The World's Fastest ...
occupant, Valerie, to the outside world. A mile later, the
BUB 7 streamliner comes to rest.
The small world of Land Speed / Dry Lake Racers stands
in silence. There’s no news. Hardened men and women
avoid eye contact, tears welling perhaps indicating how
this close knit ‘family’ feel.
In the distance emergency vehicles start to move, a
murmur filters through the Speed Week pits, the usual
business of preparing highspeed machines is again taken
up. I look to Andrew, as if to question the happenings, he
shrugs and motions toward the Team 7 area.
Valerie is alright. Cuts and bruises, a hell of a ride,
nothing more.
Struggling to comprehend what has happened, I seek
answers. None forthcoming. Understandable. An attempt
to become the fastest person on earth, on two wheels has
come to a dramatic end.
Today, records do fall. Yet, selfishly, they seem insig-
nificant. I desperately wanted to see Valerie Thompson
become the fastest person on earth.
Dejected, walking back to the bar, the bustle around me
builds, the drone of an engine on the horizon increases
with the machines speed. I don’t look back. I’m thank-
ful, Valerie is alright … thankful to have witnessed this
attempt … thankful to have been a part of Speed Week …
Valerie Thompson might not have set the records she
aimed at, she did set an Australian record for the fastest
motorcycle at 328.467 mph (528.626 km/h) and became
one of only three people to hold a 300+ mph record, on
either 2 or 4 wheels.
Ben Felten, who is legally blind set a World Record for
a blind person by riding at 165.71 mph (266.685 km/h)
aboard his Kawasaki ZX-10R, with the help of former mo-
torcycle Grand Prix racer, Kevin Magee. Many more re-
cords fell.
Speed Week is one of those things you must see at least
once in your life, if not for the racing then for the amazing
scenery and the feeling of being welcomed.
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