Speed Demon – World’s Fastest Piston Powered Car

Veteran landspeed racer John Baechtel has released a new full color, photo rich history and technical account on the original record setting Speed Demon and the more formidable Speed Demon II which has already set new records at Bonneville

It includes full coverage of the Speed Demon’s extraordinary history and performance record, the unfortunate crash and subsequent construction of the all new Speed Demon II. The new car build is covered in exacting photographic detail so readers can see and understand every component of this amazing landspeed racing car.

George Poteet’s awesome Speed Demon has captured the attention of the world wide racing community with it’s clockwork ability to tear off repeated 400 mph blasts at the Bonneville Salt Flats. When an unfortunate incident caused the car to crash in 2014, an opportunity to build an even better and faster Speed Demon presented itself. See the complete history of the Speed Demon and the detailed buildup of the new car all in full color here.

George Poteet’s Speed Demon defies nearly all traditional norms for land speed record breaking. It’s logged 55 runs over 400 mph and has captured nine Hot Rod Magazine Top Speed trophies.

It only has one engine, but it’s currently a turbocharged big block Chevy beast. Learn its secrets and why it began as a small block engine. It’s rear-wheel drive in an all-wheel-drive environment. It’s driven by a self-made, nerves-of-steel southern gentleman who places all his faith in crew chief Steve Watt, his engine builder, Kenny Duttweiler, and the extraordinarily talented build crew at Maxwell Industries — the Men in Black.

After a walk-away crash in 2014, an all-new leaner, meaner Speed Demon was constructed at Maxwell. Records continued to fall, culminating in a new 470 mph record and a staggering 481 mph exit speed in 2020. This is story of perhaps the most successful land speed car ever and why it’s so damned fast.