How a Baylor Bear became the ‘Fastest Man on Earth’ — and helped make seatbelts common
…ed as “The Fastest Man on Earth” for his rocket-sled work that set new land-speed records. The goal? Studying the effects of rapid deceleration upon the human body in order to improve the safety of pilots — using himself as a human guinea pig. After his test piloting days were through, Stapp continued his work on vehicle safety — leading a car-crash study program for the Air Force, and launching the Stapp Car Crash Conference (which continues toda…