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BBC News
7 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Racer Chris Raschke killed in crash attempting land speed record
Race organisers at Utah's famed Bonneville Salt Flats have confirmed that a veteran driver died in a 283mph (455km/h) crash while trying to break the land speed Chris Raschke lost control of his rocket-shaped vehicle about two miles into the run, according to a statement from the Southern California Timing Association, which runs Speed Week - an event that has been running since the 1940s. Tributes are pouring in for Raschke, who took home the fastest time of the week at last year's event with a speed of 459mph, according to Hot Rod was treated for his injuries but died at the scene, organisers say. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Race director Keith Pedersen said that his death on Sunday was a blow to the entire racing community."It's much more of a camaraderie and community, and that builds a lot of friendships and trust," Pedersen said. "He's a big part of it, and he will be sorely missed."Raschke was driving Speed Demon III, the latest iteration of the team's Speed Demon team said in a statement that it was "deeply devastated" by his Watt, Speed Demon's crew chief, told BBC News that Raschke died while performing a test, known as a "shakedown", and that the car wasn't "even at half speed"."It was supposed to be a simple easy run," he said on Tuesday. "We don't know what happened," he said, adding that there was no known mechanical announcer Brian Lohnes paid tribute in Hot Rod magazine, writing that Raschke was "a pillar of an industry, he was a skilled operator of one of the fastest wheel driven cars in history". The largest salt flat in the world "And he was, like so many of us, fully consumed with cars and the universe around them".The glassy surface of the Bonneville Salt Flats has attracted drivers from all over the world, and has featured in films such as Independence Day and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's prehistoric lakebed is located about 100 miles west of Salt Lake City, and saw its first motorised race in current land speed record for wheeled vehicles stands at 763mph, set by Royal Air Force pilot Andy Green in 1997 in Nevada's Black Rock Facebook, New Zealand's Kiwi Coupe team were among the competitors paying their respects. "Our thoughts are with Chris's family and also the whole, hurting Bonneville everyone who ventures onto the salt to go fast, are family," wrote one team member. Another praised him for how he helped them resolve engine troubles, with another poster writing: "Chris will be setting records in heaven".
Toronto Sun
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Toronto Sun
Driver attempting to set land-speed record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats dies
Chris Raschke was travelling at roughly 455 km/h when died after losing control of his rocket-like vehicle. Published Aug 05, 2025 • 3 minute read Cars form a line near the race track at the Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016. Photo by Rick Bowmer / AP A driver going 455 km/h trying to set a land speed record during a racing event at Utah's famed Bonneville Salt Flats died Sunday after he lost control of his rocket-like vehicle called the Speed Demon, organizers said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Driver Chris Raschke lost control about two and a half miles into a run and was treated by medical professionals at the scene, but died from his injuries, according to the Southern California Timing Association, which has organized the popular land-speed racing event known as 'Speed Week' since the late 1940s. For decades, the flat, glasslike white surface has drawn drivers from all over seeking to set new land speed world records and motorcycle and car fans to watch. A remnant of a prehistoric lakebed, the salt flats that are about 160 kilometers west of Salt Lake City have also been a backdrop for movies like Independence Day and The World's Fastest Indian . 'Motorsports is inherently a dangerous sport,' said Dennis Sullivan, a car builder and racer who set a land speed record in his 1927 Model T street roadster and serves as president of the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association. 'People get hurt. People get killed. That's just the nature of the sport. It doesn't happen a lot.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Sullivan said motor sports also have stringent safety requirements — such as stronger roll bars, special tires and more fire extinguishers — that help protect drivers. The last racing death Sullivan recalled at the flats came in 2016 when Sam Wheeler, a renowned land speed motorcycle racer, crashed at 200 mph (321 kilometers) when the high-performance bike he was testing fish-tailed and went airborne. The Bonneville Salt Flats, which had its first race in 1914, have about 10 km for racing and an aquifer underneath that cools the tires of the cars. It's unlike other race venues in that it doesn't have stands. Spectators must stand two-tenths of a mile away from the cars. Raschke lost control of the vehicle about two and a half miles into a run. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It's unknown what speed Raschke was aiming to reach. The association and the Tooele County Sheriff's Office are investigating the death, said Sgt. Dane Lerdahl, a spokesman for the law enforcement agency. 'We know it was an accident of some sort,' Lerdahl said. For decades, people have used the flat, glasslike surface at Bonneville Salt Flats to set speed records, sometimes topping 644 km/h. Speed Week has long been a draw for motorcycle and car fans. Raschke, 60, was the driver of a streamliner — a long, narrow, aerodynamic car made to run at high speeds — known as the Speed Demon. He had worked in motor sports for more than four decades. According to the Speed Demon racing team's site, Raschke worked at the Ventura Raceway in the early 1980s, raced three-wheelers and cars in the mini stock division, learned to fabricate and maintain race cars when working with an acclaimed engine builder and later became a driver for the Speed Demon team. Keith Pedersen, the association's president and Speed Week race director, said Raschke was a respected driver within the racing community and also worked for a company that makes fasteners for race cars. 'He is one of the big ones. He had done all sorts of racing,' Pedersen said. The Race Week event began on Saturday and runs through Friday. Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis. Care for a wager? Head to our sports betting section for news and odds. 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Arab Times
05-08-2025
- Automotive
- Arab Times
Driver attempting to set a record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats dies after losing control
WASHINGTON, Aug 5, (AP): A driver going 283 mph trying to set a land speed record during a racing event at Utah's famed Bonneville Salt Flats died Sunday after he lost control of his rocket-like vehicle called the Speed Demon, organizers said. Driver Chris Raschke lost control about two and a half miles into a run and was treated by medical professionals at the scene, but died from his injuries, according to the Southern California Timing Association, which has organized the popular land-speed racing event known as "Speed Week' since the late 1940s. For decades, the flat, glasslike white surface has drawn drivers from all over seeking to set new land speed world records and motorcycle and car fans to watch. A remnant of a prehistoric lakebed, the salt flats that are about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Salt Lake City have also been a backdrop for movies like "Independence Day' and "The World's Fastest Indian.' "Moto rsports is inherently a dangerous sport,' said Dennis Sullivan, a car builder and racer who set a land speed record in his 1927 Model T street roadster and serves as president of the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association. "People get hurt. People get killed. That's just the nature of the sport. It doesn't happen a lot.' Sullivan said motor sports also have stringent safety requirements - such as stronger roll bars, special tires and more fire extinguishers - that help protect drivers. The last racing death Sullivan recalled at the flats came in 2016 when Sam Wheeler, a renowned land speed motorcycle racer, crashed at 200 mph (321 kilometers) when the high-performance bike he was testing fish-tailed and went airborne. The Bonneville Salt Flats, which had its first race in 1914, have about 7 miles for racing and an aquifer underneath that cools the tires of the cars. It's unlike other race venues in that it doesn't have stands. Spectators must stand two-tenths of a mile away from the cars. Raschke lost control of the vehicle about two and a half miles into a run. It's unknown what speed Raschke was aiming to reach. The association and the Tooele County Sheriff's Office are investigating the death, said Sgt Dane Lerdahl, a spokesman for the law enforcement agency. "We know it was an accident of some sort,' Lerdahl said. For decades, people have used the flat, glasslike surface at Bonneville Salt Flats, 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Salt Lake City, to set speed records, sometimes topping 400 mph (644 kph). Speed Week has long been a draw for motorcycle and car fans. Raschke, 60, was the driver of a streamliner - a long, narrow, aerodynamic car made to run at high speeds - known as the Speed Demon. He had worked in motor sports for more than four decades.
Epoch Times
05-08-2025
- Epoch Times
Driver Attempting to Set a Record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats Dies After Losing Control
WENDOVER, Utah—A driver trying to set a speed record during a racing event at Utah's famed Bonneville Salt Flats died Sunday after losing control of his vehicle, organizers said. Driver Chris Raschke was treated by medical professionals at the scene, but died from his injuries, according to the Southern California Timing Association, which organizes the popular land-speed racing event known as 'Speed Week.'
NBC News
04-08-2025
- Automotive
- NBC News
Racer dies trying to set land speed record at Utah salt flats
A driver died Sunday after crashing while trying to set a land speed record at an annual event on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, event organizers said. Chris Raschke, 60, died after the crash at around 3:03 p.m. MT, officials with the Southern California Timing Association, which runs the event, said in a statement. The crash happened after organizers said Raschke 'lost control of his land speed vehicle at approximately the 2 1/2 mile." It occurred during the annual 'Speed Week," which opened Sunday. The Bonneville Salt Flats are about 12 miles long and 5 miles wide and are made up of sodium chloride, or table salt, according to the federal Bureau of Land Management, which oversees it. The area is used for land speed racing, among other purposes, it says. Drivers at the Bonneville event can reach speeds of more than 300 mph. Raschke was a driver with the Speed Demon team in Ventura County, California, and piloted the Speed Demon streamliner, the team says on its website. He began working in motorsports in the 1980s, it said. "We are deeply devastated," the team said on social media Sunday. The American Hot Rod Foundation was among those also mourning Raschke's death. It said he was reportedly traveling in the neighborhood of 300 mph when the crash occurred. "To those who knew him on the salt, he was someone who found the perfect balance of friendly and competitive. Never a usual combination and one that speaks to the quality of his character," the association said in a statement. "We send our deepest sympathies to Chris's family and friends." The flats are located around 120 miles west of Salt Lake City, on the western edge of the Great Salt Lake Basin, the BLM says on its website. They're remnants of Lake Bonneville. The cause of the crash is under investigation, the Southern California Timing Association said.
