Chapter 15 – Validation

Run 14

One more time…

“When you go out of your comfort zone and it works, there is nothing more satisfying” – Vera Wiig

We had done it!  Chris didn’t celebrate long.  He switched his mind on the Vegas to Reno race, which we were scheduled to leave for the day before.  I told him I would like to take one more run with the GoPro mounted behind the windshield.  He said he didn’t think it was a good idea. He was worried the motor would blow up or something bad would happen. 

I told him I’d only go 175, that the people who watch the video would never know it wasn’t a 200 mph run.  He didn’t respond.  When we got back to the RV, I reasoned with him again.  “What we’re doing is not safe” he said.

 Now he tells me!

I told him I felt very comfortable on the bike.  He paused.  Finally he said “Well, if you feel comforta….”  I was out the RV door before he finished his sentence. 

Dean helped me mount the GoPro to the inside of the windshield.  They had put the kickstand back on, and we left it.  There was no line to wait in– it was day 5.  I was given the green flag in minutes.

When we were returning from our 200-mph run, a sleek long dragster vehicle called “Speed Demon” had set a world record for the fastest piston-driven vehicle ever built by mankind – 469 mph, and we saw the streak across the salt.  There would surely be ruts out there from that run. 

For me, it was a bonus run, and it went great.  I hit 203 mph briefly and held over 200 for a long time.  There were 1” deep ruts in the salt that I crossed but I held it wide open, but up, and squeezed with my knees.

When I got my timing slip I had gone even faster by a shade – 202.36.  Validation.

The grand finale run. My goal, at least my first one for the trip had been accomplished.  Randall said it took him three years to break 200.  I spoke to two other riders who were stuck at 199 for their long careers.  I stopped to get my Class A license, which said I could go as fast as I wanted now.  It completed my set of four licenses.

We rode south on air and relief, 5 ½ hours to line up for the longest off-road race in the US – Vegas to Reno.  I’d be riding a very different machine this time. 

The goal – finish the 514 miles solo.