If you’ve ever dreamed of hitting ever-higher speeds in a competitive—yet friendly—environment, then take a close look at Land Speed Racing.

For starters, you don’t need to head to the Salt Flats of Bonneville, Utah to enjoy this action. There are competitive top speed events occurring all across the United States.

Keep reading for a bit of background behind this exhilarating form of motorsports, and we’ll give you some handy tips to help you get started.

belly tank salt flats racer with a suzuki hayabusa motorcycle engine
Early land speed vehicles were often made from surplus military aircraft fuel drop tanks, which earned them the nickname “belly tank” racers. (Image/OnAllCylinders)

What is Land Speed Racing? 

Let’s compare it to drag racing. There, it’s about how quick a car is on a relatively short track, putting an emphasis on initial acceleration and traction. Land Speed Racing (AKA “LSR”) allows you to find the true limit of your machine’s top speed by letting it cover significantly greater distances in a controlled environment.

art arfons green monster cyclops land speed race car
By the 1960s, famous drivers like Craig Breedlove and Art Arfons captivated America while they raced to break the 600 mph barrier using repurposed jet engines as propulsion. (Image/OnAllCylinders – Matt Griswold)

While folks often think of the Salt Flats in Bonneville, Utah and the dry lakebed racing in El Mirage, California for this sort of thing, the truth is Land Speed Racing takes place across the country.

Thanks to “Standing Mile” events held on airport runways in places like Blytheville, Arkansas and Limestone, Maine, more and more gearheads like you are able to enjoy making top speed runs.

Land Speed Record Certificate Summit Racing
In Land Speed Racing, you don’t compete for trophies or prize purses, you aspire to break records. While your award may be a simple certificate, its legacy can live on forever. (Image/Summit Racing – Brian Nutter)

There are a few main sanctioning bodies that should be on your radar: The Southern California Timing Association (which oversees Bonneville and El Mirage events), the Utah Salt Flat Racing Association (host of the World of Speed at Bonneville), and ECTA Motorsports (which holds many of the Standing Mile races across the country).

As you’d guess, there is an extensive range of different vehicle classifications, allowing for a diverse mix of cars, streamliners, hot rods, electric vehicles, and motorcycles to engage in friendly competition in their respective classes. In the same vein, safety guidelines and regulations can vary between the classes as well.

land speed record salt flats streamliner on trailer at summit racing
From ultra-sleek streamliners to down-and-dirty hot rods, Land Speed Racing covers a broad vehicle spectrum. (Image/OnAllCylinders)

How to Get Started in Land Speed Racing

Before you do anything else, attend one of these events to see it firsthand. That way, you’ll be immersed in the experience—from the technical inspections, to the last-minute tweaks, to the general camaraderie between racers, you’ll understand why land speed racing continues to grow in popularity.

Then, you can start exploring the general vehicle requirements, safety regulations, and (perhaps most importantly) the licensing rules that allow you to compete. For a better explanation, review the rules on the ECTA website here.

And again, since LSR encompasses such a vast array of vehicle classes, there’s a good chance you’ll find one that fits both your interests…and your budget.

aaron brown dodge daytona land speed record run at ECTA event
While NASCAR veterans like Aaron Brown are able to build tube-chassis race cars to compete, the LSR vehicle classifications leave plenty of room for grassroots land speed racers. Get a closer look at this Daytona here. (Image/Summit Racing)

What You’ll Typically Need to Bring to a LSR Event

While the various bits of safety equipment and supplies you’ll need will vary by your vehicle, class, and event, here’s a general list of a few essentials.

Before you buy anything though, make sure to confirm with your sanctioning body exactly what specs and safety ratings your equipment must meet. (Certifications and regulations aren’t always consistent between race and vehicle class!)

Personal Safety Gear for Land Speed Racing

Safety Equipment for a Land Speed Race Vehicle

Supplies for the Land Speed Racing Pit Area

If you’re planning on staying on-site during the event, you may appreciate this handy downloadable/printable Camping Supplies & Tool Checklist.

A Pair of Incredible Land Speed Racing Stories

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Hugh Guynes & His Record-Holding 180 mph 1966 Sunbeam Tiger

front passenger side quarter view of a sunbeam tiger with its hood up
(Image/OnAllCylinders)

We bumped into Hugh a few years ago while we were admiring his classic Sunbeam. Turns out, thanks to a few strategic mods, his little V8-powered roadster is able to dash up to 180 mph in land speed racing events. Click here to read the story on Hugh’s Tiger.

Michael Callahan & His Street Legal 200 mph Cyclone Spoiler II

front quarter shot of a black mercury cyclone spoiler 2 land speed record car
(Image/OnAllCylinders)

What does it take to bring a rare classic Detroit musclecar up to 200 mph…while keeping it STREET LEGAL?!? You’ve got to hear the story of Michael Callahan and his incredible journey to 200 at Bonneville. With enough thrust, even a brick can fly…read the story on this Cyclone Spoiler II here.

Get Into Land Speed Racing!

Does the thrill of pushing your vehicle to its absolute limit sound good to you? Visit the websites below, find an event happening in your neck of the woods, and experience the excitement for yourself.

…Just don’t be surprised if the Land Speed Racing bug bites you hard!

Learn more about LSR and find a local event via these sanctioning body websites:

tesla model 3 at ecta lland speed record racing event in blytheville arkansas
Summit Racing built a Tesla Model 3 for Autocross and Land Speed Racing—where it set a handful of records in the Standing Mile. Learn more about Project White Lightning here. (Image/Brian Nutter)
Keywords
Bonneville, ECTA, land speed racing, SCTA
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Author: Brian Nutter

After a stint in the U.S. Air Force, Brian Nutter studied at the Houston, TX-based School of Automotive Machinists in 1997. The early part of his automotive career included working for engine builders Scott Shafiroff and C.J. Batten, followed by several years developing performance pistons at Wiseco Piston Co. Today, Brian develops performance parts for Summit Racing Equipment and is a regular OnAllCylinders contributor. For fun, he runs his 427-powered C5 Z06 in ECTA land-speed racing, at OPTIMA® street car events, and at a mix of autocross, drag racing, and track days.