehicles that were all named "Spirit of America".

After a lengthy break from world records and making his name as a dealing with real estate, Breedlove began work on a new Spirit in 1992, eventually named the Spirit of America Formula Shell LSRV. The vehicle is 538 in (13.7 m) long, 100 in (2.5 m) wide, 70 in (1.8 m) high and weighs 9,000 lb (4 t), construction is on a steel tube frame with an aluminium skin body. The engine is the same as in the second Spirit - a GE J79, but it is modified to burn unleaded gasoline and generates a maximum thrust of 22,650 lbf (100.8 kN).

The first run of the vehicle in October 28, 1996 in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada ended in a crash at around 675 mph (1,000 km/h). Returning in 1997 the vehicle badly damaged the engine on an early run and when the British ThrustSSC managed over 700 mph (1100 km/h) the re-engined Spirit could do no better than 676 mph (1088 km/h). Breedlove believes the vehicle is capable of exceeding 800 mph (1,200 km/h), but has yet to demonstrate this.

In late 2006 it has been announced^[1] that Breedlove has sold the car to Steve Fossett who will be making an attempt on the land speed record in 2007, marking the end of an era of land speed record breaking.

1 Awards
2 Records
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Awards

He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1993.

In 2000, he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and still has no signs of giving in.

[edit] Records

August 5th, 1963	Breedlove reached 407.45 mph (655.58 km/h) in the Spirit of America at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, thus making him the holder of the land speed record.
October 13th, 1964	Breedlove reached 468.719 mph (754.330 km/h) in the Spirit of America Sonic 1 at Bonneville Salt Flats, reclaiming the land speed record from Art Arfons.
October 15th, 1964	Just two days later, Breedlove beat his own record and breached the 500 mph barrier at 526.277 mph (846.861 km/h), still driving the Spirit of America Sonic 1 at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah.
November 2nd, 1965	Breedlove reached 555.485 mph (893.966 km/h) in the Spirit of America Sonic 1 at Bonneville Salt Flats, yet again reclaiming the land speed record from Art Arfons.
November 15th, 1965	Thirteen days later, in order to compete with Arfons, Breedlove breached the 600 mph barrier at 600.842 mph (966.961 km/h) in the Spirit of America Sonic 1 at Bonneville Salt Flats.