Prayers going out to the friends/family of this guy.... Not sure who it was, just saw a nasty motorcycle wreck on the course today about 11-11:30 am. Crashed at about 240 MPH, bike was airborn from what I could see, then burned. Hope the rider is ok. Anyone know any details on this?
The rider is Jason McVicar, riding a turbocharged Suzuki Hayabusa. Earlier this week, Jason made two runs at over 240 and one just over 250. Earlier today, Jon Wennerberg, "Seldom Seen Slim" posted this on his LandRacing.com site: Nancy was next, right behind him, for a long course run when he left. The bike started fine, he rode off going sharply to the right side of the course to get on good salt, and the bike sounded dandy as he went through the gears. We spent a few moments getting Nancy suited up, and heard Glen call out "We've got a rider down - let's roll!" We stood around for a while and were in pretty deep shock, and Nancy chose to move over to the short course to make a run since the long course was on hold. A while later a person pretty close to Jason's team called me to let me know some information (since the official policy is to not release anything at all 'til much better information is available). I heard that his rear tire let go at about the 3 1/2. He went 236 in the quarter, so we can GUESS that he was doing 240 or more when the tire let go. He (Jason) was seen by a bystander up there cartwheeling for a while -- off the bike, then maybe (MAYBE) he and the bike got close together again before once more going separate ways. Anyway, the bike burned to the ground. Jason was in the ambulance soon thereafter, moving arms and legs, helmet REMOVED, and was coherent and talking. He was taken to the local medical facility and X-Rayed and Ultravioleted and released. Last I heard he was in town looking for some trousers (I guess they had to cut the leathers off -- don't know why he didn't get pants out of the room) so he could return to the salt. He had a bike in impound when he made the run-gone-bad. Don't know if he's in any condition to ride the return run on that bike tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, today will be the end of qualifying runs for SpeedWeek 2008. Anyone in impound tonight will run the return run in the morning, then the meet will end. We're forecasting leaving Wendover by late tomorrow afternoon, clean-up of the course completed. Dave http://www.roadsters.com/
Wow...crashes on the salt at around 240mph and then goes shopping for some trousers later in the day! That is some serious bad-***ery right there. Glad he was okay.
Word is that on the way to the hospital, the ambulance had a flat. They stopped to fix it, and then the jack broke. Unfazed, Jason hopped out, put his back to the back bumper, squatted down, and lifted the back end long enough for the paramedics to change the tire. Just before reaching the hospital, the paramedics updated the waiting nurses on Jason's adventures. As soon as they pulled in, several hysterical nurses ran out and tore Jason's pants off and ran off with them. Keep watching on eBay. Maybe it's just a rumor. Dunno. Dave http://www.roadsters.com/
I can tell you this: I saw the crash, and the fact that he survived, let alone is fine, is absolutely INCREDIBLE. My hat's off to that cat!
I knew a motorcycle racer years ago by name of Kenny McIvar. I wonder if they are related. Kenny would in his late 70's now.
that guy is my new hero. The only way he could be any cooler to me would be by foiling a mugging or delivering a baby on the way to the hospital.
I don't even know how the guy can get on the bike, let alone ride it...with BALLS THAT BIG!! Bike racers of all types are the craziest people on earth. Just go to an AMA Mile Flat Track race sometime and you'll be amazed. I've ridden half miles and short tracks before and I'm just glad to be able to still walk and talk.
One of the scariest things I've EVER done was to got over 170mph on a bike on the salt (it was a 190mph bike I was getting my long course license). I cant imagine going 240.... much less coming off.... much less living to tell the tale. I'd buy a lottery ticket if I were Jason.
My second biggest fear is coming off my race bike at speed. (fire is the first) It's something you mentally prepare for, but hope never happens
Not many people can say they have crashed at 240 and lived... Thank God he wasn't going faster thn his angel.
It's true that a very few drivers have lost their lives in the 60 years of Bonneville Speed Trials, no Motorcycle rider has suffered a faitality during a speed run.
The part on here about an interview with Jay Leno sure would be interesting to listen to . Anybody on here got enough clout to get him on?
Interview. How about Dave Despain on speed channel as an alternative to Jay Leno. Glad the guy is okay.
Today, over on LandRacing.com, Randall Parker said this: "It appears that Jason hit some debris in the form of a cylinder wall section / compression ring from an automobile. Tom Evans at Impound had the debris parts in the SCTA trailer. This caused the tire to go flat. Jason told me that he was riding through it when the bike veered sharply to the left. This bucked him off and he high-sided at 243 mph. He said, "Then I just skipped across the salt, got some abrasions, and my back and knee are sore, but I'm OK." He told me that from his room at the State Line over the phone just before he headed out for dinner. He did say the bike "broke in half"."
Jason is a good friend to me and many others in his home town of Vancouver. WE just got the news yesterday with no detailes, did not know if he was badly hurt or worse. Got word today he and his dad Sam and friends Rob ,and Jack Williams are safely on there way home. Thanks to all that helped our friend in his time of need.
The last thing that SCTA officials, volunteers, and racers want to see is more media coverage of accidents. As for Leno, he needs to get his tongue out of Kevin Eubanks' ***. This is the band that Leno fired: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuQSIHVJ56A
Over on LandRacing.com, the rider, Jason, has posted this: "I am home now and really beat up. This wasn't the record I was trying to set! Going to sleep for a few days, and I'll be back at it shortly. My helmet has one scuff, my leathers (one-piece NJKs) did not burn through or tear. Even my gloves were okay. Thanks for the well wishes."
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