(Photos: Brian Macy/Big Red Social media) – While Danny Thompson snagged loads of headlines over his incredible 450mph record setting performance on the Bonneville Salt Flats yesterday, another iconic combo got the job done and locked themselves into the history books. The Big Red Camaro and its forever driver RJ Gottlieb smashed the existing AA/Classic Blown Fuel Altered record to pieces and set a new one at 254.6 mph. According to those that saw the time slip, the machine had an exit speed of more than 270mph on the record run and there has been talk that the team may try to achieve a 270mph average tomorrow or during the week at some point.
Big Red is already the world’s fastest 1969 Camaro having snatched a speed record at 266mph on an asphalt surface but now the car is officially in the SCTA Bonneville record books. This is a triumphant return to the salt for the team as they came up short just a few years ago hunting the same record. With the right horsepower level and proper chassis setup, along with great driving, the guys were able to smash their way into history on their first two possible attempts at making full power runs.
For those of you who have lived your whole life under a rock, Big Red is a Camaro that has competed in drag races, open road races, closed course races, drag races, and other events that are too numerous to list. In essence, it is one of the, if not the world’s most famous 1969 Camaro. In their quest to do it all with this car, the crew has knocked a huge goal off of their performance list.
Loads of people show up to Bonneville with high hopes and a lack of plans. These guys showed up with plans, hopes, and a destroyer to execute them with!
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That is the car of my generation. I love going to museums and seeing old cars that broke the common conception that horses would never be replaced by cars. Big Red is every bit as ground breaking as those that came before. Congratulations!
That IS fast! Hard to believe, 270….
Dave;
You, RJ, Larry and Mark got the job done this week. Lots of smiles on the salt I’ll bet.
See Ya,
Mark F.
i would think it would become airborne after 200 mph..Where the video of it actually reaching such speed?