Land Speed Racer Memorial
This website provides information
about racers who died while racing on dry lakes, hard-packed beaches,
the Bonneville Salt Flats, and other locations in pursuit of land speed
records. It is the most comprehensive site of its kind on the Web and a
companion to my other website, Drag Racer Deaths. Over
50 drivers who died while racing for these attainments have been
identified and researched. There were a number of non-racing driver
deaths at places like El Mirage, but they are not listed.
It is organized by years with names arranged in each span of years alphabetically by last name. If you are seeking information about a particular racer and are unsure about the year of the accident, look on the index (bottom of this page). Then click on the year span in the directory where his entry will be found. If you are looking for a specific racer or want to view entries of those who died at a specific location, the Index provides that information.
Information about each racer (when known) includes birth/death dates, date/place of accident, age, information about accident, biographical information, burial place, etc. Photograph of the racer, car, grave marker, and a link to video clips are included if available.
Information and photos to add to the entries are always welcome. We also invite those who knew these racers to share their memories in the Forum.
Last Updated: October 2, 2020
Total Deaths: 55
Name/Year of Accident
Arnett, Sonny (1995)
Barsanti, Roberto (1921)
Beckett, John (2005)
Bennett, Charles (1964)
Bible, Lee (1929)
Bigelow, Ken (1951)
Black, Noel (1970)
Bryant, Barry (2009)
Buckmaster, Jim (1972)
Cass, Wayne (1948)
Combs, Jessi (2019)
Dean, Pete (1984)
Deneau, Gerald (2012)
Donaldson, John (1955)
Emick, "Geezer" (1969)
Fadave, Robert (1949)
Fancher, Floyd (1949)
Fernihough, Eric (1938)
Foster, Tony (2014)
Funk, Robert (1962)
Glover, Tom (1948)
Graham, Athol (1960)
Gullett, Cliff (2008)
Haller, Harvey (1953)
Herda, Bob (1969)
Hudson, Ralph (2020)
Jacobs, Johan (2006)
Johnson, Jim (1957)
Johnston, Bruce (1998)
Leasher, Glenn (1962)
Lockhart, Frank (1928)
Lombardi, Guy (2009)
Lubinsky, Larry (1969)
Lyons, Jerry (2012)
McGregor, Rulon (1949)
Magi, Renato (1951)
Meo, Vaifro (1984)
Owen, Dave (2008)
Parry-Thomas, J. G. (1927)
Partridge, Tim (2018)
Pendleton, Jackson (1949)
Robinson, Bob (1950)
Rosemeyer, Bernd (1938)
Schlegel, Nicholas (1947)
Somariba, Janos (1933)
Sproul, Charles (1955)
Stewart, Jack (1968)
Warner, Bill (2013)
Watts, Tommy (1980)
Werder, Wilbert (1949)
Wheeler, Sam (2016)
White, Nolan (2002)
Williams, Elwyn (1954)
Windman, Nathan (1934)
Wynja, Cornie (1951)