Walter Arfons dies

[Strawboss]

Walter and his brother Art from Akron Ohio built the first jet powered cars in their garage that set land speed records in the 50's and 60's. These guys had no training or degrees, they were just builders and tinkerers, he was 96.

[rwulf]

I remember seeing Art at Detroit dragway in the 60's
What a show!

[DeansZG]

I remember seeing Art at Detroit dragway in the 60's  What a show! 

Yep quite the show Richard! 
My dad worked at the Road Commision yard across the street, so we'd always know about the race schedule.
Plus, on a good day, you could hear the really loud race cars from our house.

I think Arfons' boys are involved on the tractor pull circuit nowadays.

[MAN OF BLUES]

Walter and his brother Art from Akron Ohio built the first jet powered cars in their garage that set land speed records in the 50's and 60's. These guys had no training or degrees, they were just builders and tinkerers, he was 96.

wow...that makes me feel old....

I remember seeing the Green Monster exhibitions as a teen out at Thompson Darg Raceway...
they'd place an old pickup truck sidways behind it and crank the afterburners up and melted the truck down.....what a trip.