John Cobb’s 2,600-horsepower racing car. The 28-foot-8-in Railton Special, powered by two 12-cylinder engines, made a 334-mph trial run at Wendover, Utah in 1947. Photo by Jon Brenneis.
[ Image © LIFE ]
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A striking photograph of British speed-seeker John Cobb‘s (1899–1952) svelte, record-breaking Railton Mobil Special racing car shot in Utah by Jon Brenneis of LIFE magazine. This futuristic, one-of-a-kind vehicle designed by British automotive engineer Reid Railton (1895–1977) helped Cobb set what was then the fastest land speed record of 394.7 mph (635.2 km/h) in 1947, breaking his previous records in 1938 and 1939 in this same auto. Of note, Cobb’s 1947 record went unbroken for 17 years until 1964 when Englishman Donald Campbell’s vehicle reached 403.1 mph (648.73 km/h).
By 1947 the Railton Special was renamed the Railton Mobil Special after further development and sponsorship by Mobil Oil. For those in the Birmingham, England area I understand you can see this remarkable auto on display at the Thinktank science museum if my sources are up to date.
Bonus… below is terrific archival footage of Cobb in the Railton racing another great, albeit historically lesser known British racer and land speed record holder Captain E.T. Eyston in his Thunderbolt at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
Video: John Cobb and E.T. Eyston Racing at the Salt Flats
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Tragically, John Cobb lost his life in 1952 while attempting to break the water speed record at Loch Ness in the jet-powered speed boat named the Crusader which was also designed by Railton. Cobb was traveling at a clip of 200 mph (320 km/h) when the boat bounced on the water multiple times and broke apart in dramatic bits in front of his wife and the onlooking crowd. The documentary footage of this event is gripping.
In a letter, Reid Railton commented: ‘We’ll never know exactly what happened, since the evidence lies in 1000ft of water, where it is likely to remain’. He had left for his California home only two days before, intending to return for the attempt later in the week. Railton was so shocked by the loss of his friend that—like Clinton Crane in 1911—he completely pulled out of a design field in which, aged 57, he stood unmatched in experience.
–The World Water Speed Record by Leo Villa and Kevin Desmond, 1976
In 1947 John Cobb was awarded the Segrave Trophy and then posthumously in 1953 he was honored with the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct “for services in attempting to break the world’s water speed record, and in research into high speed on water, in the course of which he lost his life.”
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Learn more:
Wikipedia
Birmingham Stories
The Brooklands Society Photo Archives
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Seeing these images, I remember “The Misfits”, the movie, with Norma Jean, Clarck Gable and Monty Clift.
Wonderful images, strange era, full of hopes. Of High Hopes.
Nice association, Egiova, “The Misfits”, yes. Had completely forgotten about that film.
And sigh… high hopes. Wouldn’t we like some of those now. Am afraid the rationing of hope has left us cold these days it seems.