DETROIT — Pontiac, the Excitement Division of General Motors (NYSE: GM), added another chapter to its rich racing heritage at the famed Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah when a four-door Bonneville barreled through the timing traps at 202.524 mph making it the first front wheel drive production car to exceed 200 miles per hour. The record breaking run occurred on August 16.
VETERAN SALT FLATS RACER HELMS RECORD-BREAKING ENTRY
One of 355 entries during Speedweek, the Bonneville was driven by 30-year race veteran Mike Cook, a member of the Bonneville 200 mph club. Cook has set records at El Mirage and Muroc dry lakes and was confident in the Bonneville's ability to exceed 200 mph, but knew the challenge lay in handling a front wheel drive production car.
"Because of the exceptional engineering that already exists in the Bonneville, the challenge lay with me to learn the nuances of front wheel drive at high speeds. The feedback was different than any other car I have ever driven," said Cook of the popular sedan. "Under normal driving conditions, the 3.8 V-6 engine can go from 0 to 60 mph in seven seconds. We started with a great product, which minimized modifications."
The Bonneville underwent a transformation from a family sedan to a high- speed performance machine at Cook Motorsports in Norco, Calif. Pontiac assembled a team of engineers and expert mechanics including Cook, Richard Lee, Jim Poplawski and Jan Callison to make the modifications.