Arfons and his brother, Walt, hand-built a series of cars named ”Green Monsters,” and captured the world land speed record three times with those famed racecars.
Arfons was also a well-known drag racer and, later in his career, a champion in tractor pulls. He was also well-known in the tire industry through his long association with the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.
Arfons raced his Green Monsters at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, breaking the land speed record three times in the 1960s, posting a high of 576.55 miles per hour for his final record.
He also contributed to two significant safety devices – the overhead roll cage and parachute – that are now mandatory in drag racing. He was also a member of the Motor Sports Hall of Fame of America, International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, International Motor Sports Hall of Fame, National Tractor Puller Association Hall of Fame and the Summit County (Ohio) Sports Hall of Fame. (Tire Review/Akron)
