Motor Sports Pioneer. One of the first to employ jet engines on land, he once briefly held the world land speed record. Born Walter Charles Stroud, he was raised in the Akron suburbs and tinkered with motors from an early age. Following his leaving school in the 10th grade, he served four years as a US Navy mechanic then returned home to the family feed mill. After teaching himself to fly using surplus World War II planes, he and his half brother Art (deceased 2007) began drag racing around 1952. Though estranged in later years the two men started out as partners on the drag circuit and in early years split their prize money. Walt built his first jet powered car as well as the parachute system needed to stop it and showed it in public on August 6, 1960; on October 2, 1964, at the Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah his Wingfoot Express reached 413.2 mph, establishing a new land speed record. Walt held the mark for three days, losing it to Art who thereafter traded it back-and-forth with Craig Breedlove. In 1965 he built Wingfoot Express 2 which achieved 605 mph but did not qualify for the record; he continued his car building and modifying until his retirement in the late 1970s. Walt lived in Bradenton, Florida, for a number of years before returning home where he died of pneumonia and the complications of advanced age. Of his sport he once said: "There's nothing like sitting in a car and feeling the afterburners".
Motor Sports Pioneer. One of the first to employ jet engines on land, he once briefly held the world land speed record. Born Walter Charles Stroud, he was raised in the Akron suburbs and tinkered with motors from an early age. Following his leaving school in the 10th grade, he served four years as a US Navy mechanic then returned home to the family feed mill. After teaching himself to fly using surplus World War II planes, he and his half brother Art (deceased 2007) began drag racing around 1952. Though estranged in later years the two men started out as partners on the drag circuit and in early years split their prize money. Walt built his first jet powered car as well as the parachute system needed to stop it and showed it in public on August 6, 1960; on October 2, 1964, at the Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah his Wingfoot Express reached 413.2 mph, establishing a new land speed record. Walt held the mark for three days, losing it to Art who thereafter traded it back-and-forth with Craig Breedlove. In 1965 he built Wingfoot Express 2 which achieved 605 mph but did not qualify for the record; he continued his car building and modifying until his retirement in the late 1970s. Walt lived in Bradenton, Florida, for a number of years before returning home where he died of pneumonia and the complications of advanced age. Of his sport he once said: "There's nothing like sitting in a car and feeling the afterburners".
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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