Woman has Need for Speed; Scottsdale Racer sets record at Salt Flats
Sonu Munshi
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 16, 2006 12:00 AM

Scottsdale drag bike racer Valerie Thompson recently set a world land speed record at the 2006 International Motorcycle Speed Trials by BUB on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

Thompson clocked a record-setting pass of 137.715 mph and a return pass of 145.647 mph in the 2000cc A-PF class.

"It's a tremendous honor to be written in the speed record books," said the 34-year-old, who piloted a 120-inch Panhead Harley Davidson dubbed "Salt Shaker" down the 5-mile course. A native of Tacoma, Wash., Thompson came to Scottsdale in 1999 to attend Arizona Bike Week and relocated in 2004.

"I loved Scottsdale for the bike rides, I needed a change and I wanted to do something crazy," she said.

Thompson also was crowned "Miss Arizona Bike Week" in 2004.

Thompson is ranked third nationally in the Super Gas class of the All Harley Drag Racing Association, a club racing organization. She also participates in the V-Rod Destroyer class, riding a Screamin' Eagle 1300cc 170-plus horsepower V-Rod Destroyer Harley.

It has been quite a ride for Thompson, even though she has competed professionally for only the past two years.

"I'd like to break into the 200 mph club, and I'll do it by next year at Bonneville," she said.

Thompson's ultimate goal is to compete in the National Hot Rod Association's Pro Stock Bike class. Her idol is racer Angelle Savoie.

"I'd love to be like her," Thompson said.

Thompson has several sponsors, but there's always a need for more, she said. She added that it takes about $150,000 annually to compete in all 14 AHDRA races.

"People don't realize how hard it is for a woman to be in the business," she said. "Guys think we have boobs and look pretty so we can get sponsors easily. But I have to work as hard as any of them."