John Cobb and E.T. Eyston Racing at the Salt Flats

Film from Collection A0185 Joseph Howard McGibbeny Audio Visual Collection. This film is titled "the Mormon Meteor does it's thing." The problem is there is no Mormon Meteor in this film. This instead looks to be John R. Cobb and Capt. George E.T. Eyston Racing their cars, the Railton and Thunderbolt at the Bonneville Salt Flats. This item is protected by copyright. For more information regarding this film, please contact the Moving Image & Sound Archivist by email at justin.riley@utah.edu or by phone at 801-585-3073.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• John R. Cobb
• Capt. George E.T. Eyston
• Racing
• cars
• Railton
• Thunderbolt
• Bonneville
• Salt Flats
• land speed record
• Mormon Meteor

[1peterward]

Thunderbolt was a great car and didn't get the publicity it deserved, everyone knows the Bluebird and Campbell or even the Railton and Cobb but not many know of Eyston and the biggest Landspeed car of all time the Thunderbolt.

Mind you i am bias as my Grandfather was the Chief Mechanic that built it and he did win many world records with Eyston!!

Great clip by the way any more of Eyston?

[MarriottLibrary]

This is the only film of the Thunderbolt, that I have found so far. We do have local radio station audio of Eyston's run on the salt flats August 24, 1938. Please contact me if you have anymore questions.

[nickrailton]

So pleased to find this footage. Reid Railton, the designer of the Railton car, was my grandfather's cousin. I've seen lots of photos, read lots of accounts and even sat in the car itself, but never seen this footage. Thanks for posting!

[jetpoweredgriffin]

@505197

sonicwind `com

[crashboynz]

The burned out carcass of the once mighty Thunderbolt is buried under Wellington ( New Zealand ) airport runway extension. Such a shame and a waste.!

Recent talk of a recovery of the car has come to nothing so far.

[505197]

You Brits have always been hard to beat on top end, it's a shame they had to die in those damn boats. I wonder who will try to beat your sonic record, what an accomplishment that was/is. For me the wheel driven cars hold the most romance. I'd sure like to have a look at the guts of those beasts. What they accomplished in their day with what they had to do it with is truly impressive. Those days of national pride and bragging rights were sure neat times. Happy 4th of July to you fellers too :O)

[McLarenMercedes]

The 20's and 30's were really the golden age for Land Speed Record cars.

After WW2 Cobb just improved on his own record, and then not very much happened until Campbell's Bluebird CN7 and Craig Breedlove's jet-car.

[2zipy]

@1peterward Hello again. I'm afraid I only know a small bit about my Great Grandfather he designed Ships and deep sea diving gear. I will have to ask my mum and the rest of the family if they know anything else. I went to Beaulieu last Summer to see If we could find some more info, there's a bit on show of the "Thunderbolt" but you have to book an appointment to see the archives. I wanted to see if there was some more photos that my Great Grandfather might be in. Its fascinating!

[OzzInter]

Great to see this film.

I have read about The Thunderbolt but I can't find much inflormation on it.

Thanks for posting!

[1peterward]

Very Interesting did your Great Grandfather get involved with a car called the "Speed of the Wind" or "Flying Spray" ?

I also have a picture of my Uncle sitting on top of the "Thunderbolt" as a child.