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WHEN asked why he does it,
the world’s fastest man on
wheels, 600 mph Craig Breed
love says, “It’s like that urge to
reach out and touch a whirling
sawblade. At Bonneville, or on
asphalt or over vast stretches of
water you can reach out and
touch that blade because no
body’s going to stop you. Es
sentially you have a high speed,
low altitude airplane.”
But when Breedlove approach
es the sound barrier on the Salt
Flats (he hopes to top 700 mph
on his next try at Mach 1) 1928 White Triplex record holder (207.55 mph)
there’s more than a car body and
powerful thrust at work. There
are phenomena that make it all
possible — the aerodynamics as
sociated with high performance
cars and world land speed record
vehicles whose ground hugging
1929 Irving - Napier record holder (231.36 mph)
speed range has often challenged
jet and piston engine aircraft.
Recognition of aerodynamics
is a major step toward improving
upcoming generations of com
petition vehicles in both per
formance and safety. Yet ex
perts agree that automotive 1965 Goldenrod record holder (409.28mph)
X-l Rocket-Powered Dragster Specifications
CLASS: Unlimited Dragster
BODY STYLE: Single-seater, enclosed cockpit,
open wheels
CAR OWNER: Reaction Dynamics, Inc., 6265 B
Northwest Highway, Chicago, Illinois 60631
DRIVER: Charles M. (Chuck) Suba
Engine: liquid mono-propellant rocket, by Reaction
Dynamics, Inc.
Rated power: 2,000 hp at 300 miles per hour
Thrust: 2,500 pounds at full throttle, infinitely vari
able by driver
Engine weight: 56 pounds
Drive: thrust driven, no power through wheels
Throttle: infinitely variable control, spring return
Fuel tank: 9.1 gallon stainless-steel high-pressure Tires: Indianapolis type, 8.80-15
tank Wheels: magnesium, 6.00-15
Empty vehicle weight: 760 pounds Brakes: 4-wheel discs, by H-H Products Company
Gross vehicle weight: 1,020 pounds, includes driver Parachutes: dual 8 feet diameter ribbon parachute;
and fuel single 16 feet diameter emergency ribbon parachute
Chassis: multi-tube with stressed panels, by Reaction
Dynamics, Inc. Maximum acceleration: 2.6 g’s
Body: formed aluminum skin, fiberglass nosepiece Best recorded elapsed time: 5.41 seconds at U. S.
Windshield: 3/16 inch formed plexiglas 30 Drag Strip, Crown Point, Indiana, August
Wheelbase: 120 inches 20, 1967
Track: 54 inches front, 58 inches rear
Suspension: 4-wheel independent with coil-wound Best recorded speed: 257.4 mph. at Oswego Drag
shocks, optionally solid rear Strip, Oswego, Illinois, May 26, 1968
August 1, 1968 21
