At this point we don’t think it’s even disputable to call the Speed Demon the greatest land speed car ever built, right? This thing is been doing, out doing, and then out out doing itself for nearly a decade now. The machine showed up on the salt in 2011 and that year ran some 426mph. They have used small block engines, LS engines, and this year they are running a 555ci Chevy big block with two turbochargers and on Wednesday August 12, 2020 the car ran a terminal speed of 477mph and then this morning it ran 481.576! It is the fastest piston driven car in history and we don’t think that the Poteet and Main team are near done yet.
The fact that this car has always done things with single engines and it has done them with a kind of style and panache that set them apart from the rest of the land speed racing set makes this special. Thundering monsters like Danny Thompson’s Challenger II and Project 555 are glorious beasts that use blunt force trauma and raw guts to seemingly defy the laws of physics. The Speed Demon doesn’t.
Of course it uses incredible amounts of horsepower and that comes from the fertile mind and talented hands of Kenny Dutweiller, the engine builder who has had a dramatically awesome impact on very form of racing he has ever been involved in. Then there’s guys like Shane Tecklenberg who tune on the car, and a gaggle of other highly talented wrenchmen, brains, and braun to make it all happen.
The all-out assault on the AA/Blown Fuel Streamliner record which had stood for nearly 20 years has left it a smoking ruin. They have punched it up by a tremendous amount and assuming that conditions hold to the end of the week, they’ll keep making more and more runs. We’re not sure what their intentions are in terms of engine changes and other classes to chase but as of this moment, they have a big block Chevy powered race car that is knocking on the door of 500mph.
The 500mph barrier with a piston powered car is one that clearly this team hopes to achieve. A few years ago there were more cars that had the potential, however remote, of making that speed but time and wreckage have sidelined a few of them. The Speed Demon has continued to stand tall.
The week has not been without work. There has been thrashing to repair the car from some singed wiring early in the week, a rear end later in the week, but the organization continues to rise to the occasion and send the beast out angrier and faster each time.
Will we see 500mph this week? Time will tell. If not this week, it’s coming and it seems almost inevitable that the golden mark of land speed racing will have George Poteet’s and the Poteet and Main Speed Demon name next to it.
Check out this collection of images that are all about the Poteet and Main Speed Demon
Incredible amounts of engineering, tuning expertise, dedication, money and hard work by very talented people make this the most awesome land speed record team ever! Very fun to follow their exploits every year.
Finally after holding back SD coverage, Redemption!
Best. Land. Speed car. In history. Number 76 al. Teague! Speed. O. Motive. Built in his mothers garage. al. Teague a bonneville. Legend !
Wtg George..another great record..miss you at waffle house hacks cross
On the nose of Speed Demon, it reads, “God speed Jack.”
Does anybody know that is in reference to?
That is in reference to Jack Trepanier who’s son Troy and his shop Rad Rides By Troy have done a lot of the work on the Speed demon car as well as Georges Blowfish Cuda.
God Speed Jack is in reference to Jack Costella that pased away.
Ah, no. The previous comment is correct. It is in reference to Jack Trepanier whose son Troy is one of George Poteet’s favorites. builders. He built the Blowfish, and he did the wheels for the new Speed Demon. The Speed Demon was also painted at Troy’s Rad Rides by Troy shop.
Refers to Troy Trepanier’s late father Jack Trepanier.
And to top it off it’s getting done by one of the most supportive guys in the hobby.
George deserves to get all the records he wants.
Any way when you guys cover Bonneville we can please get some sound recordings / video w/o commentary perhaps of the Awesome Sweet Sound of Speed Demon and others? I chose not to go this year due to age/medical condition but hope I can make it in 2021.
An amazing performance. While 481 mph is awesome, the numbers that really matter are 469.298 in run 1 and 470.733 in run 2 for a 2-way average of 470.015 and the “official” record. The Speed Demon is a frickin’ BRACKET CAR! Yes, the Turbinator II went faster at Bonneville, but in cooler October, not in August!!!
The Turbinator also runs a 4000 HP+ helicopter engine to generate that speed.
An amazing performance. While 481 mph is awesome, the numbers that really matter are 469.298 in run 1 and 470.733 in run 2 for a 2-way average of 470.015 and the “official” record. The Speed Demon is a frickin’ BRACKET CAR! Yes, the Turbinator II went faster at Bonneville, but in cooler October, not in August!!!
Thank GOD for land speed racing…
C.Brown my
Congratulations George and the Speed Demon Team. Going faster has always been my priority, be it my street car, mini stock, slot car, skate board, what have you. I’ve been following it since Mickey & Craig , off and on. The VERY BEST OF LUCK to guys in the future, and reaching your 500 mph club, no doubt you’ll achieve it. Keep on TRUCKING!!!!!
Its been incredible what George, Ron Main, and team have been able to accomplish in land speed racing. For the record the current Speed Demon was built after George wrecked the original going 380 MPH at Mike Cook’s Shootout in 2014. Also in 2014 Poteet purchased Ron Main’s share of the car. The current Speed Demon started racing in 2015 at Bonneville.