Did you know that a Chrysler engine helped to break the World Record for the Fastest Closed Track Speed? Yep! Meet the “Mad Dog IV”. A redesigned Frank Kurtis Indy roadster with a back fin and inverted (upside-down) wings to create extra drag force.
Back in the 1950s, about the highest speed
accomplished was 180 MPH, on the Daytona Speedway. Mr. Bill France wanted to
see that record broken after a ban was placed on open-speed racing on tracks.
So, he set up a contest for a closed track race, instead, offering a prize of
$10,000. That was a lot of money back in the 1950s, so it attracted a lot of
car builders and racers!
After many attempted to break the record, Art Malone
(a Fuel Dragster Driver) drove Bob Osiecki’s “Mad Dog IV” at a walloping lap
speed of 181.561 MPH on August 27th, 1961! That is quite impressive!
(Article Sources: Street Legal TV and Jalopy Journal)
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