Skip to main content
search
Tag

Valerie Thompson

Jan 24

Save the Salt – Bonneville Report

By General Posts

5-Ball Racing and Bikernet.com set a record with the Salt Shaker, Valerie Thompson (her first) and Barry Wardlaw. Top speed 151.5 in 2006.

Restore Bonneville hopes new data will speed salt flat replenishment

The ongoing pursuit to preserve the Bonneville Salt Flats has scored another victory and SEMA, along with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Utah Geological Survey (UGS), and Intrepid Potash Inc. marked more progress in restoring the area’s precious salt.

A new well installed in the summer of 2021, along with equipment that will collect data on evaporation, will inform the preservation and replenishment of the salt flats as the Restore Bonneville program kicks off.

CLICK HERE To Read about the unique Salt Flats – it’s lot more than a speed test ground

How to Build a Bonneville Salt Flats Motorcycle documents the construction of “The Worlds Fastest Panhead,” conceived and assembled by Keith Ball, former editor or Easyriders magazine and current owner of Bikernet.com, the most popular biker stop on the internet.

CLICK HERE To Buy the Book – visit the 5-Ball Racing Shop

Dec 14

“America’s Queen of Speed” vacates record setting BUB 7 Streamliner after mass team resignations

By General Posts

PRESS RELEASE December 13, 2021

Valerie Thompson Vacates Pilot Seat in Manning’s BUB 7 Motorcycle Streamliner

America’s Queen of Speed cites lack of confidence after mass team resignations

Bonneville Salt Flats, UT (Dec. 13, 2021) – Ten-time land speed record holder Valerie Thompson announces, effective immediately, her separation from Denis Manning and the BUB 7 Streamliner Motorcycle team citing loss of confidence in the streamliner and designer Manning. Thompson has been piloting the former world-title holding motorcycle since 2016 and was Manning’s top funding source for the team.

Considered the “world’s fastest female motorcycle racer” after inking a 328 mph speed record, Thompson is an independent team owner/driver who competitively drag raced before focusing on land speed racing, eventually earning 10 Land Speed Records on two continents.

“We lost some essential crew members over the last few months,” said Thompson about her eroding confidence in the project. “The remaining crew contacted me late last week with the sad news they had quit and removed all their tools from the Team 7 Racing shop. Without this ‘super crew,’ I’m highly doubtful about the performance potential of the BUB 7 to re-capture the worlds fastest motorcycle title. More importantly, I’m concerned for my safety. These are not just my team mates, they’re my guardian angels.”

Each of the departing team members helped extract Thompson from the BUB 7 wreckage after a devastating 363 mph crash on Australia’s Lake Gairdner salt flats in 2018. “While I’m disappointed, I won’t be setting the fastest motorcycle record with Team 7 Racing, I’m heart broken the crew won’t see the results of their 36 months of painstaking re-building work. Each of them has volunteered countless hours in this quest. They deserve better,” added Thompson.

Thompson remains the principal driver of the dual-engine Target 550 streamliner owned by Oregonian and veteran land speed race team owner Marlo Treit. Treit’s 43-foot, 9,000-pound speed machine is vastly different than the BUB 7 motorcycle. The team’s goal is to break Tom Burkland’s 415 mph World Record set in 2008. Thompson exceeded the team’s testing goals on her first three test runs, clocking 218, 270 and 291 mph.

Thompson, often referred to as “America’s Queen of Speed,” is a lifetime member of multiple 200 and 300 MPH Clubs, a Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee, only female in the “World’s Top 10 Fastest Motorcycle Racers” rankings and aspiring pickleball pro.

###

Valerie Thompson Background

Valerie Thompson is the World’s Fastest Female Motorcycle Racer and 10X land speed record holder with membership in the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame. She is a member eight 200 MPH Clubs, one 300 MPH Club and the only female in the World’s Top 10 Fastest Motorcycle Racers rankings.

In addition to her relentless pursuit of new speed records, Valerie’s goals include earning a professional rating in her favorite sport of pickleball. She started playing less than a year ago and has already collected 6 medals in her first five tournaments playing women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

Additional Information
Valerie Thompson Racing (Website): http://www.valeriethompsonracing.com

Rockets and Titans Movie Teaser: https://youtu.be/obtG4f3-c8k

Valerie Thompson Racing (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/ValerieRacing/
Valerie Thompson Racing (Twitter): https://twitter.com/valeriethompson
Valerie Thompson Racing (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/valeriethompsonracing

300+mph Bonneville Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oT4fmXPol0&feature=youtu.be
363+ mph Australia World Speed Trials Crash Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl8NDTyeHqg&feature=youtu.be
Team Target 550 & Marlo Treit: https://www.target550.com/
Target 550 Video: https://youtu.be/_F8Mi6hWzmo

Oct 05

World’s Fastest Female Motorcycle Racer

By General Posts

Valerie on 5-Ball Racing Panhead built by Keith Ball

Valerie Thompson is the World’s Fastest Female Motorcycle Racer and a 10x land speed record holder with membership in the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame as well as eight 200 MPH Clubs and one 300 MPH Club.

She is consistently ranked as one of the World’s Top 10 Fastest Motorcycle Racers.

“The first time I raced at Bonneville, there were only 3 other female competitors, so we really stood out. A lot of people didn’t take me seriously until I established myself as a serious competitor capable of breaking records.” – Valerie Thompson

“I collected my first two records with team owner Keith Ball, who had a lot of faith in me and provided my first two record rides at Bonneville. Now I have Denis Manning, designer of the BUB 7 streamliner and AMA Hall of Fame member, as a mentor and team director.” – Valerie Thompson

Racing the BUB 7 during the 2018 Dry Lake Racers Australia (DLRA) Speed Week competition at Lake Gairdner, she set a new speed record of 328.467 mph (528.616 km/h) to become Australia’s fastest female streamliner motorcycle racer.

2022 Will Be a Busy Year on the Salt for Valerie.

Click Here to Read a Feature Article on Valerie on Bikernet.com

Join the Cantina for more – Subscribe Today.

Click To See the book on Building the Salt Shaker – a Panhead on which Valerie set her First Speed Record. “The Worlds Fastest Panhead ” by 5-Ball Racing Team.

Nov 19

BUB 7 Streamliner Lives – Rebuilding The Perfect Day

By General Posts

Inside the Rebuild of the BUB 7 Streamliner, as the Race for 400 mph Continues

“I’m still hungry, but I’m tired of chewing,” Denis Manning said with a laugh. The 73-year-old always seems to have the perfect one-liner to illustrate a point—in this case, his undying passion for building the world’s fastest motorcycle streamliner. “I knew when I was 15 years old that this was what I wanted to do,” Manning said. “And now, 55 years later!”

Fifty-seven years later, to be exact, the perfect moment was upon him and the Team 7 Racing crew on the salt of Lake Gairdner, Australia, at the 2018 World Speed Trials Australia meet. It was the final day of the meet, dawn was breaking and wind was at zero. It was the day the team and rider Valerie Thompson had been waiting for.

READ THE FEATURE ARTICLE AT BIKERNET – CLICK HERE

Oct 25

Valerie Thompson to Appear at SEMA Show

By General Posts

Valerie Thompson available for photos & autographs at Martech Services Company Display Throughout Week Long Las Vegas Show

Valerie Thompson, owner/driver of Valerie Thompson Racing (VTR), will be hosting autograph and photo opportunities at the Martech Services Company display (Booth 10419) at the upcoming SEMA show in Las Vegas from Oct. 30 – Nov. 3 from 9 am till 3 pm daily. She will also make appearances at the CTEK Battery Chargers booth during the APEX Show (Booth 852)

Thompson set 3 new land speed records this year in her campaign to become the world’s fastest motorcycle team owner/driver. Her Martech Services Company sponsored S1000RR is now the fastest production land speed racing BMW Superbike after she ran a top speed over 209 mph at the Mojave Magnum event in June. She now holds three land speed records in East Coast Timing Associations (ECTA) events and two records at famed the Bonneville Salt Flats BUB Speed Trials.

“I have attended the SEMA Show many times, but this time is really special for me. The owners of my primary sponsors, Martech Quality Air Breathing Systems and La-Man Corporation are Paul and Cindy Wright, who have been long-time friends. They took a chance on sponsoring me as a first time owner/driver of a land speed racing team. Without their support, we could never have achieved the great success we enjoyed this year. I’m excited to sing their praises at SEMA and consider myself lucky to have a sponsor whose products are as great as their friendship,” said Thompson.

Thompson added, “I will also be working with my long-time sponsor, CTEK Battery Chargers, at the APEX Show. Ken Palmann and his team at CTEK have been wonderful to work with, they truly do make the smartest battery chargers in the world. We have a lot of giveaways for APEX & SEMA, including hero cards, Stay Fast clothing, CTEK Comfort Indicators, and Martech Service Company racing shirt since we expect a lot of booth traffic at both events.”

Sep 20

Valerie Thompson To Compete at Ohio's Throttle Nation Challenge

By General Posts

 

Valerie Thompson, owner/driver of Valerie Thompson Racing (VTR), will return to Southern Ohio to attempt breaking her own land speed record of 197.46 mph in the PP-1000 Production motorcycle class posted earlier this year at the East Coast Timing Association’s (ECTA) Ohio Mile event at Airborne Park in Wilmington Ohio during the Throttle Nation Top Speed Challenge event September 29 -30.

 
“We are looking forward to returning to Wilmington for the “Throttle Nation Top Speed Challenge’ with the goal of breaking our own record of 197.46 mph set during the Ohio Mile event held here in June,” said Thompson. “Setting new records in Ohio means a great deal to me since it is the home state of two of my loyal sponsors, CTEK Battery Chargers and JEGS, in addition to being headquarters of the American Motorcycle Association,” added Thompson.

Thompson’s Martech Services Company sponsored S1000 RR Superbike, is reportedly the world’s fastest production land speed BMW motorcycle after recording a top speed of 209.5 mph on a 1.5-mile race course at the Mojave Magnum competition earlier this year.

“Wilmington has become one of my favorite racing venues due to their excellent track surface and the quality of service provided by all the ECTA volunteers who make it possible for us to race safely. I’ve also become a big fan of Graeter’s Ice Cream and Cincinnati style chili, so all of us on the team love returning to Ohio for this event,” said Thompson.

The long-standing competition was re-named the “Ohio Mile” when the event was moved from Maxton North Carolina to Wilmington Ohio when the Airborne Park facility became available earlier this year.

Thompson is a three-time land speed record holder and owner/driver of the Valerie Thompson Land Speed Racing Motorcycle Team. She competed in the All Harley Drag Racing Association & National Hot Rod Association drag racing series and was recently selected to pilot the North American Eagle Supersonic Speed Challenger designed to eclipse the 512 mph female world land speed record set in 1976. If successful, Thompson will be crowned the “World’s Fastest Female.”

Valerie Thompson Racing sponsors include: Martech Services Company – maker of quality air breathing systems, CTEK Battery Chargers, JEGS, La-Man Corporation, Troon Enterprises, Stay Fast Custom Clothing Company, GO AZ Motorcycles of Scottsdale, Metro Auto Auction, Vortex Racing, Worldwide Bearings, Stand Up Photos, Hyperpro Performance Suspension Products, Shorai Battery, and ZipFizz Healthy Energy Drink.