200MPH Club

The 200MPH Club is an exclusive group of race car drivers who have officially achieved speeds of 200 miles per hour or faster during sanctioned motorsport events, earning recognition as an elite achievement in the racing community.

Think of the 200MPH Club like an honor roll for speed. Just as students earn recognition for academic excellence, race car drivers earn membership in this special club by reaching the incredible milestone of 200 mph during an official racing event. This isn't something that happens on a practice run or a casual test drive—the speed must be recorded with proper timing equipment and witnessed at a sanctioned event to count.

The most famous 200MPH Club was established in 1953 at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, a massive stretch of dried salt that creates a perfectly flat natural racetrack. The club was founded by Dean Batchelor and Lou Kimzey with support from Bill Quinn during that year's Bonneville Nationals in September. The first members included Willie Young, Art Chrisman, George Hill, John "Sonny" Rogers, and Otto Ryssman, with Captain G.E.T. Eyston serving as the first president.

Members of the Bonneville 200MPH Club receive a distinctive red hat that instantly identifies them within the motorsport community. This simple piece of headwear has become a powerful symbol of achievement and courage. Other racing venues have created their own versions of the club with different colored hats—the East Coast Timing Association at Maxton awards green hats, while El Mirage's club is nicknamed the "Dirty 2s" because drivers race on dirt rather than salt.

Reaching 200 mph requires more than just a fast car. Drivers need exceptional skill, tremendous courage, and complete trust in their vehicle's engineering. Many drivers spend years preparing for their attempt, fine-tuning their machines and building their experience. At these extreme speeds, even small mistakes can have serious consequences, which is why membership in the 200MPH Club commands such respect.

As racing technology has improved over the decades, simply hitting 200 mph has become less rare than it once was. Some clubs now require drivers to break existing records above 200 mph rather than just reaching the threshold. This ensures the achievement remains meaningful and continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in motorsport.

The 200MPH Club has expanded beyond Bonneville to include venues like The Texas Mile, El Mirage, and Maine. The Bonneville club also voted to include foreign drivers who meet their requirements, recognizing that speed achievements transcend national boundaries. For those who push even further, there are higher-level chapters: the 300 MPH Club awards blue hats, and the incredibly rare 400 MPH Club awards black hats to its members.