Flathead Hits 295 mph

Bonneville, Utah, August 16, 2001: A Vortech supercharged streamliner powered by Ford’s first V-8 flathead engine shattered the land speed record at Bonneville Salt-Flats with a terminal speed of 295.305 miles per hour.

Flatfire, owned and driven by Ron Main of Chatsworth, CA, already holds the distinction as being the world’s fastest flathead powered vehicle.  Flatfire flew through the five-mile (long) course during the 53^rd Annual Speed Week at the legendary Salt-Flats in Utah.

The car pulled very strong during the run.  It felt rock solid because of the tremendous down force . . . it was hard to believe that I was nearly approaching 300 mile-per-hour, remarked Main. 

The Ford flathead V-8 engine came into being in 1932.  Main’s engine has been developed through the expertise of such notables as Dick and Mike Landy of Dick Landy Industries (Dli), Jim Middlebrook of Vortech Engineering, and Bruce Crower of Crower Motorsports.

Flatfire was entered in the blown fuel streamliner class at the Bonneville Speed Trials presented by the Southern California Timing Association.