Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-09-06

Asterisk or Not,
He Proves Point
By MORRIS SIEGEL

THE LOWLY ASTERISK, last dignified in 1851 to de-
note that Roger Mars recordbreakng 81 homers were
made in 162game schedule is about to bolt out of
Fluctuations proletariat ranks again.
1t will be used to explain that Craig Breedove an wv
Leaguelookng monkey the worlds land speed
record driving threewheeed The Federation Inter-
rationale de PAutomobie doesn't any place In its
official records for any vehicle with less than four wheels
Thus, Breedlove's Spirit of America" 100000 Jet
powered dreamboat which tipped 4O745 PHI last month
on Utahs Bonneville Salt Flats has been reduced the
same status Of golf cart in the eyes Of the prm FLA the
world Sanctioning body for speedsters
BREEDLOVE COULDN'T CARE less what the FLA
thinks In the eyes of the of the Souped-up car world
Craig is the Sonny ston and Mickey Mantle racers
tangible results of his fight against the clock be-
coming more evident to him daily.
-Four years ago when he first got the idea he could
build car which could return the speed record to Amer
lea, Breedlove went broke trying to complete his doit-
yoursef-dream He had socked his life savings Of $1O,
600 into the project
He owed two months rent on his Los Angeles apart
ment His wife, to feed the five Breedlove youngsters
forced to take work hop at drive-in.
Craig made slight miscalculaton in how much
money it would take to build the His estimate Of
$4,000 turned out to be $29O0O short Tires alone for the
35footlong wingless jet apane cost $4,000 Goodyear
picked up that tab and also added another $4,000 to
the pot before it was all over.
Shell Oil Clipped in another $4,000 in the sweet
name of research and publicity Breedve after Is cracks
finally whipped the of BritiSher John Cobb last
August S.
HE WAS IN WASHINGTON yesterday on a 4-city
visit to describe how it feels to whz along at than
400mph with the sweet knowledge that he would be re-
warded with something more than a speeding ticket.
He's been asked to endorse everything from Jump suits
for Junior drag to plastic models of his Spirit of
America" Hollywood also has beckoned and Breedlove
reckons he'll be 100000 year when all the loot is
counted.
Breedloves formal education ended at Venice Calif
High School He then literally hit the road burning up the
Los Angeles drag race and stock strips to up
enough money to make assault the world speed
ord.
he tells the story exasperatng part Of the
saga was convincing sponsors he wasn't crackpot
but young with solid idea. He started his sales
pitch low key First he sold neighborhood service
station operator who spread the word to the dis
trbutor who told management about 1t.
Craig hustled TO directors meetings and finally
Shell and Goodyear agreed to bankroll him Now he's
working for them trying to convince the public that
facturers produce tires capable Of 900 mph and Jet
fuel of the future be trusted also to supply the
mon needs Of the family jaopy.
BREEDLoVE LOOKS MORE like movie star than
young of 26 only few months from what he
considers the exciting life Of garage machnist At his
brefng he was attended by staff of five company
representatives.
Four years ago Craig all alone in Pops garage
borrowing labor from indulgent friends and planning his
and-based craft He made weekend visits to Navy wind
tunnel near Ca SaJSUed MS plan was work
able, he bought secondhand Jet airpane engine at a
surplus sale for $780, Il figured another $500 would be all
the money would need for the car" he smiled.
While all this building going on, Breedove wore
Lewis and a T-shir Yesterday he a college model
gussied up in blue blazer with the crests of Shell and
Goodyear the pocket His conversation is casual but
drps with the mysterious language Of aerodynamcs and
physics.
He no longer owes back rent his bedroom apart
ment He left the apartment recently for fve-bedroom
house. He pays $500 premium $4,000 life insurance
policy every time he tests fate and his Spirit of America
at the Flats.
This is for added protection and the high premium is
understandable in view of the risk attached to his hazard
profession He also has old insurance policy which
considers another Breedlove pursuit hazardous Water
skiing