By 1960, John Cobb's 1947 record remained not only intact but unchallenged, and no American had held the record since 1929. All that was soon to change. Having seen a succession of Englishmen set 14 Land Speed Records on American soil since 1927, and faced with the imminent arrival of Donald Campbell (son of Sir Malcolm) with another Bluebird, no less than four American aspirants were out to make the record their own that year: Art Arfons and Athol Graham opted for the traditional aero-engine approach, Mickey Thompson's Challenger sported four 700 bhp Pontiac engines, whilst Dr. Nathan Ostich stunned everyone by introducing the world's first jet-powered contender, The Flying Caduceus. Bluebird, however, was by far the most expensive and sophisticated car to ever attempt the record, using a 5000 hp Proteus gas-turbine engine to send drive to all four wheels.

Proceedings began with disaster when Graham's low-budget City of Salt Lake tumbled at over 300 mph. He died on the way to hospital. Arfons reached 250 mph but knew his car was not up to the job, and Ostich also withdrew with problems after exceeding 300 mph. Mickey Thompson put in a one-way run of 406.6 mph, but was cruelly denied the record due to drive shaft failure on the return run. So the way was left clear for Campbell. But on his fifth run, Bluebird drifted off the course at around 350 mph and tumbled to a standstill. Campbell was badly knocked about, but from his hospital bed he vowed to rebuild the car and make another attempt.

Bonneville had seen off the wheel-driven contenders, and 1962 saw five jet cars on the salt, including Ostich once more and Art Arfons with his first jet car. Again, tragedy came with the death of Glenn Leasher in Infinity. A new contender was a 25 year-old Californian drag racer called Craig Breedlove, who was inspired by President Kennedy's 'Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country' and built the patriotically named Spirit of America, a three-wheeler powered by a General Electric J47 jet engine. But it was not to be his year, retiring with steering problems after reaching 365 mph. Cobb's record remained for yet another year.

Breedlove returned in 1963 and on 5th August finally captured the elusive record for America with a speed of 407.45 mph. It would remain unofficial however, since at that time FIA rules dictated that a car must have at least four wheels and be powered by at least two of them, but with so many jet cars appearing the FIA were forced to create a new category. Now toiling wretchedly in poor conditions in Australia with the rebuilt Bluebird, Donald Campbell eventually achieved 403.1 mph on 17th July 1964 to set a new official record, but still short of Breedlove's speed.

Back at Bonneville, events during the month of October 1964 were simply astounding. First, Art's brother Walt Arfons brought his Wingfoot Express jet car to Bonneville and driver Tom Green set a new record of 413.2 mph. Only three days later, Art appeared with the fearsome Green Monster powered by a General Electric J79 jet engine developing 17500 lb thrust! Costing less than $10,000 to make, this machine earned Arfons the title 'junkyard genius of the jetset'. He obliterated his brother's record with 434.02 mph, hitting 479 mph on the second run.

Arfons' new record lasted eight days. Breedlove was back for more and achieved 468.72 mph with ease. Knowing he could go faster, Breedlove saddled up two days later and set another record of 526.28 mph. But after hitting 539 mph on the return run, his parachutes tore off and Breedlove, out of control, crashed through a telegraph pole before diving into a brine lake at the end of the course! He escaped unhurt, he'd passed the magic 500 mph mark, but his car was wrecked. Finally, Arfons had the last word for 1964 with a speed of 536.71 mph. In that amazing month of October the record was broken five times and raised by 130 mph!

Remarkably, Breedlove worked quickly and secretly to design and build a brand new car Spirit of America Sonic I, and he was ready for a rematch with Arfons at Bonneville in late 1965. In common with Arfons, Breedlove now used a J79-powered four wheel design. Initial runs were troublesome; body panels buckled and the nose tended to lift at high speed. Another parachute failure almost put Breedlove back into the same brine lake he had visited in 1964! Fins were fitted at the front of the car to keep the nose down, and on 2 November 1965 Breedlove set a new record of 555.483 mph.

Five days later, Arfons brought out Green Monster and achieved 576.553 mph, but had to wrestle the car to a stop on the return run after a rear tyre burst at over 600 mph and ripped away one of the parachutes. Eight days later, Breedlove made a devastating reply by recording 600.601 mph.

The indefatigable Arfons returned with an improved Green Monster in 1966, but on the first run of his record attempt a front wheel bearing broke at about 610 mph and the car went out of control, performing a series of barrel rolls across the salt before coming to rest. Green Monster was reduced to wreckage, but amazingly Arfons survived with only facial cuts and salt burns to the eyes.

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