Land Speed Legends
Conversations with men & women who make land speed racing legendary!
Episodes
He first showed up on the Bonneville Salt Flats at five or six years old and thought it was normal for a family to spend summers chasing world records. That’s the world Brad White grew up in, and it shaped the way he races, builds, and thinks about speed today. We talk with Brad about the White family legacy in land speed racing, the long arc of chasing 400 mph goals, and what it feels like to realize later in life ...
The salt can make you or break you, and Rick White has lived on both sides of that line. From towing a $500 high school Corvette to Bonneville and setting a 151 mph record to piloting the first single-engine car beyond 400 mph, Rick’s journey blends fearless engineering, family grit, and relentless problem-solving. Growing up at Nolan White’s elbow and rooted in land speed racing, He watched his father enter the 200...
A $125 turbo, a rulebook, and a pile of blown parts shouldn’t add up to a Bonneville 200 MPH Club record—unless you’re Ross Powers. We sit down with Ross to chart his path from slow-but-stubborn drag passes on a Harley Sportster to a J-Class Lakester and a one-liter combo that set a 255 MPH record. The story is equal parts grit and guidance: mentors who open doors, a culture that treats records as borrowed trophies,...
The salt doesn’t care about your plans, your budget, or your last name—and that’s exactly why Danny Thompson keeps coming back. From a childhood ban on racing to a 448 mph average in Challenger 2, Danny walks us through the moments that shaped him: motocross grit, off‑road savvy, open‑wheel precision, and the quiet craft of fabrication that keeps fast ideas alive.
We get into the early hooks—Mustangs on the...
The unsung heroes of motorsports often operate just beyond the spotlight, their critical work making high-speed glory possible while ensuring competitors return safely. Monte Widdison stands as a perfect example – the tall, calm presence who's been the last person thousands of racers see before accelerating down Bonneville's Salt Flats.
For over 30 years, Monte has served as head starter for the U...
The episode explores the critical state of the Bonneville Salt Flats, detailing its history, the effects of mining, and the community's fight for its preservation through initiatives like Save the Salt. The Legendary Larry Volk shares insights on the challenges posed by land use and the necessity for collective action to restore the flats for future generations.
• Historical context of potash mining
•...
Ever wondered what it takes to transition from the waves of offshore powerboat racing to the straight-line adrenaline rush of land speed racing? Join us as we chat with Andrew Sinclair, a racing enthusiast from New Zealand, whose narrative is a tapestry woven with the threads of his father's legacy, personal perseverance, and a love for speed. From exhilarating beach buggy rides to powerboat triumphs, Andrew&ap...
What happens when a casual encounter at a bar ignites a lifelong passion for land speed racing and The Bonneville Salt Flats? Meet our legendary guest, Pam Curtis Olson, who transformed from a racing novice to accomplished racer on the Bonneville salt flats. Pam's journey is a tale of bold spirit and unyielding determination, seasoned with humor and the camaraderie of the racing community. Her daring request to...
Join us as Wayne Yurtin, the rising star of Bonneville's land speed racing scene, takes us on a thrilling journey fueled by his lifelong passion for speed and mechanics. From his BMX beginnings to mastering the racetrack with Formula Fords and Formula Mazdas, Wayne's story is one of relentless pursuit and love for racing. His early fascination with speed legends like the Blue Flame and Gary Gablich sowed t...
What ignites a lifelong passion for speed? Let's journey back to the late 1950s and early 1960s, where a 1940 Ford coupe sparked an unquenchable thirst for racing. From joining the Roadrunner's Car Club to the electrifying moment of witnessing Mickey Thompson's streamliner at Bonneville in 1959, we explore the early days of land speed racing. Hear about the camaraderie and the challenges faced during ...
Tim Confal began his racing career with a '69 Camaro in the San Fernando Valley in the late 70's which evolved to drag racing a fuel altered. While drag racing, he met Roger Gate and Bill Ward and started crewing on their streamliner at El Mirage and the Bonneville Salt Flats. Tim ended up running his own car, the memorable front engine Lakester named Myrtle.
Tim entered the Bonneville 200 MPH Cl...
THE LEGENDARY LARRY ERICKSON is a passionate automotive enthusiast who first found himself at the Bonneville Salt Flats during a college break. Alone at Speed Week with just a sleeping bag in his El Camino, he began sketching the impressive vehicles he encountered. His artistic talents didn't go unnoticed, sparking connections with fellow racers and enthusiasts, and leading to him designing some iconic Speed We...
THE LEGENDARY DANNY BURROW is just a good old boy from the heartland who happens to go really fast! He went from driving trucks for George Poteet to driving George's Blown Fuel Comp Coup "The Blowfish" over 300 MPH! Danny gained memebership in the Bonneville 200 MPH Club in 2010 and later on earned the 300 MPH Chapter blue hat. Danny is probably the only LAND SPEED LEGEND to get a street named after t...
THE LEGENDARY WILLIE FREUDIGER made his first trip to Bonneville with his dad when he was 11 years old. Now, one of the few 3rd generational racers the Freudiger name is a well established and respected land speed racing name. Willie is wild, loves nitro and is the go to guy if you need someone to drive your ride. But most of all, he is a man who wants to see others succeed in land speed racing. Willie and the other...
THE LEGENDARY DAVE DAVIDSON is probably best known for being the first person to go 300 MPH in a roadster! Going 300 MPH in a highboy is as impressive as Dave is. Dave grew up wild and free on a ranch in California. He wanted a motorcycle when he was young but his mother would not allow it so instead he began small town drag racing (at a much too young age) and his need for speed never stopped from there! Dave upgr...
THE LEGENDARY FRANK SILVA'S first trip to the Bonneville Salt Flats was with his dad when he was seventeen years old. That year they came out as spectators but it didn't last long and within a few years they were wrenching and racing the Got Salt Lakester. Frank's dad, Frank Sr., took six years to get a record in that car but it only took the junior Frank one! Unfortunely, his dad had passed away by ...
THE LEGENDARY SCOTT GUTHRIE first took his Harley motorcycle to the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1973. He was hooked after setting a record and getting to experience the spirit of land speed racing through fellow racers. He came back the following year with great success. He had even more success when he switched to a Yamaha that he brought out in 1984. Scott teamed up with THE LEGENDARY JIM BURKDOLL and his Pink Thun...
Thirty one episodes and one year later from the very first episode of Land Speed Legends my niece, Megan Volk, interviews me THE LEGENDARY ALLISON VOLK DEAN. That seems weird to write about myself but like I tell all my guests, in land speed racing, everyone is a legend in their own mind! In this episode of Land Speed Legends I talk about what it was like growing up in land speed racing out at the Bonneville Salt F...
The legendary Fred Dannenfelzer has the classic story of SoCal hot rodder turned drag racer turned land speed racer. His first trip to Bonneville with a car was in 1961 with a high boy roadster before he upgraded to a modified roadster. But his need for speed was not satisfied so he built a lakester with his eyes set on a 300 MPH record. He accomplished his goal and is a handful of people in both the Bonnevile &...
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