When Jenkins died at age 76, on August 9, 1956, the world was a little slower for him having done so. Ab Jenkins was the certainly the first person catch "salt fever" and luckily he passed it on to succeeding generations with a need for speed. One-time considered Utah's "one-man public relations machine," Jenkins racing fame got him elected Mayor of Salt Lake in 1940 without ever giving a speech, or spending a nickel on a campaign. As for the marks that have fallen, it required the efforts of several drivers compared to Jenkins single-man driving shows. It took several decades later to topple Jenkins exhausting, 48-hour endurance record. Moreover, the vintage film footage shows first-hand what a relaxed champion he was - exiting his Bonneville Salt Flats racing machines after a grueling 24-hour endurance run as though he were climbing out of a limousine on Broadway. His watchwords were simple: Safety First. Jenkins was often oxymoronically called "The World's Safest Speedster" because he set more world records than any other driver, past or present, yet he was prouder of his million-mile "no accident" street driving record than all his speed and endurance records combined. He was a deeply religious man who put his faith in God, and by God, he went far. What distinguished him from his contemporaries was his precise use of local, "tribal" salt knowledge and unlimited guts. Considering his limited resources, Jenkins racked up remarkable achievements. It was Ab's dogged determination that put the Bonneville Salt Flats on the international racing map, not to mention the hundreds of speed marks he set there proving the salt's worth. White) and sometimes only awe (Jay Leno) about David Abbot (Ab) Jenkins (1883-1956) whom many steadfastly believe is the "Father of salt racing and his son, Marv Jenkins. This wonderfully crafted documentary has absorbing historic footage combined with a fine cross-section of folks who speak with authority (Hugh Coltharp, Gordon E.
0 kommentar(er)
