King Rose Archives | Major Speed at 1949 San Diego Roadster Club First Bonneville Speed Meet @KingRoseArchives | Uploaded July 2023 | Updated October 2024, 5 hours ago.
The San Diego Roadster Club (SDRC) was founded in 1941 by eight like-minded individuals who wanted to run their roadsters at flatout speeds on the dry lakes in Southern California and the salt flats at Bonneville. Originally called the San Diego Roadster Association, the name was changed to the "San Diego Roadster Club" in 1942 because the club's mission was to promote land speed racing for all types of vehicles, and be more inclusive of all types of cars, not just roadsters.
The first SDRC Bonneville Speed Meet was held September 16-17, 1949. There were 15 vehicles and drivers that participated in the meet. Roadsters weren't the only vehicles that raced; also there were streamliners, motorcycles, and trucks. Some of the drivers who competed included Jack and Hank Osborne each driving their "Osborne Special," Bill Smith driving his "Yellow Jacket," Dick Green in his "Green Monster," George White driving his "White Wing," Ed Iskenderian in his "Iskenderian Special," and Ken Miles in his "Miles Special." Although there were many records set that day, the fastest speed of the meet was set by Jack Osborne who clocked in at 173.925 miles per hour in his "Osborne Special." The SDRC's first Bonneville Speed Meet was a major event in the history of land speed racing. The meet helped establish the SDRC as a premiere land speed racing club, and it helped put Bonneville Salt Flats on the map as one of the world's premiere land speed racing venues.
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Ref: S462
The San Diego Roadster Club (SDRC) was founded in 1941 by eight like-minded individuals who wanted to run their roadsters at flatout speeds on the dry lakes in Southern California and the salt flats at Bonneville. Originally called the San Diego Roadster Association, the name was changed to the "San Diego Roadster Club" in 1942 because the club's mission was to promote land speed racing for all types of vehicles, and be more inclusive of all types of cars, not just roadsters.
The first SDRC Bonneville Speed Meet was held September 16-17, 1949. There were 15 vehicles and drivers that participated in the meet. Roadsters weren't the only vehicles that raced; also there were streamliners, motorcycles, and trucks. Some of the drivers who competed included Jack and Hank Osborne each driving their "Osborne Special," Bill Smith driving his "Yellow Jacket," Dick Green in his "Green Monster," George White driving his "White Wing," Ed Iskenderian in his "Iskenderian Special," and Ken Miles in his "Miles Special." Although there were many records set that day, the fastest speed of the meet was set by Jack Osborne who clocked in at 173.925 miles per hour in his "Osborne Special." The SDRC's first Bonneville Speed Meet was a major event in the history of land speed racing. The meet helped establish the SDRC as a premiere land speed racing club, and it helped put Bonneville Salt Flats on the map as one of the world's premiere land speed racing venues.
For availability and licensing inquiries, please contact:
globalimageworks.com/contact
Ref: S462
