THE WILDEST RIDE

foreign the busiest month in the history of the land speed record the big record changes hands faster in a few days than it has in decades as jet propelled cars hit speeds that piston engines could never turn on October 2nd Walt arfon's Wingfoot Express breaks Craig breedlove's Euro record of 407 miles per hour only to lose it three days later to his brother art [Music] but joy at Bonneville can be short-lived within a week Craig Breedlove will arrive to challenge the new mark [Music] it's Tuesday October 13th Craig and spirit of America have been making test runs since Sunday morning since last year's record-breaking runs the configuration of spirits nose and nose fin have been modified to improve stability and control and instrumentation cameras have been mounted in the tail fin and the right wheel bearing yesterday on his sixth run Craig won 452.94 miles per hour his fastest run to date over 18 miles faster than the green Monster's current record of 434.02 however on the return run rough salt between the three and four mile markers caused Spirit to become airborne and Craig aborted the run before entering the traps but that was yesterday and today Craig is confident he will regain the land speed record 9 43 A.M this is his eighth run [Applause] this run is a disappointment to Craig that section of course at the three mile Mark is still very rough despite last night's extensive drag work also the speed 442.59 is 10 miles under yesterday's best run but it's still faster than art arfon's 434 record the smooth efficiency of spirits crew brings the turnaround time down to less than 25 minutes the tires are inspected for damage pressure checked for 250 pounds the drag shoot is carefully repacked beside its mate they are spirit's main breaking force coming out of the flying mile the Thirsty jet engine gulps about 35 gallons of high energy jet fuel during each run the car is ready few sack timers have cleared the course and now it's up to Craig [Music] [Music] foreign Spirit hits the rough salt Craig is battered about the cockpit so much that his helmet cracks the canopy it's a new record 468.72 on this run Spirit turned 498.13 for the flying mile USAC chief steward Joe Petrelli has the official times and also brings the news that the unofficial speed at the end of the mile was 507.47 Craig is now very close to putting the record over 500. [Music] while spirit is checked over and the canopy repaired Craig's concern is with the condition of the course once that 500 Mile record [Music] timing stand timing stand go ahead top end the engine started give us a clearance okay South End stand by it's 8 16 Thursday morning Craig has not slept well he says he dreamed of being killed did you get a reading yeah I got it the canopy is on track is clear okay roll it when you're ready [Laughter] she is moving she's on his way he's a lot of course they're looking good he's okay can you pick him up station two here he comes he's passing forward looking good he's coming into the mile he's in the mile he's in the kill he's out of the killer out of the mile six if you've got him here he comes I see a smoke Trail [Music] the shoots out he's okay slowing down now [Music] shirt looks good [Music] lucking now he's stopping canopies off climbing out we got a Time okay now then hang on a minute we'll give you the time the word from the timers is that Spirit has turned 513.33 in the mile and 519.49 in the kilometer by increasing his power setting for the return run Craig knows that he is Within Reach of an over 500 mile an hour record what he doesn't know is that this is going to be the wildest ride of his life he's on cars looking good here he comes past the eight and really standing on it he's looking good he's roaring he's coming into the mile he's really moving he's out of the mile I see a smoke Trail something came off of the car he lost his shoot he lost his shoot and he's going too fast for his brakes to hold he's out of control come on down he's approaching the two man he's really moving pass the two he's out of control he's coming he's blowing right along he's really pouring it on here he comes uh right now [Music] Teddy's rolling [Music] down here [Music] a miracle and a historical reunion await the crew you could probably missed the time on that voice [Music] all right well for my next trick [Laughter] I'll send myself oh my God I put my shoot out after I cleared the mile well first year I planted I didn't you know just it just break the shreds it felt good to a ribbon and then I hit yeah I waited for a while try to hit the brakes and the brakes just wouldn't go I just I'm jumping the brakes all the way down nothing no breaks at all and then you know I hit my other shoot and nothing happened and I didn't have any I just took that steering I turned it clear around like this and it finally started rain coming around yeah I know I hit the phone with your right pin or what I just saw that Pokemon I just went just like that in the seat and I hit the pole and I had I got I thought I had it when I hit the floor I saw that telephone pole coming I said oh and I went like that scared of my teeth grabbing my teeth in that pole just seared off like nothing you know and I thought oh my another chance oh [Music] that's out there down there I just wanted to do there about 30 feet in here now I'm gonna drown I can't be off and trying to get my building I couldn't get my mask off and the water was filling up like this is not gonna drown next run over here baby hi everybody how you doing I broke my Razor it was fast enough his record 526.28 miles per hour Craig Breedlove is the first man to officially drive over 500 miles an hour on wheels as also he was the first man to set a Bonneville record of over 400 miles an hour his second and almost disastrous run today became a 539.89 runaway from which he incredibly escaped unharmed with this sobering thought in mind Craig and his crew returned to the course at a very safe 10 miles an hour [Music] foreign [Music] what's next for Craig Breedlove now that the 500 Mile barrier has been passed is the sound barrier too far away perhaps Craig will return to Bonneville to meet the challenge [Music] through me [Applause] [Music] foreign foreign [Music]