Valerie poses on Salt Shaker, built by Keith Ball of Bikernet.com. Valerie rode this to her first land speed record in 2006.
When you think banker you think gray suit, calculator at the ready, someone with an unworldly knack for crunching numbers that more than likely didn’t make your list of friends on Facebook.
Now picture said banker in a sexy GoDaddy.com commercial alongside Danica Patrick strutting her stuff on national television during the Super Bowl. Media magnate, Valerie Thompson, is a professional drag racer, a team owner, and a world land speed record holder. She left the banking business after 13 years, trading in her gray pants suit for a pair of tight fitting leathers. The calculator was tossed in favor of the proverbial can of whup-ass, and yes, Valerie actually is one of my friends on Facebook.
Besides capitalizing on her marketability as a top level NHRA Pro Stock motorcycle racer, her passion and focus are directed at making a difference in the lives of others by helping those in need. In support of our Troops, Valerie's team provides a portion of their sponsorship dollars to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Valerie also donates her time visiting hospitals to lend support and inspiration to those overcoming personal challenges. She has a special place in her heart for children and organizations that support this work such as HopeKids.org. On a personal level, Valerie recently contributed to our own charity event, the Ride Annie Ride benefit run for a young gal stricken with cancer. She provided VTR Racing shirts, a placard, and other cool racing stuff for Annie and her 3 ½ year old son, Jake.
From the streets of Arizona to the local drag strip, Valerie launches on her street legal 2000 Fat Boy.
I asked Valerie how she got her start in drag racing: “I did a lot of street racing down Scottsdale Road until a friend told me I was out of control. His advice was to take it to the track. I did two months later with my 2000 Fat Boy. I haven’t left the track since.”
From 2005 – 2007 Valerie competed in the AHDRA. (All Harley Drag Racing Assoc.) She ran the first few races aboard her Fat Boy, but later teamed with Custom Performance out of Phoenix, AZ to compete on their turbocharged V Rod. In 2006 she made her debut aboard the Hacienda Harley Davidson-backed V Rod Destroyer placing 6th National in the Super Gas class, improving to 3rd National in the V Rod Destroyer class by 2007.
During all of this an opportunity arose allowing Valerie to try her hand at Land Speed Racing. “My sponsor (Legend Air Ride Suspension - Jesse Jurrens) asked me to ride his bike at the salt flats in 2005. I never got the chance to ride it—his motor blew up on him while he was making his pass. We also brought the Turbo V-Rod. I rode that instead and went 153.561 mph in Run Watcha Brung at the Bub Speed Trials.”
Stretched out in full tuck mode, Valerie flies down the salt flats like a caped crusader.
Visionary bike builder Keith Ball designed a Panhead motorcycle that would take Valerie from the “also rans” list to world record holder the very next season. Assalt Weapan, as Keith calls it, had more horsepower and better aerodynamics than any other Panhead to grace the Bonneville Salt Flats. By 2007 Valerie held the APS-PF-2000 record at 156.717 mph with a top speed of 161.736. Not bad considering the Harley Davidson Panhead was first introduced in 1948.
More big changes were in store for Valerie in 2008. She left the AHDRA series to focus on competing in motorcycle drag racing’s top-tier level of competition, the NHRA Pro Stock division. In addition to throwing her hat in the ring to compete against the best riders running the very best equipment, Valerie would run her own team. This would be a huge undertaking.
“I’ve always wanted to own my own team. I told everyone I was going to ride a Buell in 2008, but they didn’t believe in me. They said I needed more seat time before going to the NHRA. (I went from a 9 second bike to a 7 second bike in a single year.) I said, you may be right but I’m going to still buy a Buell and get the seat time. I had a large contract sponsorship deal in 2008, however, we never saw the money. I did what many of us do that love the sport, I invested funds from my own pocket. That’s how bad I wanted to race.”
Valerie lights the rear tire in preparation for an upcoming run.
At Wisconsin International Raceway Valerie got her first win. She remembers it well: “I almost hit the wall, my bike went airborne at the end of the track. I took the win light but only had 40 minutes to put myself together mentally before the next round.”
I asked Valerie to explain the difference between competing on the paved, narrow drag strip to the vast expanse of salt used in lsr competition: “In a quarter mile you have to do so many things at one time in less than 7 seconds. Our launch is 3+ G’s.” On her first impression of Bonneville: “At first the miles and miles of land intimidated me.” She quickly adapted and is looking forward to returning with K
Valerie is on the sidelines for the moment in search of a sponsor but expect her to be laying down some rubber later this year and in 2011.
eith Ball in 2010 with an improved machine looking to set another record.
Not long after her 2008 NHRA debut, her racing program was sidelined due to lack of funds. “I sat out the 2009 season due to loss of sponsorship. I had a company on board in late 2008 to fund our entire team for 09 but the poor economy hit them hard and they had to pull out. It’s been rough ever since…”
I asked what the future holds for VTR. “We plan on racing (NHRA) this year in late summer in preparation for a full 2011 season. Sponsorship is still our biggest hurdle. From a competitive point of view it is going to be tough. I’m proud to say the field in NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle is as strong as I have seen it. The fact is we have a great bike and I believe we have everything we need to compete.”
If you wish to join Valerie’s official Fan Club or make a contribution to her racing program, visit her website at
www.valeriethompsonracing.com
