Art Arfons facts for kids

Arthur "Art" Arfons (born February 3, 1926 – died December 3, 2007) was an amazing American racer. He became famous for setting the world land speed record three times between 1964 and 1965. He did this with his super-fast, jet-powered cars called the Green Monster. Art also built powerful Green Monster vehicles for tractor pulling. He was so good, he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame shortly after he passed away.

Art's Family and Early Life

Art Arfons' father, Tom, came to the United States from Greece when he was 14. He settled in Akron, Ohio, where Art was born. Art's mother, Bessie, was said to be part Cherokee.

Art grew up with two older half-brothers, Walt Arfons and Dale, and an older sister, Lou. Art and Walt later became partners in racing.

The Arfons family ran a feed mill in Ohio. This was a great place for Art and his brothers to learn about machines. They became very skilled at fixing and building things.

When he was almost 17, Art joined the United States Navy. He went to diesel mechanic school. He worked as a mechanic on a landing craft during World War II in the Pacific. This job helped him use his mechanical talents. After three years, he left the Navy as a Petty Officer Second Class.

Art returned to Ohio, got married, and had two sons and a daughter.

Starting in Racing: The Green Monster Cars

In 1952, Art and his half-brother Walt became very interested in drag racing. They built their first car, which they called the Green Monster. Their mother even supported them because she loved the sport too!

Art and Walt continued to build and race Green Monster cars together for several years. By the late 1950s, they decided to race against each other, but they remained good friends.

Chasing the Land Speed Record

Art Arfons eventually moved on to racing for the land speed record at the Bonneville Speedway.

In 1960, he raced a car called the "Anteater." It was powered by a large Allison V-1710 aircraft engine. In 1961, he reached a speed of 313.78 mph (504.98 km/h) before a part of the car broke.

Jet-Powered Cars and New Ideas

In 1962, Art started trying out jet-powered cars. His amazing mechanical skills were very helpful here. His first jet car was called the Cyclops. It had 8,000 horsepower! It was the fastest open-cockpit vehicle ever, reaching 330.113 mph (531.27 km/h) in 1962.

However, the driver sat right in the engine's air intake. This meant the cockpit couldn't be fully closed, which limited its top speed. To help the car stay on the ground, Art added something new: a wing. This wing created downforce, which pushed the car down and kept it from flying into the air. This was a very clever idea!

The Green Monster Land Speed Record car

Art returned to Bonneville in 1964 with another Green Monster car. He held the world land speed record three times in 1964 and 1965. This was a very exciting time in racing, with many people trying to break the record.

After a big crash in 1966, where he survived going 610 mph (980 km/h), Art decided to focus on tractor pulling. He used jet turbine engines in his pulling tractors and was very successful. In 1979, he won his only NTPA championship. He tried to return to land speed racing in 1989 but wasn't as competitive.

Art's Racing Family

Art's son, Tim Arfons, has continued the family tradition. He races jet-powered dragsters and turbine-powered "funny cars" for tractor pulling. Tim is also a stunt driver for jet-powered ATVs and even jet-powered personal watercraft.

Art's daughter, Allison "Dusty" Arfons, also competed in tractor pulling with her father. Art's oldest son, Ronald Arthur Arfons, passed away in 2006.

A Difficult Day

On October 16, 1971, Art Arfons was doing an exhibition run at the Dallas International Motor Speedway. He was driving his jet-powered "Super Cyclops" car. During the run, a tire burst as the parachutes opened. The car went off course and crashed. Sadly, three people were killed in the accident: two IHRA staff members and a news reporter who was a passenger in the car.

Art was taken to the hospital but only had minor injuries. This event was his last race.

Awards and Recognition

Art Arfons received many awards for his achievements in racing.

• He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1991.
• He is also in the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame.
• The National Tractor Puller Association Hall of Fame.
• The Summit County Sports Hall of Fame.

He was a three-time World Land Speed record holder, held the Unlimited Drag Racing Record, and was a champion Tractor Puller.

Death

Art Arfons passed away on December 3, 2007, in Springfield Township, Ohio. He was 81 years old. He was buried at Mt. Peace Cemetery.