RECENT VICTORIES ADD TO BONNEVILLE'S ALREADY STORIED RACING PAST
The Bonneville is the only American production car to earn, not be given, its racing name. The Pontiac Motor Division was established as a performance division largely in part because of its participation in runs at the Bonneville Salt Flats. In June of 1956, 73-year-old race car driver Ab Jenkins and his son Marvin co-drove a Pontiac Series 860 two-door sedan for a run that broke all existing American unlimited and Class C stock car records for a 24-hour world speed record of 118.375 mph. To commemorate the achievement, Pontiac named the Series 860 after the Bonneville Salt Flats.
The official recorded speeds for the cast iron, stock-block Pontiac dubbed "Spirit of Bonneville" were:
- 1st timed mile: 186.285 mph
- 2nd timed mile: 197.751 mph
- 3rd timed mile: 202.524 mph
The Bonneville Nationals Inc. also employs a "terminal speed" clock to give racers an idea of the car's performance — whether it is slowing down or still accelerating. The Bonneville was clocked exiting the last timed mile at 204.087 mph which meant there was still more horsepower to be squeezed from the 2000 street legal, mid-size luxury car.
