Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 08-31-2019, 07:54 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
TomsBeast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Brentwood, CA
Posts: 1,051
Sad day in the world of motorsports

I guess the news hit me hard because I've been following Land Speed Racing since Art Arfons, Gary Gabalitch, Craig Breedlove, heck, stories of Sir Malcomb Campbell captured my imagination as a young boy. I've been going to Bonneville for years, driven LSR cars several times, and have been out to Alvord dry lake for a test session, where they were running the car last week before tragedy struck around 4pm Tuesday.



I've been interested more recently North American Eagle, about the time Jessi Combs joined Ed Shadle as a co-driver. Compared to the mega-funded UK based Bloodhound project, the converted F104 land speed jet car project is on a shoestring budget. The consummate underdog. Same as Craig Breedlove's Spirit of America program, compared to the Thrust SSC (super sonic car) enterprise that went on to break the speed of sound on land.



I never had the opportunity to meet her, but I can tell from her on-camera work (cable car shows), she was 'the real deal'. An amazing adventurer.


No star struck fan, I've had the good fortune to talk at length with Craig Breedlove in his Rio Vista shop, talk car design with the fastest man on earth Andy Green, chatted with Al Unser Sr., took a class from Fast Jack Beckman (before he made it big), even spent a few minutes with John Force. I've become friends with the guy who started ET mag wheels in the late 60's, and later owned an Indy Car team. If you've ever spent any time around those who have accomplished much, they all have this certain, calm, confidence about them, a wonderment of believing in achieving the possible, and a twinkle in their eye as though 'they have the secret to living a life worth living' and an excitement for life that is very contagious. I believe Jessi was also one of those folks. It's a sad day when one of those folks, pays the ultimate price.


So here's a toast to those who aren't content to watch the world go by, rather, to those who live life, those walk willingly into the line of fire, and accept the risks that come with it.

God's Speed Jessi

__________________
1995 E350 7.3 Diesel, 4x4 high roof camper, UJOR 4" lift
TomsBeast is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2019, 10:41 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
ShuttlePilot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 632
From a post I made in another social group regarding Jessi Combs death.

"My father told me that if I live a while I'd have to watch people I admire and look up to die. I knew he would be right but I didn't think there would be so many."


Thanks TomsBeast for your words.


-Eric
__________________
2005 SMB RB 4x4 6.0 PSD
A rocket on the pad is safe,
but it's not what rockets are built for.
ShuttlePilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2019, 11:28 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
arctictraveller's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,234
Truly a sad day. I met her the first time while she was in line for tech inspection at the Baja 1000 a few years back. She was quite willing to chat with her fans. The next time I met her, I was on the way to the King of the Hammers, and stopped to check the map, when she came out of a restaurant and came over to admire my van. She checked it out and really liked it, then posed for this photo. Despite her fame, she seemed like a regular gear head who enjoyed anything to do with off roading. She will be missed by all who knew her and her thousands of fans. I get a little choked up every time I think about her passing......
Attached Images
 
__________________
Arctic Traveller
KC6TNI
2001 GTRV
Advanced 4wd
Agile Ride improvement package
arctictraveller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2019, 10:02 PM   #4
Site Team
 
Gooseberry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Covina
Posts: 1,317
Garage
Sad day in the world of motorsports

She was a special person that did what she wanted in a good way. She made everyone better not just herself.
__________________
Kelly, Claudine, Sophie dog, Bell the redheaded step child and Gooseberry RIP.

Most the time the Copilot is Now Sophie dog the noise maker.

2000 7.3 PS Quigley/RB30 with a 6 window poptop.
Gooseberry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2019, 04:49 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
TomsBeast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Brentwood, CA
Posts: 1,051
Quote:
Originally Posted by arctictraveller View Post
Truly a sad day. I met her the first time while she was in line for tech inspection at the Baja 1000 a few years back. She was quite willing to chat with her fans. The next time I met her, I was on the way to the King of the Hammers, and stopped to check the map, when she came out of a restaurant and came over to admire my van. She checked it out and really liked it, then posed for this photo. Despite her fame, she seemed like a regular gear head who enjoyed anything to do with off roading. She will be missed by all who knew her and her thousands of fans. I get a little choked up every time I think about her passing......

That's awesome, Jeff, thanks for sharing that
__________________
1995 E350 7.3 Diesel, 4x4 high roof camper, UJOR 4" lift
TomsBeast is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2019, 09:08 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
deserteagle56's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Middle of Nevada
Posts: 299
Sad day when I heard about Jessi...and a sad year for me as one of the guys I considered the best of the desert racers, Rod Hall, recently passed away from some dread disease I'd never heard of before.

Rod was a perennial winner, whether in the Bronco, the Dodge pickup or the Hummer. Only guy to ever take the overall win in the Baja 1000 in a 4x4 rig. He had a shop in Sparks, Nevada and I had a GMC 4x4 van conversion with several problems the dealer couldn't figure out. I gave it to Rod and his crew; they got it done and I drove that van for another 30 years.
__________________
Worshipper of Wild Country
2007 Quigley V-10 on 33s with 4.56 gears (Toyhauler)
deserteagle56 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Sportsmobile Registry

PigPen

velo47

Sporty

BusTalker
Add your Sportsmobile
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:36 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.