Craig Breedlove - The Spirit of America

From the old Speed Channel documentary series "Behind the Headlights". A look back at the former Land Speed Record holder Craig Breedlove and the evolution of his "Spirit of America" vehicles.

[@seanhagerty3562]

As kids, a close friend of mine and I closely watched the challenge between Craig Breedlove's The Spirit of America and Art Arfon's Green Monster. It doesn't seem that long ago that my friend Bill and I would look at car and science magazines to understand how these two individuals designed the vehicles that would eventually establish incredible speed records. Thank you, Mr. Craig Breedlove, wherever you may be, for making us think beyond boundaries.

[@daweshorizon]

God bless Craig. I only found out that he had died in April by following this channel. He lived the life, a total genius and inspirational human being. Thank you Craig. As always, love and peace.

[@kevinmcmanis7335]

Make a movie about his life!!! A true Hero!

[@cliffords2315]

im shocked thiere hasnt been one, there was one about the fastest Motorcycle but not Car And Craig was an American Hero.

[@tommccallan8802]

​@@cliffords2315just the Beach Boys, gave him a song..

[@michaelmartinez1345]

The amount of courage it took to not only drive this fast, but to undertake such a project is remarkable! Hats-off to all of the LSR teams who compete, especially in the unlimited class. The executives at Goodyear and Shell Oil and many other companies made wise decisions in sponsoring teams like these... What better way to sell their products - than to sponsor heroic teams like these! This is what the Spirit of America represented back then. The Spirit of those who will take the opportunity and chance to go where nobody has gone before... Pure COURAGE !!!

[@QESPINCETI]

I miss Craig. During the late 80's Craig was my next door neighbor near a boat harbor next to Silverstrand Beach. He was busy with his yacht and during that time he was trying to procure a J79 jet engine from the US Navy. I had a Honda Hurricaine 1000 and he was interested in a Kawasaki. It is very difficult to believe that he's passed away as he was a very strong man mentally and physically. Craig --- a wonderful, Brilliant, Gentleman.... and much much more.

[@jospi2]

Stop with the lies, he's not dead.

[@alexandrahappy2649]

@Joseph Mooney He isn't dead.

[@BruceLee-zd9bw]

A very good fantasy story, however, Craig is fit and well, so your story does not fool everyone....

[@byronleatham1183]

I've been watching Craig love since I was a little kid now I'm 67 years old trying to figure out how to put an old Harley-Davidson motorcycle on the salt so I can join the 200 mph club been a dream of mine my entire life thank you for the inspiration Craig breedloveyou weren't true American hero in my eyes

[@davedear929]

What a man. I've followed the LSR since the early 60s . Still do . 3 monstrous records 3 beautiful cars. He was my hero and still is . A true legend. I bet he wishes he was 40 yrs old again. Wow.

[@billhouse8585]

I remember this event like it was yesterday. Being a kid who loved cars it was great watching the record swap hands back and forth wondering who would be the first to break the speed of sound.

[@cliffords2315]

He was mine and many of my freinds Hero as a kid, i think i was as excited about Craig Breedloves Jet Racer than i was about the first NASA Space flights.........man it was a great memory

[@turbo5488]

I looked up to Craig Breedlove, but not because we have the same last name he is still breaking records, and he is a remarkable man, and for his accomplishments he did at Bonneville Salt Flats and he a gentleman on and off the track an outstanding guy

[@robertlyman2278]

ABSOLUTE LEGEND!!!!!👍👍👍👍

[@kenbrohere]

R.I.P. legend.

[@LOCKnLOAD122]

R.I.P Craig Breedlove

[@bulletproofguy5112]

I’m not even American I’m British, but I love this guy... Respect.

[@rambler6891]

You guys had some good ones too, right back at ya!👍

[@troynov1965]

RIP Mr. Breedlove .......Godspeed

[@stockamx]

Craig Breedlove hooking up with American Motors! Exciting times!

[@rogercurtiss3768]

2:00 in "John Glenn became the first man to orbit the Earth". Not true. Glenn was the 1st American to orbit and the 3rd man in orbit.

[@skunkbucket9408]

Gherman Titov did 17 orbits in his flight before Glenn launched, but does Gagarin's single trip around the earth technically qualify as being "in orbit"? Probably close enough, I would guess.

[@rogercurtiss3768]

@@skunkbucket9408 It certainly does. Gagarin's spacecraft was not on a ballistic trajectory- had it's orbital speed not been reduced it would have remained in orbit until said speed was slowed by atmospheric drag (a slight but real force even at orbital heights of 200+ miles)

[@mrrolandlawrence]

it would be nice to see craig get out there before bloodhound 1000mph gets going!

[@racer774]

Roland Lawrence - Indeed it would but he's 84 years young.

[@martinsoublette95]

Last april 4th, Craig Breedlove passed away at the age of 86.😢

[@ezrahgorden6202]

Craig Breedlove is my great uncle. Speed runs in my blood but sadly not my bank account. So if anyone wants to fund my endeavors I would love to beat his record 😂🙏

[@moonytheloony6516]

Someone from the U.S. needs to take back that Land Speed record for crissakes. I don’t want to hear the reasons or excuses of why we aren’t or can’t do it. It just needs to be done...period. We used to have the tallest buildings, well, not any more. We had the Land Speed Record...well, that’s gone to. Seems like we lost our edge a bit in these endeavors, and it’s getting ridiculous. Frankly, it’s inexcusable. Time to kick things up a notch and break some records with fast cars and tall buildings for cryin’ out loud.

[@qasimmir7117]

It would be great for us Brits to compete against the Americans once again. Sadly, I think the reason no one in America is seriously contending the record is because nobody there cares anymore. It's a shame.

[@freddymarcel-marcum6831]

@@qasimmir7117 Some of us do buddy, we'll see what the future holds.

[@TheDeJureTour]

Yup.... been 50 years since we captured the record, and 50 years since Apollo. Sad.

[@channelone4655]

Well... Get on with it then. I don't want to hear the reasons or excuses for why you aren't or can't do it. Just get it done.

[@cliffords2315]

We had some Great HEROS in the early 60s, Craig Breedlove, John F Kennedy, Alan Shehard, Scott Carpenter, Gordo Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grisom, Not to mention the sports guys, Willie Mayes, Sandy Cofax, Willie McCovee, Mickey Mantle, i could go on But AMERICA WAS AT ITS PEAK!! Early 1960s the best of times., Men were Real Men, Women were Real Women! the Best

[@JC-gw3yo]

Craig Breedlove, like Carol Shelby, another American hero...

[@bulletproofguy5112]

Shelby used British cars to begin with. And Breedlove used a Britush speed record for his goal.

[@Gump1Gump2]

Thrust SSC has entered the chat at 763 mph 🇬🇧 🏆

[@tommccallan8802]

Craig Breedlove during the Watts Riots had to stay outside the garage protect the car from being damaged

[@goldenretriever6440]

They should have had the initials SOA (Spirit Of America) on a muscle car if they hadn’t already Cuz that’s awesome

[@sherrigaskin5656]

Looks like a ground based F-4 Phantom.

[@ericmatteson7844]

2:15 Gagarin was the first man to orbit the Earth. Everyone knows that, even my American cousins.

[@1HippieChick]

I was in a airplane hanger or?? like that when they were working on the first Spirit of America, and they started that thing up and man was that loud, and I'd heard many loud cars because my dad built many, including the spirit cars. even though I was only about 8-9 years old. I just remember a huge whoooosh. Just like a jet. Per the plan.

[@WilliamPayneNZ]

Who was your father?

[@janetgeuy8815]

He lived down the street from me when I was a kid. We woke up every morning to the sound of jet engines at 6 am

[@megunded]

juri gargarin was the first to orbit the earth , not john glenn

[@ShadowOppsRC]

Actually there was another Russian before gaugarin. He crashed in China and to avoid embarrassment they kept it secret!

[@joevald3]

I would love to know what Craig Breedlove thanks to what happened to Jesse Combs

[@sanfranciscobay]

28:14 What type of airplane is in the background?

[@planpitz4190]

It is a Beechcraft Bonanza , the early model with the V shaped tail . It was called the MD killer because many doctors crashed while flying these overestimating their flying skills, for instance in bad weather.

[@gpdude22]

@@planpitz4190 Same type of plane that Buddy Holly died in.

[@josephbevacqua9217]

Do you have the 1997 indy 500 time trials?

[@HODIUSDUDE]

I don't believe so. I was moving around a lot between 1995 and 1999, so there are lots of gaps in my collection during that period. I will check.

[@tommccallan8802]

What's special about 1997 time trials? Just curious 🤔

[@evilbeetlekustomscreations4965]

You sir are the shit mr. Breedlove the True Underdog or a Phoenix Rising From the Ashes I was nowhere near I thought in my daddy's mind when you did this shit and it still hits me and my soul to see the soul you had passion! Now it for you rice burners out there could just put your Mufflers on and quit pretending you're fast and go fast!!!! No disrespect I'm a Volkswagen air-cooled baby! Doesn't matter your passion!

[@GKASEY1424]

He had no money he had no sponsors all he had was ambition...

[@evilbeetlekustomscreations4965]

Shake &bake!

[@Chris-ey6rn]

evil beetle slingshot engaged

[@ShadowOppsRC]

I need some more " shake n bake!"

[@cageordie]

Wow! Just skip the British guy who took Gary Gabelich's record! The guy who's team has held it since 1983! You show Richard Noble's Thrust 2 but while talking about Gary Gabelich who held it for 13 years with Blue Flame. After him Richard Noble drove Thrust 2 and held the record for 14 years. Then Andy Green took the record in 1997 and has held it for 22 years with Richard Noble's ThrustSSC. Now Richard Noble's team has built Bloodhound which Andy Green is going to run soon. No wonder Americans are ignorant and parochial when their media does such a poor job.

[@benperkins9237]

Trike?

[@tommccallan8802]

Car...there have been 3 wheel cars , identified as cars years before spirit of America 🇺🇸

[@sofalugger]

Don Trump. . GIVE HIM THE MONEY!!!

[@FinkNZRat]

Was thing a program about a car or a party political broadcast. I couldn't watch it.

[@tomlunn5332]

Until the record came back too England where it belongs thrust ssc was a different animal

[@tommccallan8802]

Yep evolution of speed

[@daweshorizon]

Craig Breedlove, a living legend. A brave man, an engineering genius, but also a really nice guy! I just love the land speed record story, Craig has been such a big part of that human endeavour and achieved so many 'firsts'. Thank you for sharing this story. Love and peace.

[@DailyDrivenBikes_1]

Art arfons survived the fastest recorded crash at around 615 mph.

[@paulpatton5093]

Thank you for this fantastic documentary!

[@raymondsenchyna1533]

You can't ever stop the need for Speed..ime 77years old and ime Still a racer...there's no escape.. Only..........

[@ianjones4071]

Outstanding video, new very little about landspeed world thank you ,cheers

[@RobertB56]

What guts these guys had

[@groomlake51]

2:42 talk about innovation ahead of time...! Look at his head restraint. Rolling a car over 300 mph would Be a neck breaker

[@CChallinor]

I am a huge fan of LSR cars and drivers, Craig is a true gentleman

[@iphuqdyrmum]

I tnink this dude just got killed

[@tommccallan8802]

Died of natural causes not killed