|
||
|
How Breedlove got into the record books in the first place is a classic tale of innovation and determination that parallels the lives of many inventors and adventurers. Like pilot Jimmy Doolittle, Breedlove was a California kid who built his first vehicle as a teenager. Like Walt Disney, he had a vision. After winning some drag races, "I became convinced that we could build a car that would capture the unlimited record for the measured mile," he wrote. "After all, we lacked only money." Like Henry Ford, he put together a team. "Some friends and I began making design studies. We changed our ideas half a dozen times and finally came up with a basic three-wheel concept that looked good."
Breedlove started building the car in his backyard, and financed it himself. Like many inventors before him, he soon realized he needed a sponsor with money and talent. Breedlove approached Bill Lawler, a regional marketing manager for Shell Oil Co. "Shell had not been active in the racing business in the U.S., but I was enthusiastic and Bill believed me. Together we sold the idea to his management," wrote Breedlove.
With Shell's backing, Breedlove and his team tested the design, first in a wind tunnel and then in the real world. "[Team member] Rod Shapel ran more than 100 wind-tunnel tests to determine things like the shape of the nose. If wrongly designed, the nose could acquire lift and raise the front end off the ground at high speed," Breedlove told readers. Nonetheless, they took it to the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1962 for trial runs, but handling problems derailed their attempts at beating the record.
In spite of this setback, the team went home and methodically solved each problem. Breedlove was well aware that even with a perfectly tuned vehicle, the risks were high. But a bullish young Breedlove was confident that his turn had come. "What were my chances of setting a new record? They seemed excellent."
Breedlove plans to reclaim the record soon with a run of 800 miles per hour in his new snazzy good looking Spirit of America 3.
Date of Birth: 3/23/1937 Find on Amazon: Craig Breedlove
|
||
|
The Bluebird-Electric story 1991-2005 Copyright © 2005 Bluebird Electric Racing Limited and Electrick Publications. CONTACT
US The bird logo |
