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George Poteet

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American land speed racer (1948–2024)

George Poteet in 2015

George Poteet (February 22, 1948 – July 16, 2024) was an American Memphis-based land speed racer and winner of the 1996 Ridler Award.

Poteet's 1937 Ford roadster (built by Don Pilkenton) won the 1996 Ridler Award. This car would go on to take "America's Most Beautiful Roadster", top prize at the Oakland Roadster Show.

In 2011, Poteet drove Speed Demon (built by Ron Main) to 426 mph (686 km/h) at Bonneville, and eventually breaking both the C/BFS and D/BFS (supercharged fuel streamliner) records. After making "the fastest piston engine pass ever", Speed Demon was displayed at the 2018 Detroit Autorama.

Personal life and death

Poteet was born on February 22, 1948, in Mantachie, Mississippi. His father was a sharecropper and his mother worked at a garment factory. Growing up, he tinkered on his family's car. He worked at National Safety Associates (later Juice Plus) from 1970 to 2020.

Poteet married Cathy in 1990, with whom he raised four children. He was married twice before.

Poteet died on July 16, 2024, at the age of 75, of a pulmonary embolism.

Notes

  1. ^ Mooallem, Jon (14 August 2024). "George Poteet, the King of Amateur Landspeed Racing Who Said He Never Got a Speeding Ticket, Dies at 76". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  2. Larivee, Bob (2015). Hot Rod Detroit. Oxford, Michigan: DP Publishing. p. 161. ISBN 978-0-692-30899-8.
  3. Autorama.com (retrieved 3 January 2019)
  4. Hot Rod Magazine online (retrieved 3 January 2019)
  5. Larivee, Bob (2015). Hot Rod Detroit. Oxford, Michigan: DP Publishing. p. 161. ISBN 978-0-692-30899-8.
  6. Autorama.com (retrieved 3 January 2019)
  7. Mlive.com (retrieved 3 January 2019)
  8. Hot Rod Magazine online (retrieved 3 January 2019)
  9. Squatriglia, Chuck. "This is what 426 mph looks like." Autopia. Wired. August 24, 2011.
  10. (retrieved 3 January 2019)
  11. (retrieved 3 January 2019)
  12. Classicarnews.com (retrieved 3 January 2019); Detroit News online (retrieved 3 January 2019)
  13. Galimi, Mike (16 July 2024). "Remembering George Poteet: Land Speed Racing Pioneer and Hot Rodding Legend". motortrend.com. Retrieved 17 July 2024.

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