Craig Breedlove – the first person to exceed 400, 500, and 600 miles per hour on land – will receive the fourth annual Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum “Spirit of Competition” Award at a dinner at the Museum on Wednesday, October 19th, 2011. Breedlove joins drivers Mario Andretti, Janet Guthrie and John Fitch as a Simeone Museum Award recipient.
“Craig Breedlove represents what you can achieve if you have a clear vision and determination,” commented Fred Simeone, executive director of the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum. “With only a handful of volunteers and a shoestring budget, he was able to accomplish what many others could not. His achievements captured the country’s imagination and made him a household name.”
Beginning in the early 1960s, Breedlove was determined to bring the land speed record back to the United States, which was held by British drivers since the 1930s. On August 5th, 1963, he piloted his Spirit of America jet engine-powered car to a two-way average of over 407 mph on the salt flats of Bonneville in Utah. A year later, he broke through the 500 mph barrier, but destroyed his car in the process, and narrowly escaped serious injury. He returned in 1965 with a new car, the Sonic I, and went 600.601 mph – making him the first person to exceed 400, 500 and 600 mph.
Shortly before exceeding 600 mph in November, 1965, Breedlove set 23 international speed records – including averaging 150 mph for 12 hours – co-driving the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe (CSX2287) that is one of the star displays at the Simeone Museum.
Tickets for the event are $150 for individuals, $275 for a couple and may be purchased by calling (215) 365-7233 or by visiting SimeoneMuseum.org. The Awards dinner starts at 5:30 PM on October 19th.
About Simeone Museum
The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum differs from most other automotive collections in that the cars are used to tell a story: that competition and racing improves the breed. The central theme of the Simeone Foundation collection is “the spirit of competition.”
The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation and encompasses many of the most significant racing sports cars ever built. For more information, visit SimeoneMuseum.org or call (215) 365-7233. The Museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $12 adults, $10 seniors, $8 for students. Children under 8 are admitted free.
[Source: Simeone Foundation]
