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Ab Jenkins | |
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| Born | David Abbott Jenkins January 25, 1883 Spanish Fork, Utah Territory, U.S. |
| Died | August 9, 1956 (aged 73) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Resting place | Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Known for | set numerous World land speed records, 15 of which remain current, mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah 1940-1944. when he died, at age 73, in 1956, he had established more world's automobile records than any man in history. |
| Spouse | Evelyn Thorstenberg Jenkins |
| Children | 3 |
David Abbott "Ab" Jenkins (January 25, 1883 – August 9, 1956) was the 24th mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah between 1940 and 1944. He was a professional race car driver. Jenkins' interest in motorsports began with racing motorcycles on dirt tracks and across country. He then became interested in land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats. He was instrumental in establishing Bonneville as a location for such events, and in attracting overseas drivers such as George Eyston and Sir Malcolm Campbell to compete there.
He drove the Duesenberg "Mormon Meteor" [1] to a 24-hour average land speed record of 135 miles per hour (217 km/h) in 1935. In 1940 Jenkins set the 24-hour record of a 161.180 mph (259.394 km/h) average that lasted for 50 years (until 1990).[2]
He died on a visit to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[3]
- ^ "1935 Mormon Meteor Duesenberg SJ Speedster". Sports Car Market. November 2004.
- ^ Ab Jenkins: Son Of The Salt
- ^ Oregonian, August 11, 1956, Page 15.