NAE™ Project:
Its Current Status

Question #1:
How Fast Has the NAE™ Gone So Far?

The North American Eagle™ has conducted at least 12 test runs to date. The fastest it's gone so far has been approximately 312mph in March of 2005. To read about the test runs and view pictures of them, please visit the following pages:

Question #2:
When Will The NAE™ Go For the Record?

This, of course, is what everyone wants to know. Unfortunately, it's hard to say. For those who understand the nature of land speed racing at this level, you already know. For those who don't, allow me to explain.

Currently, this project is supported purely by volunteers who have learned about Ed Shadle & Keith Zanghi's vision to bring the world land speed record back to North American and have given what they can of their weekends to do what needs to be done using their particular expertise. Funding for this project has been 90% out of the co-owner's pockets; the rest of it has come from donations, services, or loan of equipment by various local or regional sponsors who've learned about us and understand the potential benefit to their company's involvement. This is why we've taken so long to get to the point we're now at.

Having only reached relatively low speeds on aircraft tires rated to 350 mph maximum, we just recently conducted our first run on our newly made all metal wheels which will allow us to achieve mid-range speeds (400 - 600+) necessary to prove the vehicle's viability for a corporation to seriously consider us for sponsorship. We're talking several million dollars here because of the cost of the whole team being at a very remote site for up to a month's time to go for the record. Unfortunately, the surface at Black Rock for that first run on metal wheels was not good; the playa was too soft and there were patches of hard mixed amongst it. It was impossible to avoid setting a straight course without running across one of these hard patches that kept our speeds low for that test session.

Therefore, until we can work ourselves to that point, when we'll be going for the record is impossible to say. Until we have the financial means to integrate the technology that will allow us to conduct high-speed test runs and feel confident we can safely go for the record, we can't say when that will actually happen. When we do get a sponsor, you can bet we'll be prominently announcing it all over the front page of this site.

However, even if the funding is in place to do this, we are still at the mercy of mother nature to cooperate by providing weather which will give us the right type of surface. Only if the rainy season produces the proper amount of rainfall, then the lake bed silt will dry to a sufficient hardness that will give us a smooth, even surface to run fast on.

So, it's really a combination of these two factors that will determine when we end up going for the record. Remember, going for the fastest speed ever achieved on land takes not only patience, but a great deal of careful testing and persistence. It takes a very special breed to see the vision and stay with it to make something like this happen; which is exactly why very few ever pursue it.

We invite you to add a comment, or remark, about our program or the site.

[Privacy Policy]

Interested in helping us make history and bring the record back to North America? Here's how!