Doug Herbert to Preview 500 MPH Streamliner at Bonneville

The project represents more than a pursuit of velocity; it is a multi-generational tribute to Herbert’s father, Chet, a renowned hot rod innovator who passed away in 2009. The endeavor also honors the memory of Herbert’s sons, Jon and James, whose deaths led him to establish the B.R.A.K.E.S. teen driver safety program. Since 2008, the initiative has trained over 175,000 students, allowing Herbert to balance his advocacy work with this complex engineering challenge.

Constructed with the help of industry figures including NASCAR veteran Ray Evernham and GM racing executive Dr. Eric Warren, the vehicle features a radical design. The 35-foot-long, 36-inch-wide streamliner utilizes twin ProCharger-supercharged Dodge Viper V-10 engines, producing a combined 5,000 horsepower. Herbert intends to use the car as an educational tool for STEM outreach once the build is complete. By presenting the chassis to SCTA technical chair Lee Kennedy this week, he aims to ensure the machine meets all safety mandates for the AA/BFS class before attempting to push the limits of wheel-driven, piston-powered performance.