Salt flats racing utah12/6/2023 Jenkins, a home building contractor in Utah who was born in 1883, gained his first taste of racing a Studebaker on the Union Pacific train from Salt Lake City to Wendover in 1925, beating the smoke-belcher by five minutes. There were two speed runs, however, after 1931, he confined his efforts to the track alone. The amount of miles he drove in 50 years included nearly three million kilometers, which included 42 coast-to-coast trips across the continental United States. Often referred to as "The World's Safest Speedster," Jenkins was the father of salt racing. He died on a visit to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1940 Jenkins set the 24-hour record of a 161.180 mph (259.394 km/h) average that lasted for 50 years (until 1990). He drove the Duesenberg " Mormon Meteor" to a 24-hour average land speed record of 135 miles per hour (217 km/h) in 1935. He was instrumental in establishing Bonneville as a location for such events, and in attracting overseas drivers such as George Eyston and Sir Malcolm Campbell to compete there. He then became interested in land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Jenkins' interest in motorsports began with racing motorcycles on dirt tracks and across country. when he died, at age 73, in 1956, he had established more world's automobile records than any man in history.ĭavid Abbott "Ab" Jenkins (Janu– August 9, 1956) was the 24th mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah between 19. Set numerous World land speed records, 15 of which remain current, mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah 1940-1944. Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, Salt Lake City, Utah
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