Monday 28th August 1961

Art Malone drove Bob Osiecki’s aluminium-bodied “Mad Dog IV” to a World Closed Course Speed Record of 181.561 mph at Daytona International Speedway. “Mad Dog IV” was a front-engined Curtis Indy roadster powered by a supercharged Chrysler 413 Wedge motor. It had a vertical stabilizer and a pair of inverted air foils, or upside down wings, to the chassis to aerodynamically stabilize the vehicle at speed. This feat won him the $10,000 award posted by Bill France to anyone who could post a speed in excess of 180 mph on a closed course speedway.