Remember that Jesse James hydrogen speed record we told you about last week? Well, it turns out it wasn't quite as legitimate as we were told. Louise Ann Noeth, known as "Landspeed Louise" for her years of coverage of the dry lakes scene, sent out a release today detailing several problems with James' "record".
"The claim is without merit since the activities were conducted without benefit of any motorsports sanctioning authority. The vehicle was neither inspected, nor certified and all the timing personnel were on the James TV payroll," she noted.
"World speed records require two runs over a one-mile course within one hour. James was 5,148 feet short -- being timed one-way for a total of 132 feet; he made only three or four passes over an eight to ten-hour period. Any world record holder will tell you it's quite a technical feat to hold speed for a full mile."
So whether you agree with Landspeed Louise or not, she knows her stuff. At the very least, it's reason enough to question the record, that is, if anybody really cares about Jesse James anymore.
fuhteng says:
11:37 AM, 06/23/09
Thanks Ed, but no, no one cares. Good for Louise pointing this stuff out though.
brn says:
01:23 PM, 06/23/09
Not to mention a real hydrogen powered Fusion went faster, two years earlier.
actualsize says:
02:10 PM, 06/23/09
Landspeed Louise is absolutely trustworthy in these matters. If even half of what she says is true, and there is no reason to doubt any of it, then we're all victims of an over-hyped reality TV exploit that was created and edited for television.
Bring that car to Bonneville and enter it during speed week.
carswapper says:
02:22 PM, 06/24/09
what happened to this guy?