He also set several American Motorcyclist Association Class C speed records including a 111.55 mph (179.52 km/h) run at Daytona in 1938 on an Indian Chief that he had tuned himself.

[3] He joined the Army Air Force as an aircraft maintenance officer during the Second World War; during this time, he was stationed at Hill Field in Utah, where he first saw the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Free adopted a style used by other racers, such as Norman Teleford, of lying flat on the machine's seat,[4] thereby minimizing wind resistance and moving its center of gravity rearward.

However, when his leathers tore from early runs at 147 mph (237 km/h), he discarded them and made a final attempt without a jacket, pants, gloves, boots, or helmet.

Free lay flat on the motorcycle wearing only a bathing suit, a shower cap, and a pair of borrowed sneakers – inspired by his friend Ed Kretz.