Official Timing Stand, Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, 1956 / THF126228How Fast Will It Go?
Land speed racing is like a moonshot that never leaves Earth, and it answers the never-ending question, “How fast can it go?” In the quest for the prestige of setting a land speed record, highly specialized cars compete in flat, wide-open, isolated settings, without a lot of fanfare or spectators.
In this section of our new racing exhibit, Driven to Win: Racing in America, you will experience the unique setting that is the Bonneville Salt Flats and feel a touchable material that simulates the area’s salt surface. There are many classes—right up to the ultimate “unlimited” world land speed record—so a diverse assortment of cars turns up at each of these events. Drivers race against the clock, one at a time, to an agreed-upon point and back again. Speed is recorded over a “measured mile” within those runs. Usually, it is the average speed from the out-and-back measured miles that establishes the official record. Vehicles used in this type of racing are innovative in developing their conquest of speed.
1951 Beatty Belly Tank Lakester Land Speed Race Car
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Its exterior bodywork was crafted by Tom Beatty from the auxiliary “belly” fuel tank of a World War II fighter plane. Because of their aerodynamic design, these war-surplus tanks were ideal in shape and size to form the body of a land speed racing car, and many were used for that purpose on California’s dry lakes and Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats. Tom Beatty’s car was fastest in its class at the Bonneville National Speed Trials in 1951, 1952, 1955, 1959, and 1962. At its debut in 1951, a run of 188.284 mph made it the fastest open-wheeled car at the event. In 1955, Beatty set a two-way average of 211.267 mph, and he became the 16th member of Bonneville's 200 mph club. In 1962, using an upgraded driveline, he set what was to be his highest speed record for the car and class—243.438 mph.
1965 Goldenrod Land Speed Race Car
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In November 1965, this sleek car flashed across Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats to break the world land speed record for wheel-driven cars (as opposed to jet or rocket-powered autos). One key to Goldenrod’s success was its long, slim shape, which minimized wind resistance. The other key was the clever engineering that packed four Chrysler Hemi engines—along with the machinery to drive all four wheels—inside its slim shape. Goldenrod’s record of 409.277 mph stood for more than a quarter century, until 1991. Goldenrod’s builders, Bob and Bill Summers, started their own business building custom transmission and driveline parts and became part of Southern California’s automobile culture. This generated a “hot rod economy” with people who built cars and equipment, promoted races, operated tracks, sold equipment and accessories, and wrote about cars and events.
Additional Artifacts
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Beyond the cars, you can see these artifacts related to land speed racing in Driven to Win.
- Racing Helmet Worn by Bob Summers While Winning New Land Speed Record, 1965
- Shirt Made for Bill Summers, Commemorating Land Speed Record Set by Goldenrod, circa 1965
- Hat Worn by Bill Summers, circa 1982
- Racing Suit Worn by Bob Summers While Winning New Land Speed Record, 1965
- Scale Model of Goldenrod Land Speed Record Race Car, 1966
Dig Deeper
Goldenrod Land Speed Race Car, circa 1965 / THF244527
Learn more about land speed racing with these additional resources from The Henry Ford.
- Learn when, how, and why we acquired Tom Beatty’s Belly Tank Lakester.
- Dive deep into the story of the Goldenrod, written as we celebrated its 50th anniversary.
- Find out why the Goldenrod is a national treasure.
- Watch this video to discover how Goldenrod fits into the grand tradition of land speed racing.
- Watch The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation’s segment on the Goldenrod.
- Find out what ties the Goldenrod together with a marine engine and Thomas Edison’s Fort Myers Laboratory in this Connect3 video.
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