Land Speed Legends

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 Freudigers are ...

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 upgraded from illega...

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 time he goth...

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 Thunder Streamliner ...

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 Flats. I also det...

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 & El Mirage 300 M...

THE LEGENDARY RUSS EYRES started racing and modifying motor scooters at a very young age on his family's farm in Iowa before they moved to San Diego in 1953. His interest in land speed racing was ignited when his brother's boss, Lou Bingham, let Russ and his brother help him work on his car he raced at Bonneville.  Eventually he decided to build his own car and raced in various classes. He entered the Bonneville 200 MPH C...

The LEGENDARY CARLOS WHEELDON'S dad introduced him to land speed racing at a young age and as he got older they dreamed of making  plans to visit the Bonneville Salt Flats. When his dad passed away Carlos realized there is no time like the present to go. From the moment he gets to the salt his encounters with people he meets confirms that he is meant to be there. After that first visit he ends up coming back every year, sacraf...

Like most of our guests, THE LEGENDARY DENNIS SULLIVAN  was born with a love of cars and began other types of racing young. But eventually he found himself spectating at a race meet at the Bonneville Salt Flats and was hooked! After volunteering for the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association (USFRA) for several years he decided it was time to try the other side. He bought himself a street roadster and began setting land speed records n...

From Sprint Cars to Indy Cars to Bonneville Mike Nish was a racing machine! His racing career mirrored his life with thrilling ups and devastating downs. But like a legend he overcame! His influence on land speed racing is undeniable. He entered the Bonneville 200 MPH Club and 300 MPH Chapter in 1996 with a speed of 304.700 MPH. He had many records and runs that excelled that speed, including a top speed of 412 MPH! Today we celebr...

THE LEGENDARY HUGH COTHARP first went to Bonneville in 1958. He spectated until 1971 until he began crewing for the Skidmore/Alanson's Studebaker. In 1976 he ran his own car a V4/STR  and set a record at 88MPH. He then went on to crew the Vesco's 444 car and Don Vesco's m/c streamliners. He was also one of the original founders of the USFRA and their treasurer for 38 years. He also owned a car restoration business an...

THE LEGNDARY RON CHRISTENSEN was practically born with an obsession for cars and racing. Growing up in Wendover Utah gave him a unique advantage and access to witness the Golden Days of Bonneville and extensive knowledge of Bonneville and the history of the area around the salt flats. His attention eventually graduated to sports cars which eventually turned into a very successful career in all types of road racing. But the love of ...

THE LEGENDARY CHAD ZUPAN first trip to the Bonneville Salt Flats was when he was seven years old. Although he didn't start land speed racing until later, he kept himself busy with kart, dirt bike and drag racing. In 2001, he started racing at Bonneville in his dad's street roadster and in 2018, Chad finally got his red hat in a G/FMR! Since then, he has been racing a 1963 Harley Sprint 250cc motorcycle. Hang on this is go...

THE LEGENDARY MIKE STRASBURG has been going to the Bonneville Salt Flats since 1969. He gained entry into the Bonneville 200 MPH Club in 1991 driving his family’s BGL with a record of 277 MPH. He gained entry in the 300 MPH Chapter in 2017 setting a record of 344 MPH in AA/BFL class. That was not enough for Mike so he updated his record to 361 MPH the following year. Mike is also of member of the El Mirage 200 MPH Club and did all ...

Here with me is the LEGENDARY LINDSAY STRASBURG. Lindsay's first year at Bonneville was in 1957 when he went out as spectator with his dad and uncles. But when it comes to racing the Strasburgs aren’t spectators. And in1962 they brought out a ‘62 Galaxy running in B/Prod. In 1967 Lindsay began racing and in 1972 he set a
record in a ’71 mustang C/Prod 176 MPH. In 1991 Lindsay got in the Bonneville
200 MPH in 1991 at 22...

Al’s first trip to Bonneville was in 1967 as a crew member on the Mardon, Ohly and Bentley fuel roadster. From 1968 to 1975 he drove and wrenched on the Sadd, Teague and Bentley fuel roadster. In 1970 he qualified for the 200 MPH Club in both A/FR & C/FR. But 200 MPH wasn’t fast enough for Al, and in 1976 he built a B/FBL and in 1981 he set a record with that lakester at 308 MPH. The lakester was
converted into a streamline...

THE LEGENDARY ANITA STRASBURG grew up in Oklahoma and Texas. She grew watching drag racing with her dad Don Pulliman. In the early 200/s She started drag racing and ’86 Chevy truck in the super pro class. She moved on altered’s and eventually moved on to top dragsters pushing speeds of 212 MPH. She made her first trip to Bonneville in 2012 and was hooked! She made her first runs in 2019 when she got here unlimited license. In 2021 ...