George Poteet, 400-MPH Record Holder and Custom Car Patron, Has Passed Away at the Age of 75

We were saddened to hear the news yesterday that George Poteet had passed away. Before he made a name for himself as a land speed racer, which is how we best knew him, George Poteet was an avid car collector. As a patron, he allowed some of the most skilled fabricators, engine builders, upholsterers, and painters to reach the pinnacle of their craft. His hot rods and muscle cars from shops like Rad Rides by Troy, Alloway's Hot Rod Shop, CAL Auto Creations, and Rolling Bones have been shown around the country and featured in magazines. We got to take a look at his collection at his home in Holly Springs, Mississippi, during a visit in 2019.

Poteet had been a fixture on the Bonneville Salt Flats for years. While his first forays into racing followed his love for '30s hot rods, Poteet's quest for speed eventually found him behind the wheel of a sleek streamliner. In the 2010s, he became known as the man to beat at Bonneville. He and his Speed Demon team regularly pursued the Hot Rod magazine trophy for the fastest pass during Speed Week, a feat the Speed Demon team has accomplished 11 times, 10 of which with Poteet behind the wheel. No other team has been as dominant during Speed Week, and no other driver has more 400+mph SpeedWeek passes than George Poteet. A longtime donor to the Southern California Timing Association, Poteet has helped fund the important duties that turn the bare salt into a racing surface capable of holding up to 3000-hp streamliners.

Of course, George Poteet was more than a car collector and a racer. His generosity on the salt, which extended to spectators looking to see the fastest piston-powered car in the world up close as well as fellow racers in need of mechanical help, was just one facet of his personality. He was humble about his accomplishments, quick with a smile and a laugh, and doted on his grandchildren. The automotive community has lost a great friend. Our thoughts are with Poteet's family, friends, and race team. Speed Week won't ever be the same without him.

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