Craig Breedlove – 1937-2023
Five-time world land speed record holder and the first person in history to reach 400mph, 500mph, and 600mph, Craig Breedlove, passed away on April 4, 2023, at the age of 86.
Born in Southern California in 1937, Breedlove had a lifelong passion for speed and engineering which began at a young age. He was infatuated with building and flying model airplanes until he moved onto cars at 13. From there it was all about speed on land, but his original fascination with aerodynamics would play a major part in his quest for speed throughout his life.
Inspired by Britain’s John Cobb*, who after several attempts set the Land Speed Record of 394.19 miles per hour in the Railton Special, Breedlove became highly motivated by John F Kennedy’s famous speech in which he urged his countrymen “Don’t ask what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” He was determined to win back the land speed record for America.
Breedlove’s first record-breaking run came in 1963 when he drove his jet-powered vehicle, Spirit of America, to a top speed of 407 mph. He broke his own record several times, culminating in 1965 when he became the first person to exceed 600 mph, driving his new car, Spirit of America – Sonic 1, to a top speed of 600.601 mph.
Over the course of his career, Breedlove was honored with several accolades, including induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1993. He was a true pioneer of speed and his contributions to the field will never be forgotten.
Craig Breedlove was the speed kings’ speed king, the coolest man on earth.
*John Rhodes Cobb was a British racing driver and land speed record holder. Between 1932 and 1939 he broke all world records for time and distance up to 24 hrs. He set a Land Speed Record in 1939 of 350.20 mph which he raised in 1947 to 394.19 mph. It was finally broken by Craig Breedlove in 1963. He died on Loch Ness in his jet boat ‘Crusader’ at a speed in excess of 200 mph.
