Article and photos by "LandSpeed" Louise Ann Noeth
The Poteet family provided a superb way to travel through soulful sorrow when they asked me to write the obituary of George Roundal Poteet, Senior. I now add my observations, and those of others who have knocked out whistling quick numbers out on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Poteet may have appeared to most as a quiet, Southern, simple spoken man, but those who knew him understood (and were awed by) his superhero repeated speed deeds combined with his laser-beam focused observational skills that allowed him to keep track of those he loved his entire life.
Born at home on February 22, 1948, the son of the late James Alfred (Sambo) and Annie Lue (Walker) Poteet in Mantachie, Mississippi, he stopped the clocks of his earthly race and tender influence on July 16, 2024, leaving brokenhearted beloved sister Betty Diane (Poteet) Howard, treasured wife of 33 years Cathy, four children, a niece, 11 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
A remarkably balanced man, Poteet was as dedicated to his community as he was to his speed craft. He was a faithful and constant supporter of Central Church in Collierville, Tennessee, and several other charities. Whether dressed in fireproof Nomex and a helmet and strapped into his thundering 481mph streamliner, or in overalls and a cap astride his tractor grooming the grass, he lived a life overflowing with gentle generosity.
Poteet extracted great joy by participating in the Holly Springs, Mississippi, community that meant just as much as his repeated, earned honors given to him from the car culture for building jaw-dropping street rods that mirrored rolling jewelry.
From his humble beginnings in rural Itawamba County, his life progressed toward the greatness he is known for. He began driving a school bus at age 15, then became a high school football star, worked through junior college while starting a family, then began his career in finance that progressed through the decades until retiring in 2020 as executive partner from Juice Plus/NSA.
Never a bombastic big-shot, Poteet was ever mindful that his soul was the only wealth worth seeking daily and he was ever mindful of the Biblical passage from Mark 8:36 that declares: "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?"
Most who knew him would agree that George Poteet was an uncommon "lightning rod of calm" imbuing others with thoughts of leaping beyond their self-imposed limits, or worth. The 76-year-old passed onward holding a 471mph world record in the Speed Demon, his prized mechanical speed steed, as well as great esteem from the Memphis Street Rods Car Club and many other clubs and organizations where he was a long-time member.
His racing team observed, "The Speed Demon Racing Team members are completely crushed at the news of George crossing his final finish line; he gave us the ability to be better than we ever thought we could be," said Team Manager Steve Watt, who together with previous Manager Ron Main, the team battled nearly 20 years for national and world speed records. "It wasn't about the racing as much as how we conducted ourselves, and by giving back to the sport we all loved. We improved ourselves in so many ways that allow us to go forward trying to continue what George ignited in each of us."
Poteet's dignified creativity and integrity saw him inducted into the Dry Lakes Racing Hall of Fame. He enhanced the status of the entire hot rod trade inspiring the SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance to acknowledge him on its world stage. Poteet's trophies, records and contributions—personal and financial—are extensive.
Poteet strove his entire life, with unbridled mortal humility, to build a legacy for his family to remember—something that lasts, that was meaningful. He did so with few words, but countless actions. We should all be as humble to do likewise.
It is a rarified entanglement of very few people on earth who search for speed through mechanical things. None of it is accomplished alone. Such things are always expressed through groups whose talents, time, and blended skills foment feats of fabulous, head shaking, jaw dropping, breath pausing moments.
George Poteet spent 20 years hanging out with such men and women. Despite all his monumental world and national record fame, Poteet remained humble and observant in this majestic American motorsport. What he contributed out of sight, quietly, but with jubilant joy remains mostly unknown.
I asked his racing contemporaries to comment and nine stepped up with the comments that follow.
Jinx and Rick Vesco, second generation land speeders who have enabled dozens to set salty speed records through the decades noted, "George was an outstanding and worthy competitor. Despite his many records, he remained humble, generous, and always the first to congratulate us. He did so even when we, Team Vesco/Turbinator II, were the first to crack the 500 mph barrier with a wheel-driven car. Land speed racing on the Bonneville Salt Flats will not be quite the same without George's good nature and daring persona. We will miss him."
Dave Spangler, driver of the Team Vesco Turbinator, remarked, "George Poteet's passing is a huge loss to the racing community and the sport of land-speed racing. George has a big heart and has been a generous supporter for many years. He once sold a very nice, valuable roadster to a very young aspiring racer for $5.00. He seemed to enjoy that very much.
"George and I were unofficially racing each other for who would be the first to 500 mph. When I posted an exit speed of 503.332 in 2018, George came immediately to the Team Vesco pits, still wearing his fire suit having just completed a run. He congratulated me and then bowed.
"I hope that, somehow, the Speed Demon will continue racing and will one day exceed the coveted 500 mph mark. George would be proud."
Eric Ritter, another Team Vesco driver said, "From the first day he was the nicest guy you want to meet. George really liked to win! He would do whatever it took to help his team win. He and his team 11 times earned the Hot Rod Top Speed Trophy!
"George often helped anybody who had the desire to go fast, but he still wanted to go faster. He was a 'numbers guy' meaning numbers were important to him. When I found out we lost George, I sent him a text saying we would all miss him greatly. We love you George, Godspeed"
Al Teague is revered throughout the LSR community due to his unquenchable modest verve working with so very little to achieve a 409-mph record with his mechanical steed built in his mother's East LA garage. George idolized Teague who now volleys, "George brought an air of professionalism to our amateur sport. He and his team put together the fastest piston, wheel-driven car ever to run at Bonneville. He was able to set higher records in the blown fuel classes. As a person, he was admired—and liked by everyone. He always took time to talk to people and gave credit to his engine builder and team who kept the car in perfect mechanical shape. Racing on the salt is not easy. Nature plays a big part, but George and his team always overcame many of the obstacles. I have the greatest respect for this multiple Hot Rod trophy winner."
Second generation land speed racer Danny Thompson wants you to know, "George Poteet, what can I say but quiet and fast…really fast! Consider this: More people have walked on the moon than there are piston-powered streamliners running in excess of 400 mph! George has done that over 50 times! That's impressive. The man brought a different presence to the sport being as laid back as I saw him. It was fun and intense running with him although a different class, it was still about the numbers, and he had them. Rest in peace, fast guy."
Rocky Robinson became, and remains, the fastest motorcycle rider on the planet with his 2010 certified world record of 367 mph astride the Ack Attack. His admiration is energetic: "Even though George competed on four wheels while we were on two, George and his team always set the tone for the event. They were usually the first team to set a blistering pace and oftentimes a new record. Wisdom and experience never failed George, who was always fast, always pushed the limits, and always did so with a smile on his face. Godspeed."
In 2010, Charles Nearburg, owner and driver of the Spirit of Rett streamliner, broke a record that had been untouched for 45 years in the normally aspirated category averaging 414 mph despite challenging track conditions. He offers, "I never viewed George as a competitor, because we were always running naturally aspirated engines and his were turbocharged. What we had was a mutual respect as we both wanted to perform at our best as we attempted to set the ultimate in piston engine speed records. This gave us an enduring camaraderie.
"I admire and respect George because he knew what he wanted to accomplish, and he used his leadership style and motivational skills to assemble an All-Star team and then—more importantly—enabled the team to work at a very high-level for so many years. He understood that persistence is 95% of any major success. That tenacity combined with his quiet courage allowed him to move beyond some very serious situations.
"All of George's outstanding land speed records were also accompanied by great humility that allowed him to share those amazing experiences with others in a modest and truthful way.
"From my perspective, he has perpetuated this legacy that we inherited from the likes of Al Teague, Tom Burkland, and Seth Hammond," he continued.
"Beyond racing, George also was instrumental in supporting and working with a great many imaginative and artistic craftsman. He engaged with them and provided them the wherewithal to create some legendary hot rods and street machines."
Tom Burkland, designer and driver of the family-built 411 streamliner, is undeniably the sport's longest serving, brilliant engineering mind who has unselfishly served all who asked him for help. Burkland stated, "George Poteet managed to squeeze a lot of land speed racing and other hot rodding into his life. He came to land speed racing rather late in life after making successful business decisions that allowed him to participate at any level he chose. From rather humble beginnings with streetable vehicles and mild hot rods he moved up the speed and complexity spectrum to eventually own and drive the fastest piston engine automobile.
"Along the way, he and the Speed Demon crew learned a few lessons about what works and what does not, which George took in stride and made the necessary changes to improve the car and the operation. This team set the standard for thorough preparation ahead of the race events and professional operations during them, always arriving at the track with the best possible equipment and making the most of every run down the track.
"George was always the Southern gentleman with grace and humility in every interaction. He was generous in spreading his teams' capabilities to others with loaned hardware, driver's given opportunities to participate that they would never have had on their own, and dispensing advice to keep others safe in their pursuit of the standards he had set.
"His hot rod building was a prolific portion of his life mostly separate from the land speed racing, and he managed to spread these projects around the country supporting numerous builders as they created many unique vehicles along the way. George set the bar high for each of us to carry on and replicate his generous approach to life while chasing his goals," he concluded.
God Speed my friend, until we meet again.
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