A 1952 Ford 8N tractor dubbed the “8NCREDIBLE” is reported to have taken the title of world’s fastest farm tractor, reaching a speed of 96.3185 miles per hour and breaking a record that has stood for 81 years.

The flathead Ford V8 powered tractor, built and driven by Jack Donohue of Fletcher, North Carolina, broke the record at an event held recently on a concrete  landing strip  in Wilmington, Ohio, known as the “Ohio Mile,” according to Steven Moore with Donahue Motorsports.

In 1935, David Abbott “Ab” Jenkins crossed Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats at a 67.677 mph on a factory backed 1932 Allis Chalmers model U.  

Donohue has a background in farming and is a former NASCAR driver and car builder.  During an interview at Donohue’s North Carolina shop, he said: “I was raised on a dairy farm and grew up on an 8N.  In fact, that was the first thing I ever drove.  During the years I was in professional racing, I restored a few 8N tractors, even converted some to V8’s as a hobby.  I enjoyed it so much that I decided when I retired from NASCAR, I might try and to go after the Jenkins tractor record with a racing version of an 8N.

“Few people, including today’s professional racers, have a foggy clue who Ab Jenkins was or a single thing about feats he accomplished behind the wheel during his lifetime.  Forget Clark Kent  . . .  Ab Jenkins will always be Superman to me.  I admit, I’m very proud of the tractor record, but it’s only one of many that Jenkins still holds and this is almost 60 years after his passing,” Donohue said.

Donahue plans to return to the Ohio Mile in the spring 2016 and try to eclipse the 100-mile-per-hour barrier with his 8N, which he feels with a few mechanical refinements can be done.    

Donohue  also plans to enter his tractor at  the August 2016 Speedweek  at  the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover Utah, a dry -ake run at  El Mirage California  in September, and the “Texas Mile “ in Beeville Texas in October.  All are sanctioned World Land Speed Record events.