MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
It's for my old man's birthday. Anything to do with the Bonneville salt flats and land speed records is what I'm looking for but I'm not having any luck.
There was a documentry on BBC but it's not available.
There was apparently a film called "One second from eternity: The history of the land speed record" (1971) but I've had no joy in finding that either.
Can anyone help me track down anything to do with Art Arfons?
Many thanks
Couple of things linked below
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Worlds-Fastest-Motorcycles-Bonneville-Stood/dp/0979689112
http://www.landspeedracingvideo.com/?
http://www.americanjetcars.com/aarfon.html
I remember him because of the green monster.
The most famous "Green Monster" was powered by an F-104 Starfighter General Electric J79 17,500 lbf static thrust jet engine with four-stage afterburner, which Arfons purchased from a scrap dealer for $600 and rebuilt himself, over the objections of General Electric and the government, and despite all manuals for the engine being classified top secret.
The engine was scrapped because of damage caused by injesting a bolt. Art removed 60 blades out of approximately 1000 in the engine, removing broken blades and ones at 180 degrees, or the pair at 120 degrees to maintain balance. He tested it by tying it to trees in his garden, a procedure which drew complaints from his neighbors.
Try this one
http://www.pbs.org/pov/filmarchive.php?season=1999&sort=title
it looks like the film 'The Green Monster' may be available
I've seen footage of the 'garden test'. Amazing!
It's a shame there's not more like him left...
The Green Monster looks like it could be the one - thanks for the link - I'm going to contact them tomorrow.
Excellent! My pops will be well chuffed!