11/01/2025
Glen Scott Guthrie Jr, “Scott”, 80, died peacefully of cancer in Tallahassee on October 29, which was a surprisingly ordinary ending for the first man who had been clocked over 250 miles-per-hour in an automobile and on a motorcycle.
Scott grew up in Sarasota, Florida before getting his degrees from Florida State University. He swam breast stroke for the FSU swim team from 1962 to 1966, contributing to the 400 yard medley relay record that stood for many years. He continued swimming his whole life, competing in Masters swimming in a career that spanned more than sixty years, placing in the Top Ten of swimmers (in his age group) nationally every year for his final 36 years including several national and world championships.
Inspired by articles in Hot Rod magazine, he decided to enter the “mother of all speed events” on the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1973 and to the surprise of many, set a record his first time out. The next year he proved he had the talent to race by setting four records in one week, a feat rarely accomplished by any racer.
Scott archived many record runs in and on vehicles of his own creation including a home-made car that ran over 258 mph powered by a 1000cc engine. He followed this record by riding another team’s street bike over 251 mph. With over 60 land speed records, he was known as the “Sultan of Speed”. In 2022 he was selected as the Bonneville 200 MPH Club’s Person of the Year, the highest award offered at the Bonneville racing track.
Scott was greatly respected and loved by his racing colleagues who valued his insights and advice. He was always happy to share stories about what happened on the track, both tragedies and triumphs. Extraordinarily, like a musician with perfect pitch, he could listen to a bike pass by, out of sight, and recite its make, model and size. Because of his many years as a racer and his good recollection, he was asked to write a monthly column on his experiences for the Bonneville Racing News.
His success in motorcycle racing led to his life’s work as an Expert Witness. For almost forty years, Scott traveled the country giving testimony, explaining to judges and juries how a motorcycle accident happened and whether it could have been prevented
If there was one event in Scott’s life that shaped him for the better, it was having Ellen as his wife for 55 years. Her gentle prodding shifted him in positive directions. A mutual friend by chance introduced Scott to Ellen Bacon, in Berkeley California where both were summering in 1968. Though both went to the same Junior and Senior high schools in Sarasota and both attended FSU they had not previously met. She was the true love of his life.
On the race track and off, he was generous, empathetic and first to lend a hand with his expertise to all who could benefit. His friends and family will dearly miss his lively wit, love of fine food and company, colorful stories and ability to speak with an unusually expansive understanding on many and varied topics; he left us in awe more times than not.
Scott’s long-time racing partner, John Levie, will host a Celebration of Life on the morning of August 1, 2026 following the driver’s meeting at the Bonneville Speedweek event in Wendover, Utah.
