Two-time land speed record holder keeps breaking barriers

Former investment banker Valerie Thompson claimed her second 2000 APS PF class motorcycle land speed record at Bonneville in September. I caught up with her a few weeks later for this exclusive interview for MotorcylesMonthly.com and WomenMotorcyclistsMonthly.com magazines.

Ed Maurer, Editor

EM: You hold the motorcycle land speed record on 161.736 mph in the 2000 APS PF class. How is this class defined?

VT: The AMA speed record is based on a two-pass average. Our top speed was 161.7 mph, but the average turned out to be 156.7, which went into the record books under the 2000 APS PF class. The class code stands for 2000 cc's, Special Construction, Partially Streamlined Pushrod Fuel category.

EM:You held the AMA World Land Speed record in this same class at 145.647 mph. How does this record differ?

VT: Different class with different bike. That 145 mph record is for the 2000 APF class. We ran an open bike in 2006 and the complete custom built by Keith R. Ball of Bikernet.com’s 5-Ball Racing Team, for the partially streamlines class.

EM:How many times have you attempted to set the record? When? What classes/bikes?

VT: At Bonneville this year, it took 4 days with 7 total runs. No matter how many times I attempt to set or break a record I know I have the support of my sponsor, GoDaddy.com. Go Daddy, much like me, is fast, edgy and not afraid to take risks making them a great sponsor when I go for new land speed records.

EM: Describe how the speed trial is run—distance, etc.

VT: There are three courses, including a short course called “Run whatcha brung” for a mile, the “International” course of five miles, and the 11-mile “Streamliner” course. On the 5-mile course where I rode, I had 2 miles to blast up to speed and one timed mile, then 2 miles to slow down. It contains about 2 ½ miles of full throttle. We must run two passes within a calendar day or be disqualified and start over. We made one pass and if the pass was a success, we headed to the judging area to be checked and sealed for our next pass. No tuning was allowed between passes.

EM:Are the classes defined by gender? Do men and women compete head to head? Why?

VT: No gender classes….Why: We are all one big family.

EM:What type fuel does the bike run on? You have a nitrous oxide system on your bike. When do you use that?