This 1964 film “The Wildest Ride” is about the land speed records set in 1964 in Utah is presented by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Shell. It opens October 5, 1964 at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The Wingfoot Express, Tom Green its driver, is shown going 413.20 mph. Two days later, Art Arfons tops that at 434.02 mph in the Green Monster. The parachute deploys behind the speed record words (:09-:42). September 5, 1963, the Spirit of America is pulled onto the flats. A Shell truck fuels it. Craig Breedlove is shown seated wearing his helmet and mask. The roof is placed over him and the vehicle panned. (:43-1:50). A group of men perform maintenance on various parts of the vehicle (1:51-2:25). The jet engine is seen up close, fired, and the vehicle takes off, kicking a layer of salt at the camera. Multiple angles are shown before the parachute is deployed. Breedlove is congratulated and lifted into the air (2:26-3:42). A blade scrapes the salt bed. Breedlove squats and feels the ground (3:43-4:04). Breedlove, in the vehicle, talks to a man whose jacket back says “Craig Breedlove Spirit of America 428.37 MPH World Record Holder”. The mask is hooked and roof secured. Multiple race angles are shown, including from Breedlove’s perspective and a side-mounted camera. The parachute is shown dragging behind. Craig gets out (4:05-6:30). The vehicle is moved into position on October 15, 1964. His shoes are wiped off before getting in the cockpit. The vehicle takes off and is shown from multiple angles, including Breedlove’s and a mounted side camera. A line indicates the vehicle’s desired path. The record-breaking speed of 525.277 mph is shown. The aftermath wreckage is also shown. Failed parachute brakes caused a five-mile skid (Guinness Book of World Records for longest skid marks), after which the vehicle crashed through telephone poles and ended up in a brine pond with just the rear visible. The support vehicles rush to the scene. A close-up of the flag still out of the water is shown. A garrulous Breedlove, who has just miraculously escaped injury or death, is shown smiling, a gash on his forehead. He is hugged by several men (including his father). All are relieved that he is okay, and Breedlove discusses the adventure with them and reporters (6:32-11:53). The group of men are shown loaded into the back of a “Property of State of Utah” truck, which drives through a wet salt bed (11:54-12:18). Men in hard hats and tall boots carry rope to the Spirit of America, still mired in the water. A crane is also shown. Breedlove sits on part of the vehicle that is still out of the water, rubbing it affectionately. (12:19-12:48). The crane top is shown, followed by the line down to the hook lifting Spirit up and completely free. The vehicle is shown on a trailer being towed (12:49-13:30). [This version of Spirit of America was taken to Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry and a new version, the Sonic 1, built in its place.]

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