Craig Breedlove
Driver
Craig Breedlove (1937-2023) was an American professional race car driver and a five-time world land speed record holder. He was the first person in history to reach 500 mph, and 600 mph, using several turbojet-powered vehicles, all named Spirit of America.
Craig Breedlove was put on the payroll at American Motors Corporation (AMC) in 1968 to prepare the automaker's pony and high-performance cars, the Javelin and the AMX, for speed and endurance records.
Subject ID: 21541
MoreCraig Breedlove (1937-2023) was an American professional race car driver and a five-time world land speed record holder. He was the first person in history to reach 500 mph, and 600 mph, using several turbojet-powered vehicles, all named Spirit of America.
Craig Breedlove was put on the payroll at American Motors Corporation (AMC) in 1968 to prepare the automaker's pony and high-performance cars, the Javelin and the AMX, for speed and endurance records.
In January 1968, one month before the official introduction of the AMX model, Breedlove, his wife Lee, and Ron Dykes, established fourteen United States Automobile Club (USAC) and Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) certified speed records for cars of any engine size, and 106 national and international speed and endurance records for cars with less than 488 cu. in.
Two cars were prepared for the endurance speed runs on a five-mile banked track. They shattered records included a Class C AMX (the No. 2 Lee Breedlove car) with the standard 290 cu. in. AMC V8 engine (bored to 304 cubic inches) with 4-speed manual transmission, achieving a 24-hour average of 140.79 mph that was set by Craig and his wife Lee. New records in a Class B AMX (the No. 1 Craig Breedlove car) using the optional 390 cu. in."AMX" V8 (397 cubic inches) with a 3-speed automatic transmission, that included a 75-mile distance with a flying start at 174.295 m.p.h., as well as a 173.044 m.p.h. over a 100-mile distance from a standing start.
After the cars were displayed at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1968, Breedlove took the AMX to Bonneville. He established a USAC sanctioned record of 189 m.p.h. as well as an unofficial run of over 200 m.p.h.
Later in the year, American Motors entered three similarly equipped Javelins with 343 cu. in. AMC V8 engines featuring Edelbrock cross-ram intake manifolds and special cylinder heads, in the C/Production class at Bonneville. During November 1968, the "Speed Spectacular Javelin" run by Breedlove was fastest, reaching 161.73 m.p.h., establishing a speed record that stood for a number of years.
Subject ID: 21541
Subject ID: 21541
