Record Breaking

Directed by Rodney Jacobs, narrated by Sam Posey, and released by Freewheelin' Films (https://freewheelinfilms.net/), "Record Breaking" shows legendary race car driver and multi-Indianapolis 500 champion A.J. Foyt's attempt to break the closed course record.
In West Texas, A.J. Foyt and a team of engineers from Oldsmobile prepared two highly modified cars for this effort. Built around the Quad 4 engine, these cars represented years of planning, testing, and engineering innovation. The Aerotech Project included both short-tail and long-tail versions, with the long-tail car achieving over 275 mph on its first test run. AJ initially missed the Flying Mile record due to handling and fuel issues, but the next day set a new world record averaging 267 mph. Finally, on August 27, 1987, the short-tail Aerotech exceeded the existing closed-course record at over 257 mph, marking the culmination of years of meticulous work and high-speed experimentation. Note: Oldsmobile Aerotech was a series of three experimental high-speed vehicles built between 1987 and 1992, with the first two created to demonstrate the potential of Oldsmobile's new Quad 4 engine design. Oldsmobile also used the Aerotech name on two unrelated concept cars in 1989. The Quad 4 engines in the Oldsmobile Aerotechs were purpose-built and turbocharged, and meant to showcase the design's capability. They were different from the production Quad 4s, which nevertheless were the first domestic regular production DOHC four-cylinder engines wholly designed and built by GM.




0:00 – The desert of West Texas is vast and sparsely populated, with cattle and oil derricks scattered across the landscape.
0:33 – A.J. Foyt, engineers, safety crews, and two modified cars arrive to attempt a world closed-course speed record.
1:00 – The streamlined cars were built for speed, with highly modified four-cylinder engines, after years of planning and testing.
1:20 – The Quad 4 engine project by Oldsmobile began in 1984, aiming to balance performance and fuel efficiency.
2:03 – The Aerotech car was designed to explore the high-speed potential of the Quad 4 engine.
2:25 – Record-breaking is solitary, with the car’s engine sound conveying its performance.
2:59 – Engines are described as alive, needing careful tuning to perform at high speeds.
3:26 – Aerotech approaches the existing record, but further engine and aerodynamic work is needed.
4:11 – A.J. collaborates with engineers, working on both short-tail and long-tail versions of Aerotech.
4:43 – The long-tail car’s first test run achieves over 275 mph for a flying mile, surprising the team.
5:31 – The Flying Mile record requires two runs, upwind and downwind, averaged within an hour.
6:17 – A.J. initially fails the return run due to handling and fuel issues, missing the record narrowly.
7:01 – The next day, A.J. sets a new Flying Mile world record, averaging 267 mph.
7:22 – The short-tail car is prepared for the closed-course record attempt, culminating three years of work.
7:56 – Drivers must maintain focus and precision, aware of extreme risks at high speeds.
8:25 – Aerotech exceeds previous closed-course records, reaching over 257 mph.
8:47 – The team celebrates the achievement while acknowledging there is more work and experimentation to come.