America’s Queen of Speed Valerie Thompson is combining forces with Star Racing and Chris Rivas for 2016 NHRA season. A Seven-time land speed record holder, she plans to compete for a full season of NHRA drag racing next year with a Star Racing built Pro Stock Motorcycle as an independent team owner and driver. Thompson will also continue seeking new land speed racing records with her team’s BMW S 1000 RR at select events in 2016.
“Chris Rivas has been successful in drag racing while setting new land speed records. As a crew chief, he will be one of my biggest assets. He understands the difference between quarter-mile and land speed racing, so he can help our team with everything from bike set-up to my riding technique as I transition back to drag racing,” said Thompson.
Thompson formed her own land speed racing team in 2012 and recorded a personal best top speed of 217 mph at the 2014 Texas Mile. This year, Thompson became the first female member of the Colorado Mile 200 MPH Club on her Quicksilver Powersports Lubricants/CTEK BMW Motorrad and is now a member of six-land speed racing 200 MPH Clubs, including the prestigious Bonneville 200 MPH Club.
The 2016 NHRA schedule includes 16 Pro Stock Motorcycle events with the first scheduled for March 17 – 20 at the Gator Nationals in Gainesville Florida.
The definition of pretty fast. Pretty & fast.
Go to see her wherever she speeds.
Me likey.
I met Chris back in the days when I worked at Daytec. He is a quiet understated guy who knows how to get results. Chris Rivas has been successful in every type of racing he has attempted. Valerie is lucky to have him as a crew chief.
Good luck to both of you.
Actually the ‘Original’ Queen of Speed is Shirley Muldowney and she is still racing in her 60s. Run a Google or Bing search on the name and see for yourself.
Both Mr. Rivas & Ms. Thompson are class acts
Good luck to their efforts !!!
Valerie is one of the most successful independent female racers/team owners in any racing series. Everything she has accomplished has been through her own work and effort — no family money or trust funds paying for her goal to become the world’s fastest woman.
She has proven herself on everything from drag strips, the famed Bonneville Salt Flats and the dry lake beds of Southern California. In 2016, she will return to the NHRA for a full season while still racing select land speed racing events. Are their any other female racers paying their own dime to chase their speed dreams like Valerie has for over 10 years? Valerie is a “racer’s racer,” give her credit for all she has accomplished.
Shirley is a great race car driver. But Trike Lady your comparing apples to oranges. Shirley drives cars, t Valerie is doing it on the motorcycle. Let’s not knock her down for what is really an accomplishment. Let her lead this charge as she has started it.