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19th January 2011, 19:23 #1
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Craig Breedlove, Art Arfons and others
Hi everybody. I’m writing to pass along some information that Motorsports forum members might find interesting. Since my book “Speed Duel” was published last October (it’s about the quest for the land speed record in the 1960s, especially the rivalry between Craig Breedlove and Art Arfons) I’ve been thinking about all the material I collected while doing research that I wasn’t able to use, transcribed interviews and photos and other things. I’ve therefore decided to do something about it: On a new website I’m putting together I’ve included an LSR section. Go to http://www.samelhawley.com and click on the “Land Speed Record” button on the left. So far I've uploaded interiews and photos relating to Spirit of America, Green Monster, Wingfoot Express, City of Salt Lake, Flying Caduceus, Challenger and Bluebird. There will be more to follow—notably more Spirit and Green Monster photos, plus a section on the Infinity racer driven by Glenn Leasher.
All the best,
Sam Hawley
- Likes: Stan Reid (15th February 2017)
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19th January 2011, 19:45 #2
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Originally Posted by samhawley
You could call it -- Speed Duel, Addendum.
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10th January 2016, 01:55 #3
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Does anyone remember a twin jet engined LSR car that was being built in the early to mid 1960s? There was a photo of it in a magazine (Hot Rod perhaps) without any bodywork. As I recall, the assigned driver was Bob Knapp. I can't find anything on the internet about the car and wonder what happened to the project.
This is my opinion and to the best of my knowledge, that is, if I'm not joking
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10th January 2016, 05:38 #4
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Herda-Knapp Milodon?
https://news.google.com/newspapers?n...,5426148&hl=en
- The Deseret News, 24th Aug, 1967
326.853mph ??
That is this car:
The Herda #999 Streamliner.
http://www.albertleatribune.com/2011/04/bonneville-bob/
Among those photos is one of Knapp with the four other young men that made up Herda-Knapp Milodon, a land-speed racing team that made history on a hot November day in 1967. At the cost of a transmission, drivetrains and multiple engines, Knapp and his crew drove a single-engine car a world-record 357 mph — a record that stood for just over 20 years.
- The Albert Lea Tribune, 26th Apr 2011
In 1967, the LSR stood at 600.601mph by Craig Breedlove's Spirit of America - Sonic 1.Last edited by Rollo; 10th January 2016 at 05:43.
The Old Republic was a stupidly run organisation which deserved to be taken over. All Hail Palpatine!
- Likes: Stan Reid (15th February 2017)
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10th January 2016, 14:01 #5
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Hi Rollo:
That is almost certainly the same Bob Knapp but that's not the car. The magazine photo showed Bob sitting in the framwork of the car where the driver's seat was going to be, flanked by two jet engines in a layout somewhat like Thrust SSC. I assume the car was not completed due to financial shortcomings. The only possible reference I can find is on "Arie Bras' List of LSR Models" and all it says is "Bob Knapp Special ??-??-1962"-no picture.This is my opinion and to the best of my knowledge, that is, if I'm not joking
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11th January 2016, 19:40 #6
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Sam,
Have you considered donating any surplus material to the International Motor Racing Research Center at Watkins Glen for their library?Duncan Rollo
The more you learn, the more you realise how little you know.
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12th February 2017, 16:40 #7
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Stan
I remember when my dad was building that car in our garage. He had 2 J-47 engines. A friend was killed going fast and he scrapped the car and made some movable flower planter boxes for my mom.
Robert Knapp jr
- Likes: Stan Reid (13th February 2017)
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12th February 2017, 20:49 #8
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WOW Rob-thanks for that information. Whenever I brought this project up to people, they would look at me like I was having some kind of delusion. And yes, I was pretty sure the engines were J-47s. Maybe your dad should have gotten some royalties from Thrust SSC I contacted Sam Hawley, who wrote a book about "jet war" era LSR cars and who started this thread, and he had not heard of your dad's project either. Assuming his email is still up, I'll pass your information along. THANKS AGAIN!
Last edited by Stan Reid; 12th February 2017 at 23:44.
This is my opinion and to the best of my knowledge, that is, if I'm not joking
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12th February 2017, 23:58 #9
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I believe there were a total of 14 (15?) fully built LSR cars that made official timed runs at Bonneville in the "Jet War" era of the early to mid 1960s.
3 for Art Arfons-Anteater, Cyclops and Green Monster
2 for Craig Breedlove-Spirit of America and Spirit of America: Sonic I
And one each for nine drivers
Donald Campbell-Bluebird CN7
Mickey Thompson-Challenger I
Athol Graham-City of Salt Lake
Tom Green-Wingfoot Express
Bob Tatroe-Wingfoot Express II
Ermie Immerso-Thunderbird IV
Glen Leasher-Infinity
Bob Summers-Goldenrod
Nathan Ostich-Flying Caduceus
There was also Bill Frederick-Valkyrie I which was completed but doesn't seem to have made any official timed runs at Bonneville even though present. I did see a report that indicates Gary Gabelich got the car up to 356 mph but I'm not sure if this is true.
Are there any others?Last edited by Stan Reid; 15th February 2017 at 14:05.
This is my opinion and to the best of my knowledge, that is, if I'm not joking
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