On September 16th, 1947, the Railton Mobil Special, driven by John Cobb of Great Britain, set a new world land speed record of 394.20mph on the Bonneville salt flats.
Eighteen years later, in 1965, a boy named Waldo Stakes found a toy of the Railton Mobil Special in a box of Cracker Jacks candy. At that moment, one of the sport's early pioneers ignited the imagination and dreams of one of the sport's future pioneers. Stakes decided that some day he too would be the "fastest man on earth."
"I just couldn't imagine a car going 394mph," said Stakes. "I have been studying ever since."
Today, Stakes' studies have made him a veteran driver, crew chief and designer in the world of land speed racing, and he's been directly involved in 21 class land speed records.
Stakes' has driven and campaigned both street rods and motorcycles at Bonneville for many years. He designed a rocket powered dragster body back in the late 70's for a Hydrogen Peroxide dragster. He was also the crew chief for Kenny Lyons' BMW motorcycle streamliner, which broke and still holds 12 land speed records in the 650, 750 and 1000cc classes.
In 1987, Stakes' started building his ultimate dream, a rocket-powered composite sled called "Sonic Wind." He's continued working on it as time and finances allowed. With no other form of funding, the project took some time to complete. The vehicle was finally finished in 1996, ten years after the project began, testimony to his dedication to the project.
Recently, in 1996, he drove "Pretty Woman," a 250mph gas comp coupe, owned by land speed racer Ron Pruett.
In January of 1998, Stakes plans to start shakedown runs of his incredible Sonic Wind vehicle on the frozen Castle Rock Lake in Wisconsin. Initial testing will focus more on safety than speed. Runs will be held to well under 200mph while he learns what the Sonic Wind vehicle likes and how it responds. Stakes is well aware he stands to lose more than anyone in any miscalculations or rushed attempts to acheive his goals.
Stakes' plans to up the ante each of the next 5-6 years, taking his time as speeds increase to assure safety. Goals he hopes to achieve along the way include:
Breaking the official world land speed record on ice (190mph, set by Marvin Jorgensen in 1990, on a snowmobile powered by two outboard boat motors).
Breaking the unofficial world land speed record on ice (247mph, set by Sammy Miller in 1983 at Lake George, New Jersey, using a rocket powered dragster fitted with skis).
The speed of sound, which could be as low as 695mph (the speed of sound is lower in colder temperatures).
The official world land speed record (763.035mph, Mach 1.02, set by Andy Green on October 15, 1997 on Nevada's Black Rock Desert, piloting Richard Noble's Thrust SSC).
The first to break the 800mph and 900mph barriers.
In his wildest dreams, perhaps, the 1000mph barrier, using a special bipropellant rocket engine that runs on liquid oxygen and kerosene.
Cross your fingers and follow Waldo's adventures. It's going to be one heck of a ride.