29 replies to this topic

[Tim Murray]

The first person to reach both 500 and 600 mph on land.


Edit: possibly dodgy link removed.

[Richard Jenkins]

I'm not saying it's not true, but that's a bot site with popups etc which can harm PC's.
Hopefully something will come along to confirm or deny accordingly.

[john winfield]

That's sad - he seemed a real character.

 

The 1964 Shell Successes booklet was part of my childhood and, as well as drooling over the Grand Prix and sports Ferraris, I learned about Breedlove and Spirit of America. The pictures of his near fatal accident, when all chutes failed after his 526mph run, are still with me. He nearly drowned! But he always seemed cheerful, waving and smiling.

And I liked the fact that his wife Lee borrowed the family car to set her own world records.

 

RIP

Edited by john winfield, 05 April 2023 - 11:42.

[B Squared]

A name that has always been present in my life. We raced in Soap Box Derby against the Arfons family, so more of an Art Arfons/Green Monster fan, but much admiration for Breedlove and his accomplishments. The record-setting Spirit of America resided in the IMS Museum for a while,,,total respect for the man. RIP

 

Edited by B Squared, 05 April 2023 - 11:17.

[Zoe]

Him and Art Arfons dueling for the LSR, makes a good reading every time. 

 

RIP and God speed!

[Tim Murray]

I'm not saying it's not true, but that's a bot site with popups etc which can harm PC's.

Thanks Richard, link removed.

[Collombin]

The first person to reach both 500 and 600 mph on land.

I always thought he was the first to 400 too, is that not so?

[Afterburner]

Oh that sucks.  Godspeed.

[10kDA]

Wow, another huge hero of my youth gone. Craig Breedlove most certainly did it his way. R.I.P. Craig, an all-time Great.

 

 

http://www.samuelhaw...breedlove1.html

 

https://www.hemmings...hav-glick-award

 

https://www.gregwapl...-breedlove.html

 

https://www.dailyrep...e-in-rio-vista/

Edited by 10kDA, 06 April 2023 - 00:22.

[Dave Ware]

Another American icon. His crew called him “Brave Speedlove.” (Based on what I read.)

[Tom Glowacki]

My Google search, and a quick look at the reputable racing magazines sites failed to turn up any articles relating to his death.  We have a Mark Twain situation here.

[Bob Riebe]

If we think the internet is less than honest today, just wait until AI gets going.

They want to call it artificial intelligence because that sounds more head-line getting than advanced computer ( I got that from a computer expert/developer on a talking head TV show recently) but all it is , is a programmed computer whose failing depend on those who program it.

[DogEarred]

One of the all time greats gone, I’m sorry to say.

And there appear to be few trying to follow in his footsteps with viable projects since the Bloodhound project was aborted.

Shame - would love to see a new attempt at the LSR.

[E1pix]

I think we were all hoping for it to have been a rumor, and the indications of another future attempt was one I really wanted to see.

And “they” say salt is bad for you.

Race in Peace.

[absinthedude]

Damn. A real character and seemed to be one of the good guys. 

[paulsenna1]

https://www.caranddr...d-speed-record/

[Tim Murray]

Another reliable source:

https://www.autoweek...mph-dies-at-86/

[Henk Vasmel]

I recently heard the Beach Boys song "Spirit of America" in the car, and it's now ringing in my head.

[Geoff E]

I always thought he was the first to 400 too, is that not so?

 

John Cobb did 402 mph in one of his 1947 runs. 

[10kDA]

John Cobb did 402 mph in one of his 1947 runs. 

The published FIA and FIM record speed is an average of speeds reached on two runs over the same course in opposite directions. Breedlove set the first 400+ mph record.

[B Squared]

I thought this may be of interest:

 

Craig Breedlove and Spirit of America - 1964 crash! - YouTube

[10kDA]

A name that has always been present in my life. We raced in Soap Box Derby against the Arfons family, so more of an Art Arfons/Green Monster fan, but much admiration for Breedlove and his accomplishments. The record-setting Spirit of America resided in the IMS Museum for a while,,,total respect for the man. RIP

 

 

B - did you know about Breedlove's brief connection with Lindsey Hopkins? Apparently there was some kind of push, whether self-generated or sponsor-generated (or some other source) to get visibility for Craig in the Indy 500. Lindsey Hopkins had a tentative arrangement for Craig to try an Indy car and a possible dirt race leading up to Indy. Craig had seen the 1964 fatal crash at Indy and then when Bobby Marshman was killed, Craig decided Indy cars were not in his future. I think there's a reference to this episode in one of the links I posted earlier.

[B Squared]

I hadn't heard of the Breedlove/Hopkins connection until reading your post. This after research on Bobby Marshman, and in turn Hopkins, since the late 1990s and culminating 20 years later with Michael Argetsinger's "An American Racer: Bobby Marshman and the Indianapolis 500" publishing in 2019. I read every Indianapolis newspaper from 1959 to 1966 looking for all things Marshman (after 1964 for crash investigation and firesuit development) in helping Michael's research. Specialty magazines, National Speed Sport News, numerous Eastern Pennsylvania and Florida newspapers were also read in-depth and this is the first I've heard of this connection. Thanks.

[10kDA]

I hadn't heard of the Breedlove/Hopkins connection until reading your post. This after research on Bobby Marshman, and in turn Hopkins, since the late 1990s and culminating 20 years later with Michael Argetsinger's "An American Racer: Bobby Marshman and the Indianapolis 500" publishing in 2019. I read every Indianapolis newspaper from 1959 to 1966 looking for all things Marshman (after 1964 for crash investigation and firesuit development) in helping Michael's research. Specialty magazines, National Speed Sport News, numerous Eastern Pennsylvania and Florida newspapers were also read in-depth and this is the first I've heard of this connection. Thanks.

Breedlove mentions it here:

 

https://www.motorspo...raig-breedlove/

[Collombin]

"Bobby crashed testing Hopkins' turbocharged (sic) Ford (sic) car in Texas (sic)".

[B Squared]

“Yeah, I had done a deal with this guy called Lindsey Hopkins who was running a driver called Bobby Marshman. The idea was that I was going to drive the number two car at the Indy 500 in 1965 and that Bobby would tutor me on driving these cars. My first race was going to be at Sacramento on the mile dirt track but a week before Bobby crashed testing Hopkins’ turbocharged Ford car in Texas. He was really badly burned and died from his injuries. Lindsey withdrew from racing so that was that."

 

These two statements are false; I don't think Michael or I missed out on anything in Bobby's story.

[10kDA]

Thanks for clarifying.

[B Squared]

Thanks for clarifying.

I'm also skeptical because of Craig's Shell contract and Hopkins' Pure contract. I believe the 1965 Hopkins Lola ran with Ashland fuel.

[10kDA]

I'm also skeptical because of Craig's Shell contract and Hopkins' Pure contract. I believe the 1965 Hopkins Lola ran with Ashland fuel.

I thought about the conflicting fuel contracts but Goodyear's involvement with Champ Cars in 1964 made it seem plausible. They featured Breedlove and the SoA in plenty of marketing materials around that time frame. Didn't Lindsey Hopkins try Goodyears in practice?

[B Squared]

 Didn't Lindsey Hopkins try Goodyears in practice?

Many were testing Goodyears at that time, Bobby/Hopkins among them, but used Firestones on racedays. 

 

This famous photo is from late October 1964. It was published in the Oct. 31 Indianapolis Star. With Bobby, manning the sign, is Jim Thiese, the manager of Firestone's development program. Bobby had eclipsed his own (un-official) IMS track record of 161.4 that he'd set on Oct. 15. Bob had his accident approximately one month later, it appears that Firestone was still the primary choice for the Hopkins team.

 

a well-remembered Foyt over 200-mph on Goodyears ad - he used Firestones at Indy

https://www.ebay.com/itm/301999483190