"Crash on salt flats fatal to Utah driver," Milwaukee Journal, August 2, 1960 "Utah racer dies after flats crash," Deseret News, August 1, 1960 "Utah racer dies in assault on speed record," Rome News-Tribune, August 2, 1960 "Graham killed in attempt for new speed mark," Reading Eagle, August 2, 1960 "Driver killed in bid for 400 MPH on salt flats," New York Times, August 2, 1960 "Racer dies on salt flats," Ellensburg Daily Record, August 3, 1960 He was survived by his wife, Zeldine, and four small children. He was the first of four racers scheduled that summer for land speed record attempts. Thompson set up a movie camera just where he thought the car might crash. Mickey Thompson tried to warn him against making the run, but Graham ignored his warning. It was thought that he had too much power and acceleration for his 4,200 pound vehicle. He had spent $2,500 building his home-made race car. He was flown to Salt Lake City and taken by ambulance to LDS Hospital, but died minutes later. The vehicle went into a sideways skid, flopped onto its right side, and looped across the salt for 4,000 feet before coming to a stop with Graham pinned underneath. On his first run at the record his left rear wheel snapped as he was going an estimated 300 MPH about two miles from the start of the measured mile. He had made a run of 344 MPH in fall 1959 in his 21-foot long racer. Vehicle: 3,000 horsepower Allison-powered "City of Salt Lake"īiographical: The Salt Lake City garage mechanic was attempting to break the world speed record of 394 MPH set by John Cobb in 1947. Buried: Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, Salt Lake City, Utah
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