Athletes - Craig Breedlove

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	Athletes - Craig Breedlove

Craig Breedlove (born March 23, 1937) was a five-time world land speed record holder. He was the first to reach 400 mi/h, 500 mi/h and 600 mi/h, using turbojet-powered vehicles named "Spirit of America."

After a lengthy break from world records and making his name as a dealing with real estates, Breedlove began work on a new Spirit in 1992, eventually named the Spirit of America Formula Shell LSRV. The vehicle is 538 in (13.7 m) long, 100 in (2.5 m) wide, 70 in (1.8 m) high and weighs 9,000 lb (4 t), construction is on a steel tube frame with an aluminium skin body. The engine is the same as in the second Spirit - a GE J79, but it is modified to burn unleaded gasoline and generates a maximum thrust of 22,650 lbf (100.8 kN).

The first run of the vehicle in October 28, 1996 in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada ended in a crash at around 675 mph (1,000 km/h). Returning in 1997 the vehicle badly damaged the engine on an early run and when the British ThrustSSC managed over 700 mph (1100 km/h) the re-engined Spirit could do no better than 676 mph (1088 km/h). Breedlove believes the vehicle is capable of exceeding 800 mph (1,200 km/h), but has yet to demonstrate this.

In 2000, he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and still has no signs of giving in.

Records

September 5th, 1963 - Breedlove reached 408.312 mph (657.114 km/h) in the Spirit of America at Bonneville Salt Flats, thus making him the holder of the land speed record in 1963.

October 13th, 1964 - Breedlove reached 468.719 mph (754.330 km/h) in the Spirit of America Sonic 1 at Bonneville Salt Flats, reclaiming the land speed record from Art Arfons.

October 15th, 1964 - Just two days later, Breedlove beat his own record and breached the 500mi/h barrier at 526.277 mph (846.861 km/h), still driving the Spirit of America Sonic 1 at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah.

November 2nd, 1965 - Breedlove reached 555.485 mph (893.966 km/h) in the Spirit of America Sonic 1 at Bonneville Salt Flats, yet again reclaiming the land speed record from Art Arfons.

November 15th, 1965 - Thirteen days later, in order to compete with Arfons, Breedlove breached the 600mi/h barrier at 600.842 mph (966.961 km/h) in the Spirit of America Sonic 1 at Bonneville Salt Flats.

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Athletes - Craig Breedlove

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