Thompson in 340 mph crash
Valerie Thompson survived a horrific crash in the Team “ 7 ” Racing Streamliner while attempting to capture the world ’ s fastest motorcycle title during the 28th Annual Speed Week and World Speed Trials competition at the Lake Gairdner dry lake bed in South Australia . While falling short of the ultimate goal to become the world ’ s fastest motorcycle , the team collected a new speed record and proved the superiority of leading- edge streamliner design by team engineers Denis Manning and John Jans . Hosted by the Dry Lakes Racers Australia ( DLRA ), the 28th Annual Speed Week competition was open to cars , motorcycles and trucks . The World Speed Trials , a first-time event for motorcycles only , was held March 17-19 . Thompson set a new streamliner record of 328.467 mph ( 528.616 km / h ) during the Speed Week competition on March 15 , earning her membership in the Dry Lake Racers Australia 200 and 300 MPH Clubs . She is only the second competitor to gain membership in the DRLA 300 MPH Club and was honored with the “ Fast Lady on the Lake ” award . Thompson ’ s attempt to break the world ’ s overall fastest motorcycle record of 376.36 mph ( 605.69 m / h ) on the last day of the World Speed Trials went horribly wrong . When she
Photo credit : FIM - Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
had just passed the four-mile marker on a twelve-mile course the rear of her streamliner rose off the racing surface , sending the vehicle airborne at 343.7 mph . Parachutes slowed the vehicle as it flipped and rolled multiple times , scattering wreckage for more than a mile across the Lake Gairdner salt flats . Thompson walked away with only minor bruises and lacerations . “ We had a singular goal of running 377 + mph to capture the record during the World Speed Trials . We used Speed Week to test and tune the bike , and I ’ m happy we set a new record and received the ‘ Fast Lady on the Lake Award ’,“ said Thompson . “ The wreck during the World Speed Trials was unfortunate , but we are not giving up on our quest for the new record . Most importantly , we proved the superiority of the moncoque carbon fiber design and safety features utilized by Denis Manning and John Jans . “ Without their dedication to high speed safety engineering , I would not have walked away - nobody has ever walked away from a 340 + mph crash on a motorcycle . I ’ d also like to thank the DLRA and all their race course workers who helped ensure my safety ,” added a grateful Thompson . “ We ’ ve not yet determined what caused the problem - we ’ ll know more once we analyze the onboard data collection systems and review films in more detail ,” said bike designer and AMA Hall of Fame member Denis Manning . “ Valerie did an incredible riding job , doing everything she was supposed to and more .
Indian Wheels and Waves Support
Indian Motorcycle has announced that it will return this year as the main sponsor of the increasingly popular 7th annual Wheels and Waves ( Biarritz , France , June 14- 18 ). Returning for the second year as the event ’ s main sponsor , Indian Motorcycle is offering show attendees a 4-day pass for automatic entry to win a Scout Bobber and test ride the fleet of Scout Bobbers , Scouts and Scout Sixty bikes . Indian will also entertain crowds with its “ Wall of Death ” in the main village with the Indian Dirt Riders Association ( DTRA ). “ Wheels and Waves is all about riding culture . This gathering is a time for pure pleasure and the essentials of living . For four days Wheels and Waves stimulates all the senses . The power of the road exposes all kinds of sensations and is tamed by the strength of the sea , the harmony of the wind
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and the waves , all while the south west sun burns down on the tarmac , steel and sand .” On Saturday 17th June “ fans will ride over the Basque country border with Spain to San Sebastian for a day of flat track racing . Indian will be there with its ‘ DTRA Hooligan ’ team and swag bags for those who get in the queue first .” Founded in 2008 , the Wheels and Waves event is the successful realization of the dream of a group of friends , the Southsiders , who are passionate about motorcycles . Lovers of the Basque Country , Julen Azé ,
The existing world record was set in 2010 by Rocky Robinson in the twin Hyabusa engined Ack Attack streamliner . It had previously been twice set by Flat Track race legend Chris Carr in an earlier iteration of the current “ 7 ” bespoke 3 liter 90-degree V4 engined streamliner . Both teams are engaged in a duel to put the record over the illusive 400 mph mark , with Team Ack Attack having gone to the Salar de Uyuni high altitude ( 12,500 ft ) salt flat in Bolivia - the biggest salt flat on Earth ( 4,000 sq miles ) in the same search for salt that took Valerie Thompson and her team to Australia . The record that Carr set in what was then called the BUB Seven Streamliner ( at Bonneville Salt Flats in September 2009 ) was a two-way average speed of 367.382 mph to set a new FIMsanctioned International and AMA-sanctioned National land speed record for motorcycles - Carr having piloted it to a 372.534 mph run on the way to that record .
Thompson is an eight-time land speed record holder on a variety of bikes ranging from Harley-Davidsons to BMWs and streamliners . She is a member of seven land speed racing 200 MPH Clubs , one 300 MPH Club and the first female to exceed 300 mph in Australia .
Vincent Prat and Jerome Allé have brought together hundreds of like-minded individuals who gather in the spirit of companionship . “ Wheels and Waves is about eliminating social barriers and bringing different sets of people together without judgement . It ’ s about the joy of mixing together all kinds of communities , languages and cultures . It ’ s about living in the present without being nostalgic for the past , but not losing sight of the best moments of the past .” www . wheels-and-waves . com
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