Latest news with #SpeedDemon
CTV News
7 days ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Driver Chris Raschke dies in crash at Speed Week on Bonneville Salt Flats
Driver Chris Raschke is seen preparing the Speed Demon, a land speed racing car, in this undated photo. (Speed Demon 715) A driver has died while taking part in the annual Speed Week event on Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, according to organizers. The Southern California Timing Association (SCTA), which hosts the land speed racing event, announced on Sunday that 60-year-old Chris Raschke died while attempting a speed record. 'At approximately 3:03 p.m. Mountain Time today, driver Chris Raschke, age 60, was attempting a speed record and lost control of his land speed vehicle at approximately the 2 1/2 mile,' said the statement shared by the SCTA. 'Chris was treated by medical professionals at the scene. Unfortunately, Chris passed away from his injuries. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.' Raschke's Speed Demon team also shared the SCTA statement, writing: 'At this time, we ask everyone to please respect Chris's family, friends, and the Speed Demon team. We are deeply devastated.' CNN Sports has contacted the Tooele County Sheriff's Office regarding Raschke's death. Speed Demon lays claim to having created the world's fastest piston-powered car, and the long, bullet-shaped vehicle being driven by Raschke in Bonneville was the third iteration of the streamliner. At last year's Speed Week with Raschke as the driver, the Speed Demon team won a 12th Hot Rod Magazine Trophy, posting a winning mile-speed of 446.716 m.p.h. and an exit speed of 459.734 m.p.h. Bonneville, a dry lakebed on the border of Utah and Nevada, has long been an iconic location for land speed records, with Speed Week attracting around 500 hot rods, roadsters and motorcycles each year. By George Ramsay, CNN
Los Angeles Times
05-08-2025
- Automotive
- Los Angeles Times
Veteran driver dies after crashing vehicle while racing at nearly 300 mph
A veteran high-speed driver has died after losing control of his vehicle while driving at nearly 300 miles per hour Sunday during the 2025 Bonneville Speed Week event in northwestern Utah. Chris Raschke, 60, was treated by medical professionals, but died at the scene of the accident at the Bonneville Salt Flats, near Wendover, Utah, according to a press release by event organizes Southern California Timing Association. 'When you lose anybody in the community, it's always tough,' race director and SCTA board president Keith Pedersen told The Times on Tuesday. 'And somebody as well-liked and known as Chris, that makes it even tougher.' In addition to being a 'very accomplished race car driver,' Pedersen said, Raschke was also 'very, very friendly, very competitive. But he's also the type of person that if you needed a part or something, he would give it to you and say, 'Yeah, just bring it back when you're done.'' According to Raschke's Speed Demon bio page, he was 'the first official employee at Ventura Raceway in the early 80's' and over the years became involved in practically all aspects of motor sports. Also an employee of ARP Auto Parts, which makes fasteners and other products for race cars, Raschke worked as part of the Speed Demon crew for more than a decade before becoming a driver for the team. At last year's Speed Week, Raschke topped out at 446 mph, which Pedersen said was the fastest measured mile at the event. This year, he was driving the latest iteration of his team's vehicle, the Speed Demon 3. Pederson confirmed that Raschke's last recorded speed during Sunday's race was 283 mph. A Facebook post from the Speed Demon team account stated: 'At this time, we ask everyone to please respect Chris's family, friends, and the Speed Demon team. We are deeply devastated.' The Tooele County Sheriff's Office is investigating Raschke's death, with assistance from the SCTA. Sgt. Dan Lerdahl told The Times that the crash is being viewed as an accident, although it is unclear at this point whether the cause was 'a roadway issue, a mechanical issue or just a freak thing.' Racing was suspended following Rashke's crash but resumed Monday. Pedersen said canceling the event, which runs through Friday at the at the Bonneville Salt Flats, was never really a consideration. 'We've been doing Speed Week for 77 years, and over those years, there have been other fatalities out here. And it's always a tragedy,' Pedersen said. 'But we typically regroup. ... We grieve and we race. Chris would have wanted us to race, and we're continuing to do that.'
BBC News
05-08-2025
- 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
05-08-2025
- 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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USA Today
05-08-2025
- USA Today
Driver dies in 300 mph crash at Bonneville Salt Flats race
A driver at a land speed racing competition on Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats died while attempting to break a speed record, event organizers said. Chris Raschke, 60, was operating a land speed vehicle at around 3 p.m. local time on Sunday, Aug. 3 when he lost control and crashed about 2.5 miles into the race, the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) said in a release. He was treated by medical professionals but died from his injuries. The cause of the incident is under investigation, SCTA said. The accident occurred during SCTA's Speed Week event at the Bonneville Salt Flats, a 12-mile-long, 30,000-acre expanse of hard, white crust comprised mostly of table salt, according to the Bureau of Land Management. 'We are deeply devastated' Raschke was driving a land speed racing car known as the Speed Demon at the time of the crash, the American Hot Rod Association (AHRF) said in a social media statement. "To those who knew him on the salt, he was someone who found the perfect balance of friendly and competitive," AHRF said. "Never a usual combination and one that speaks to the quality of his character. We send our deepest sympathies to Chris's family and friends." The Speed Demon team acknowledged Raschke's death in a social media statement, asking "everyone to please respect Chris's family, friends, and the Speed Demon team." "We are deeply devastated," the statement said. According to the Speed Demon team's website, Raschke had a long career in motorsports before he began driving the streamliner. "His knowledge of the entire motorsports industry and its players is invaluable for the Speed Demon team," the team's website says. "He understands the fine details that help the Speed Demon team perform year after year." Driver may have been going around 300 mph before fatal crash AHRF said Raschke was traveling "somewhere in the neighborhood of 300mph" at the time of the crash. According to daily race logs from the SCTA, a vehicle entered under the Speed Demon team was recorded going up to 283 miles per hour before spinning on the track. USA TODAY reached out to the Tooele County Sheriff's Office for more information. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
