LORING, Maine — While the Loring Land Speed races were cut short due to a non-fatal motorcycle accident last Sunday, the event brought in several participants from all over the United States.
Competition Director Joe Daly said drivers hit some incredible speeds and broke records throughout the three-day race.
“Frank John of Brooklin, Maine just ran 205 miles per hour on an electric motorcycle,” said Daly, “which is the fastest for an electric motorcycle out right now.”
Motorcyclist Scott Davis hit the highest speed of the year, reaching 268 miles per hour and 2010 Race Director Tim Kelly says the all-time record for a motorcycle is 311 miles per hour.
According to Daly, the event would not be possible without a crew of knowledgeable volunteers and months of planning.
“We have a crew of 12 people, and there’s a lot of maintenance and set-up work to be done, as well as computers that require programming,” Daly said. “Sometimes people work 12 months a year getting the computers ready, and we are constantly upgrading equipment to make sure everything is state of the art.”
In terms of attracting racers to the event, Daly says that it’s a mix of racers reaching out to the coordinators and vice versa.
“There is a land racing forum that acts as the communication organ for land speed racing,” Daly said, adding that there are approximately 1,000 land speed racers throughout the United States and Canada.
Among the many racers was Racheal Johnson, the first woman to be inducted into the East Coast Timing Association’s Ohio Mile 200 MPH Club.
Johnson also broke 200 mph during last weekend’s races, with Daly adding that “she always breaks 200.”
“I’ve been riding motorcycles for about 14 years now, and have been racing for about 10,” Johnson said. “I drag race as well, but land speed is the number-one thing I do right now.”
So far, Johnson’s fastest recorded speed is 228 miles per hour.
“When you go down the track you’re just really focusing on everything, so you don’t know your speed until you go back and get your time slip,” Johnson said. “It is invigorating when you go that fast and realize your speed. You’ve got your mind focused on shutdown, making sure you’re shifting correctly, and just getting down the track safely.”
Johnson says the 200 mph club is growing, and that “a lot more people are getting interested in racing.”
Racer Greg Neal, who has broken 504 land speed records in eight different venues, says he feels at peace when hitting high speeds on the track.
“When I get on the bike and hit that speed I’m probably more comfortable than any time in my life,” said Neal. “It’s natural. It’s normal. You’re alive and you’re thinking ahead, but when you’re really in the groove it’s actually slowing down out there. I’ve always told people that when I’m on this seat and hitting those speeds, I’m at home.“
Neal, who travelled to Loring from Oxford, North Carolina, has been racing ever since he was 12 years old.
When asked how he broke over 500 records, Neal laughed and said “with a lot of help.”
“I paid attention to the guys who went well before me,” Neal said. “They’ve learned a lot of things, and I take what they’ve learned and try to incorporate that into what I do and then put my own spin on it so I’m not the same as everybody else.”
Since land speed racing requires a massive, flat stretch of land, Neal says that it can be difficult to practice outside of the race itself.
“There’s not a lot of testing you can do,” said Neal. “We have a 4,700-foot runway out in North Carolina and on the right days when they’re doing maintenance they’ll let you take a few passes. Anything else, I’d probably go on the drag strip. You don’t get everything you need but you do get a little bit of information. We track the ratio of air to fuel with the weather, and keep a big notebook telling us where everything should be.”
While Neal has participated in several land speed races throughout the United States, he says Loring is the best venue he knows of.”
“This is the most well run event we attend,” said Neal. “It’s very well managed, but it’s hard to get a huge crowd since it’s way up north.”
While the sport of land speed racing is relatively small compared to more popular races, those that participate become passionately dedicated, and spend a great deal of time adjusting their vehicles and taking notes in an effort to conquer the conventional limitations of their cars and motorcycles.
As Competition Director Daly put it, “this isn’t really a sport, it’s more of a disease. Once you start it, you can’t stop. Chronic would be the best way to describe it. We’ve all been doing this for many years.”
