Arfons, Art(hur) Eugene

▪ 2008

      American automotive racer

born Feb. 3, 1926, Akron, Ohio

died Dec. 3, 2007, Akron

was a three-time holder of the world's land-speed record for wheeled vehicles. While serving (1943–46) in the U.S. Navy, Arfons received training in diesel mechanics. He began his career as a drag racer in the early 1950s with his half brother Walter, with whom he built a series of racing cars, each called the Green Monster; and by 1959 he was involved in car racing full time. In the early 1960s he designed the ultimate Green Monster, powered by a J-79 jet aircraft engine, which he drove at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats. He reached speeds of 434.02 mph (698.34 km/hr), Oct. 5, 1964; 536.71 mph (863.56 km/hr), Oct. 27, 1964; and 576.533 mph (927.64 km/hr), Nov. 7, 1965. The last of these records was broken eight days later by Craig Breedlove's attainment of a speed of 600.601 mph (966.37 km/hr). Arfons also designed speedboats, using the name Green Monster Cyclops.

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