Author Topic: Valerie Thompson at Lake Gairdner  (Read 24893 times)

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Offline trimmers

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Valerie Thompson at Lake Gairdner
« on: March 12, 2018, 04:15:09 PM »
Fox News (internet) has a piece on Ms. Thompson that says she's going after Ack Attack's record this weekend.  Anybody know anything else?
------------- 1 of just 3 in all 3  -------------
USFRA 130 MPH Club 09/18/2008 136.757
USFRA 150 MPH Club 09/17/2009 152.162
Bonneville 200 MPH Club 09/15/2019 218.600
Best Run: 253.080 MPH 09/14/2019 #6556

Offline 4-barrel Mike

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Mike Kelly - PROUD owner of the V4F that powered the #1931 VGC to a 82.803 mph record in 2008!


Offline Rob

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Re: Valerie Thompson at Lake Gairdner
« Reply #3 on: March 15, 2018, 08:40:34 PM »
For those wondering, Valerie ran 328 and change at Speed Week, Target 550 made 345 and change after lunching a head. It's Friday here so no doubt news will start filtering out in the next few hours.

Offline tallguy

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Re: Valerie Thompson at Lake Gairdner
« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2018, 03:44:34 AM »
Good going, Valerie!  The record may be yours some day -- if your bike is capable.  Please don't give up.

(For what it's worth, it seems silly to specify "women's record" in any discussion, because the sex/gender is not an issue.  If one wants to be silly like that, why not
specify "blonde record" or record for "someone between 5 feet and 5 feet 3 inches tall"??)

I'm a big fan of yours.  Keep up the good work.  And you might want to talk to Mike Akatiff about riding for him some day, should your
present bike not be up to the task . . . just a suggestion.  Or develop/build a new bike for this.  There's always room for improvement, right?
Expensive, you say?  Just do what I do . . . go out into the back yard, to the money tree . . . and pluck off a bunch of large bills.

Offline Rob

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Re: Valerie Thompson at Lake Gairdner
« Reply #5 on: March 16, 2018, 04:19:45 AM »
I think she/they'll get serious at the FIM meet aka "World Speed Trials" after Speed Week.

Offline TrickyDicky

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Re: Valerie Thompson at Lake Gairdner
« Reply #6 on: March 16, 2018, 05:08:28 AM »
Will there be FIA timing at the FIM meet? So Target 550 can run. Or are they done for this trip down under?

Offline Rob

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Re: Valerie Thompson at Lake Gairdner
« Reply #7 on: March 16, 2018, 05:54:51 AM »
The FIM meet is a bike meet so no Target 550.

Offline TrickyDicky

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Re: Valerie Thompson at Lake Gairdner
« Reply #8 on: March 16, 2018, 06:55:33 AM »
The FIM meet is a bike meet so no Target 550.

Thanks for reply Rob. I think I have read elsewhere that Target 550 broke something and no spare parts, so could not run any more on this trip.

Is Valerie the only streamliner entered for the FIM meet?

Offline Rob

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Re: Valerie Thompson at Lake Gairdner
« Reply #9 on: March 16, 2018, 06:29:21 PM »
I heard Target 550 dropped a valve and stuffed a head that they could not repair for reasons unknown to me.

I don't know of the entries for the FIM meet sorry.

Offline joea

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Re: Valerie Thompson at Lake Gairdner
« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2018, 06:47:09 PM »
Tall guy ..you might want to do more research on the contenders ie the Ack liner and Valerie liner ...

based on your comments above





Offline trimmers

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Re: Valerie Thompson at Lake Gairdner
« Reply #11 on: March 18, 2018, 10:30:45 PM »
According to my watch, Sunday is long gone Down Under.  Did anybody get any numbers on Valerie that they can post?
------------- 1 of just 3 in all 3  -------------
USFRA 130 MPH Club 09/18/2008 136.757
USFRA 150 MPH Club 09/17/2009 152.162
Bonneville 200 MPH Club 09/15/2019 218.600
Best Run: 253.080 MPH 09/14/2019 #6556

Offline ack

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Re: Valerie Thompson at Lake Gairdner
« Reply #12 on: March 18, 2018, 10:52:25 PM »
Bub 7 crashes at 300 Valerie OK

Offline Rob

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Re: Valerie Thompson at Lake Gairdner
« Reply #13 on: March 19, 2018, 12:31:30 AM »
Via the DLRA Facebook page.

"I have just some news sent through to me from some people who stayed to watch the World Speed Trials Australia this morning.

Valerie Thompson Racing in the Seven Motorcycle Streamliner crashed on her run. She got out of the streamliner after the crash by herself and is OK.
Details are the streamliner was in the air at some point and slid for a long way.

Very sad news for the team that have come so far and waited for the right time to run.

More details I guess tonight will come to hand via the FIM - Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme page."

and an earlier post on the FIM page.

"Two Speed World Record fall at World Speed Trials Australia in Lake Gairdner 🇦🇺 👏👏
___________________
#FIM World Records have officially come to South Australia’s Lake Gairdner! Two new world-record speeds were achieved on day two of the World Speed Trials Australia by riders Steve Kell and Greg Watters in their respective classes, also marking the first FIM World Records (pending ratification by the FIM) set in Australia.

It was another windy day on the salt on Sunday, 18 March, with a steady breeze running up the course, at times surpassing the maximum wind component allowed by FIM rules (17.6 km/h, 11 mph). But racers sat poised at the start, ready to take advantage of breaks in wind to make their runs, and their patience paid off.

“Today started with iffy conditions due to the wind,” said Steve Kell. “Patience was required, which we all have done as competitors. It’s been touch-and-go all day, but within the small windows that cropped up, we were able to make a good run. It was a wild ride coming back; it wasn’t pretty, but we got there.”

Kell reached a speed of 250.148 km/h (155.435 mph) for a new record in the non-streamlined, naturally aspirated 750cc class (I.A1.A I.3+ 750cc). The Queensland native was nearly the first to set a world record at Lake Gairdner, but barely missed out on the distinction to Watters.

“Greg Watters beat me by about 20 minutes,” Kell said with a laugh.

Watters broke ground with the first world-record performance in Australia, his coming in the non-streamlined, forced induction 1600cc class (I.A1.A II.3+ 1600cc). Watters took his turbo-charged Suzuki Hayabusa to an average speed of 337.231 km/h (209.545 mph).

“We went down 216 (mph) and returned 203,” said Watters. “It’s not making all the power it should be; I got a boost-controller problem. But it will be a world record (pending FIM ratification).”

Runs were also completed by other competitors such as Ben Felten, the totally blind competitor riding with the assistance of former GP racer Kevin Magee. Felten and Magee made multiple runs on the course aboard their Kawasaki ZX-10R motorcycles, allowing the duo to get a feel for the course and fine-tune their coordination. Like several others, Felten plans to make his world-record attempt tomorrow—Monday 19 March, the third and final day of the World Speed Trials Australia—when weather conditions are expected to be optimum.

As for Valerie Thompson and the Team 7 Racing streamliner, which is far more sensitive to the wind due to its size and speed, they also plan to make their grand attempt tomorrow. The track conditions are nearly perfect, with a smooth, solid 12-mile track, but all they need now is still air to complete an aggressive run. Text and photos Jean Turner"

« Last Edit: March 19, 2018, 12:34:00 AM by Rob »

Offline kiwi belly tank

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Re: Valerie Thompson at Lake Gairdner
« Reply #14 on: March 19, 2018, 11:43:10 AM »
Bike liner drivers are a special breed of people. "When" they fall over at 300-ish, they stand em back up, patch up the wounds & go again. Valerie has my respect & admiration. You go girl! 8-)
  Sid.