,
For good measure, the next morning Nick, Sean and John realigned the car using jack stands and a random spool of spot tie. Previously, we had only used toe plates to adjust the rear toe which are not as accurate as string a car.
After verifying the toe again, we got back in line and waited helplessly for hours as a storm lingered in the distance. A downed motorcycle rider and shortage of paramedics would bring the event to a complete halt for the next several hours. There were only three ambulances for the entire city of Wendover, and with the motorcycle accident taking one out of commission and the other two suddenly in use due to emergencies in town, the officials couldn't continue the event without a ready ambulance present. Meanwhile, the winds began pick up and rain could be seen in the distance.
When we finally reached the starting line, we looked over to find ourselves staged next to Danny Thompson, the son of Mickey Thompson.
For those of you outside the LSR community, this was a small piece of land speed racing history. Picking up where his father left off, Danny Thompson is out to capture the record for the fastest piston engined car at over 400 MPH. His weapon of choice, an AWD streamliner powered by a pair of 2,000 horsepower nitro fueled Hemi V8s.
We’d be witness to Danny making an incredible 419 MPH pass. Now it was our turn.After walking away unscathed from the previous day’s 193 MPH spin, I’d be a damn liar if I said I wasn’t concerned about making another attempt at the 200 MPH mark. The team had worked too hard for me to get scared and quit now. Visions of the car hurling through the air like the infamous Racing Beat RX-7 filled my mind as I waited on the starting line though. Finally, when the starting line official gave me the signal, I said “Screw it!” and mashed on the throttle tattooing two black lines across the salt’s surface.
Watch our second attempt at 200 MPH above
