How A Family Turned Grit, Four-Wheel Drive, And Blown Chevys Into Land Speed History: Listen to THE LEGENDARY RICK WHITE Stories On Chasing Salt And Speed

Send us Fan MailThe salt can make you or break you, and Rick White has lived on both sides of that line. From towing a $500 high school Corvette to Bonneville and setting a 151 mph record to piloting the first single-engine car beyond 400 mph, Rick’s journey blends fearless engineering, family grit, and relentless problem-solving. Growing up at Nolan White’s elbow and rooted in land speed racing, He watched his father enter the 200 MPH Club in 1963, he learned how to build speed from wood, steel, and stubborn ideas. We dig into the turning points that define land speed racing. Rick explains why he and Nolan built a rare four-wheel-drive streamliner in 1980 to fight traction loss, how blown fuel became their language, and what it took to sort a one-off machine aimed squarely at 400 mph. He breaks down the differences between SCTA and FIA records, why two-way runs collided with today’s shorter, rougher salt, and the day parachute failure on a return run took his father’s life. The conversation is raw, clear-eyed, and focused on what changed and what still drives him to innovate safely on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Then we go under the hood of Rick and his son Brad’s current project: a competition coupe built around a tiny Honda 600 body to punch the smallest hole in the air. With a 540-cubic-inch blown-fuel big block, carefully set wheelbase, and a hand-formed aluminum nose, the car is aimed at a 305 MPH class record and a blue hat. Rick shares the fix that unlocked new pace—proper tank venting for a bigger fuel pump—and how a 257 mph El Mirage record proved the direction. His years in nostalgia top fuel, including March Meet and Hot Rod Reunion wins, and how the salt taught him how to be a better drag racer. If you love Bonneville history, four-wheel-drive streamliners, FIA records, and the hard math of traction, drag, and fuel delivery, this story hits all the marks. Tap play to hear a family legacy carried forward with craft, courage, and an unwavering eye on the next mile marker. If this conversation moved you, subscribe, share it with a friend who loves fast cars, and leave a quick review—your support helps more speed fans find the show.Support the show