LIMESTONE, Maine — The Loring Time Trials were abruptly shut down Sunday morning after a Texas woman competing in the annual speed contest was injured in a crash on the runway’s shoulder.
Motorcyclist Brenda Sue Carver of Seguin, Texas was driving at 223 miles per hour at the 1-mile mark but her speed quickly decreased to 140 mph as she approached the 1 ½-mile mark just moments before the crash.
“She was slowing at that point, went off onto the shoulder, and it appeared that she was along for the ride,” Joe Daly, the event director for the Loring Timing Association, said.
Organizers pulled the plug on the event shortly after the accident, as Maine State Police were on their way to conduct an investigation.
“Thank you all for coming out,” Daly said, “and let’s hope the best for Brenda.”
Daly addressed attendants and racers after driving down the track with local ambulance and police to see Carver’s condition.
“She was conscious and answering questions,” Daly said. “They were telling her not to get up.”
He said that Carver stopped about 30 feet away from Fire Rescue, so they were able to respond immediately. Between ambulance and police personnel, he said there were 25 people assisting the motorcyclist.
“I am confident of her recovery,” Daly added. “Emergency response have done an excellent job.”
Carver was taken by ambulance to Cary Medical Center in Caribou, and later taken to EMMC in Bangor, according to Race Director Tim Kelly.
On September 6, Kelly stated that Carver had not sustained any internal injuries and, though she has several broken bones, is expected to be okay.
“We’ve had over 6,200 runs and only four incidents,” said Kelly. “Only two of those incidents required medical assistance. As far as injuries are concerned, land speed racing is extremely safe relative to other motor sports.”
Kelly adds that all racers are methodical and that they have a specific process prior to racing, which includes keeping a checklist on their vehicle’s status.
As of September 6, an EMMC spokesperson said that no information is available regarding Carver, and explained that this may mean she has not signed a consent form or has asked not to be acknowledged.
This isn’t the first motorcycle crash to force an early end to the annual speed contest. On July 14, 2013, speed racer William Warner, 44, of Florida, attempted to hit 300 mph within 1 mile when he suddenly lost control of his modified turbocharged Suzuki Hayabusa and it went off the track, according to a report in the BDN archives. He reportedly slid 1,000 feet before coming to a rest. The remaining races that day were cancelled.
He was taken to Cary Medical Center where he later succumbed to his injuries, according to a previously published report.
In the wake of the fatal crash, the Loring Timing Association instituted different procedures that required all vehicles traveling above 200 mph to have an inspection, including both tires, each time the competitor ran, according to a previously published report.
“Land speed racing is a fairly safe motorsport comparing all others,” Daly told the Aroostook Republican & News in 2014. “Driving vehicles fast has to, by its nature, present some element of risk.”
