The Jalopy Journal

**Ryan** · 01-18-2008, 09:01 AM

It all started in the late 1950's as US Air Force and Navy jet engines hit the surplus market. Guys like Art Arfons, Walt Arfons, and Craig Breedlove jumped at the opportuni...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

SteveLines · 01-18-2008, 09:33 AM

Another great blog!

Was the Infinity jet car really German?!

As an aside, does anybody know if Athol Graham's ill-fated Allison-powered LSR challenger has been rebuilt yet? I think it is still owned by his family and is fairly complete. I think it claimed at least two lives - you'd have to be brave to drive it!

Yo Baby · 01-18-2008, 09:40 AM

Breedloves Spirit of America has got to one of if not indeed,the most beautiful vehicle to ever grace that hallowed ground know as Bonneville.
That Kraut Box leaves a bit to be desired in the aesthetics dept.LOL
Strapping on a jet car and riding it would have to be pretty damn fun.

daddy-o63 · 01-18-2008, 10:00 AM

the 60s .gotta love it.my favorite era.wild innovations and styles.great blog

the-rodster · 01-18-2008, 10:05 AM

My two heros growing up..

Evel Knievel and Craig Breedlove

Rich

the-rodster · 01-18-2008, 10:12 AM

A thought.

Steve Fosset has been declared dead.

What does that mean for the Spirit of America?

The HAMB could buy it

Let's take the record back from those tea sipping pansies...

Rich

Rand Man · 01-18-2008, 10:23 AM

I saw an old jet drag car for sale on the net the other day. It would be pretty sweet to fire one up.

von Dyck · 01-18-2008, 10:38 AM

Hard to make tires smoke on jet car! Yesterday's post was "right on".

RoadDevil13 · 01-18-2008, 10:41 AM

I was fortunate enough to live one house in front of Craig Breedloves parents when I was a kid....

JohnnyFast · 01-18-2008, 10:54 AM

This is the jet car I drove in '67 and '68. Photo scanned from the cover of American Rodding magazine.

the-rodster · 01-18-2008, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyFast

This is the jet car I drove in '67 and '68. Photo scanned from the cover of American Rodding magazine.

Yowser!

Pure luck that you're not taking a dirt nap right now.

Rich

SteveLines · 01-18-2008, 11:14 AM

"Let's take the record back from those tea sipping pansies..."?!

Hey, it took you guys around 15 years to take the LSR from John Cobb, and he enjoyed tea as much as any true Englishman!!!

GassersGarage · 01-18-2008, 11:30 AM

Remember when Craig Breedlove lost his chute and brakes? Ended up in a salt lake. Jet car tore through phone poles, snapping them like twigs. Oh man, what a ride.....................

llonning · 01-18-2008, 11:44 AM

This one just brought on a flashback!!!!! A buddy of mine one day says come look in the garage. Inside was a 65-66 Mustang fastback. Looked under the hood and no engine or trans, just a bunch of flat aluminum sheets. He says look at the rear axle. I'll be damned if there wasn't a jet engine hooked up to the axle. Never did see or hear it run. I heard that it would smoke the tires all the way down the quarter. I haven't seen or heard of it since. That would have been a wild ride, to say the least.

fiat128 · 01-18-2008, 11:51 AM

Can someone post some more info on the German Infinity car? I never heard of that one.

When I was a kid, I always remember the fastest car as The Blue Flame, 622 MPH. I think that record stood for quite a long time didn't it?

Brad S. · 01-18-2008, 11:51 AM

The Steve Fossett Team is still active and are looking for a driver. Not that "this" has anything to do with the article but i thought it was interesting nonetheless.

From Autoblog...

Single-engine jet-powered dragster seeking female companion for thrilling adventure across salt flats. Petite build. Background in motorsports or aviation. With sponsors. Interested parties please contact Eric Ahlstrom (eahlstrom@pyramid.net), program manager, Steve Fossett World Land Speed Racing Team.

Prop Strike · 01-18-2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GassersGarage

Remember when Craig Breedlove lost his chute and brakes? Ended up in a salt lake. Jet car tore through phone poles, snapping them like twigs. Oh man, what a ride.....................

I've always heard that when the team and race officials, etc showed up expecting to find Breedlove dead, he quipped "For my next trick I will burst into flames." Or something to that effect. Seems like I also saw that in Cole Coonce's Infinity Over Zero but I can't look it up since it's on loan to my sister.
Been in love with the assault on the absolute LSR since I was a kid. I really wish these battles still went on. If I were president, we'd be shooting for Mach 2 on the ground.

MichaelDorman · 01-18-2008, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveLines

Another great blog!

Was the Infinity jet car really German?!

Naw,I don't think so, it was built in Oakland.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiat128

Can someone post some more info on the German Infinity car? I never heard of that one.

here ya' go Fiat128

http://www.ugofadini.com/omicron10story.html

Prop Strike · 01-18-2008, 11:56 AM

Aren't most of the absolute attempts made at Blackrock on hard packed dry lakebed instead of salt?

JohnnyFast · 01-18-2008, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the-rodster

Yowser!

Pure luck that you're not taking a dirt nap right now.

Rich

Yessir....it tried to bite me a couple of times.

01-18-2008, 09:01 AM	#1
Ryan Administrator Join Date: Jan 1995 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 13,623	The Early Jet Cars It all started in the late 1950's as US Air Force and Navy jet engines hit the surplus market. Guys like Art Arfons, Walt Arfons, and Craig Breedlove jumped at the opportuni... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

01-18-2008, 09:33 AM	#2
SteveLines Newbie Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: England Posts: 82	Re: The Early Jet Cars Another great blog! Was the Infinity jet car really German?! As an aside, does anybody know if Athol Graham's ill-fated Allison-powered LSR challenger has been rebuilt yet? I think it is still owned by his family and is fairly complete. I think it claimed at least two lives - you'd have to be brave to drive it!

01-18-2008, 09:40 AM	#3
Yo Baby Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southern Ok. Posts: 2,857	Re: The Early Jet Cars Breedloves Spirit of America has got to one of if not indeed,the most beautiful vehicle to ever grace that hallowed ground know as Bonneville. That Kraut Box leaves a bit to be desired in the aesthetics dept.LOL Strapping on a jet car and riding it would have to be pretty damn fun. __________________ The heart is a mysterious organ that plays by it's own set of rules. In Vino Veritas

01-18-2008, 10:00 AM	#4
daddy-o63 Grenade Inspector Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: abbotsford bc canada Posts: 227	Re: The Early Jet Cars the 60s .gotta love it.my favorite era.wild innovations and styles.great blog

01-18-2008, 10:05 AM	#5
the-rodster Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Glasgow, KY Posts: 4,742	Re: The Early Jet Cars My two heros growing up.. Evel Knievel and Craig Breedlove Rich __________________ *A good friend will bail you out of jail. A true friend will be next to you saying, Damn that was fun*

01-18-2008, 10:12 AM	#6
the-rodster Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Glasgow, KY Posts: 4,742	Re: The Early Jet Cars A thought. Steve Fosset has been declared dead. What does that mean for the Spirit of America? The HAMB could buy it Let's take the record back from those tea sipping pansies... Rich __________________ *A good friend will bail you out of jail. A true friend will be next to you saying, Damn that was fun*

01-18-2008, 10:23 AM	#7
Rand Man Old School HAMBer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Rogers, Arkansas Posts: 2,624	Re: The Early Jet Cars I saw an old jet drag car for sale on the net the other day. It would be pretty sweet to fire one up. __________________ She's wearin' new colors and runnin' pretty good I got four hundred horses tucked under the hood.

01-18-2008, 10:38 AM	#8
von Dyck Grenade Inspector Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Saskachewan, Canada Posts: 373	Re: The Early Jet Cars Hard to make tires smoke on jet car! Yesterday's post was "right on".

01-18-2008, 10:41 AM	#9
RoadDevil13 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Henderson,NV Posts: 1,819	Re: The Early Jet Cars I was fortunate enough to live one house in front of Craig Breedloves parents when I was a kid.... __________________ Road Devils CC- Nomad http://www.roaddevils.com http://www.dreamsoflegends.com

01-18-2008, 10:54 AM	#10
JohnnyFast Member Emeritus Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Duluth, MN (Hey, Al....where's that global warming ?) Posts: 3,276	Re: The Early Jet Cars This is the jet car I drove in '67 and '68. Photo scanned from the cover of American Rodding magazine. Attached Thumbnails __________________ JohnnyFast (aka SJFast) Fenders ? We don't need no stinking fenders !!

01-18-2008, 11:14 AM	#12
SteveLines Newbie Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: England Posts: 82	Re: The Early Jet Cars "Let's take the record back from those tea sipping pansies..."?! Hey, it took you guys around 15 years to take the LSR from John Cobb, and he enjoyed tea as much as any true Englishman!!!

01-18-2008, 11:30 AM	#13
GassersGarage Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Torrance, Ca Posts: 4,466	Re: The Early Jet Cars Remember when Craig Breedlove lost his chute and brakes? Ended up in a salt lake. Jet car tore through phone poles, snapping them like twigs. Oh man, what a ride.....................

01-18-2008, 11:44 AM	#14
llonning Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Gig Harbor, Wa Posts: 623	Re: The Early Jet Cars This one just brought on a flashback!!!!! A buddy of mine one day says come look in the garage. Inside was a 65-66 Mustang fastback. Looked under the hood and no engine or trans, just a bunch of flat aluminum sheets. He says look at the rear axle. I'll be damned if there wasn't a jet engine hooked up to the axle. Never did see or hear it run. I heard that it would smoke the tires all the way down the quarter. I haven't seen or heard of it since. That would have been a wild ride, to say the least.

01-18-2008, 11:51 AM	#15
fiat128 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 1,431	Re: The Early Jet Cars Can someone post some more info on the German Infinity car? I never heard of that one. When I was a kid, I always remember the fastest car as The Blue Flame, 622 MPH. I think that record stood for quite a long time didn't it? __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

01-18-2008, 11:51 AM	#16
Brad S. Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 1,311	Re: The Early Jet Cars The Steve Fossett Team is still active and are looking for a driver. Not that "this" has anything to do with the article but i thought it was interesting nonetheless. From Autoblog... Single-engine jet-powered dragster seeking female companion for thrilling adventure across salt flats. Petite build. Background in motorsports or aviation. With sponsors. Interested parties please contact Eric Ahlstrom (eahlstrom@pyramid.net), program manager, Steve Fossett World Land Speed Racing Team. __________________ Search BLACKSIX31 on Youtube for event related videos! Link to Model A Scans by HAMB'er "deuceguy"

01-18-2008, 11:56 AM	#19
Prop Strike Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Slackerville Posts: 652	Re: The Early Jet Cars Aren't most of the absolute attempts made at Blackrock on hard packed dry lakebed instead of salt? __________________ And that's how I got my eye patch

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