Motor Sports
 
Jet engines made their first appearance in motor sports in 1963 when Craig Breedlove powered his 3-wheeled first generation Spirit of America with a J-47 plane engine from a F-86 Sabre - he later used the J79 to power the Spirit of America.  Since then, jet engines have become a staple in motor sports.  Besides the Spirit of America, the J79 powered The Green Monster to several records in the 1960’s and the Land Record Holder, ThrustSSC, was powered by two Rolls Royce Spey 205s.  Ultimately, Breedlove set five World Land Speed records with his J79 powered Spirit of America Sonic 1. 
 

IEP’s involvement with Craig Breedlove began in the late 60’s when he purchased a afterburner duct  for the Spirit of America from IEP.   IEP later sponsored and supplied 2 J79 engines for Breedlove’s Spirit of America Sonic 1 in the 90’s.  The staff of IEP proudly joined Breedlove in his runs in Black Rock Desert in Nevada.

 
 
 
The IEP J79 engines, from Navy F-4 Phantom fighter aircraft, were modified to run on cleaner burning unleaded gasoline (Formula Shell), the same used in passenger cars.  Engine tests revealed that the power plants were producing 22,650 pounds of  thrust  -equivalent to 45,000 horsepower.
 
Breedlove sold the Spirit of America to famous adventurer, Steve Fossett, in 2006.  Fossett planned on attempting to break the speed record in 2007 but died in an airplane crash that year. Spirit of America is now owned by Fossett’s widow. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Important Dates in Motor Sports