At 89 Years Young, a Racing Legend Tries for Land Speed Record

Filed in archive Vintage Racing on August 8, 2006

Most people believe that seniors should not drive quickly. And for many older folk that's probably a good idea. But one who's not ready to slow down is the legendary John Fitch who, at age 89, is preparing for a land speed record this October at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Fitch will be driving a 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing in the F/GT class (2.01L to 3.0L grand touring sport). No stranger to speed, John Fitch was a member of the Mercedes-Benz factory team in 1957, and scored major wins in the Grand Prix of Argentina, the Mille Miglia, Tourist Trophy and Sebring 12 Hours. In addition to his many victories as a professional race driver he's also been a sailor, fighter pilot, team manager, race course director, highway safety expert, automaker, entrepreneur and Dreamer. It was he who invented the Fitch Inertial Barrier, a series of plastic barrels filled with varying amounts of sand that progressively slow a car in a crash and which are often placed around highway bridge abutments. How fast does this 89-year-old expect to drive? In a New York Times profile Fitch hints at 175 mph.