| Pictures
courtesy of Richard Johnston, depicting a typical
evening out on SR 305 during the WHPSC 2002
competition. Wordage by Warren. |
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Racer Sean
Costin and Volunteer Johnathan Woolrich prepare to
launch speedbikes down SR 305. |
| George
Georgiev smiles for the camera. |
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Andrea
Blasecki warms up on an Optima recumbent. |
| Sean Costin
shows Andrea her starting position |
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John Weaver
seals the rear wheel pod on his son Matt's speedbike. |
| Dean
Pederson and Orin inspect Steve Delair's Big Gun
streamliner. |
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A Nevada
Department of Transportation employee prepares to shut
down SR 305, which is the main North - South highway
in Nevada. |
| Sam
Whittingham joins Andrea in warming up for the 5 mile
sprint to the timing traps. Sam's rocket bike, the
Varna Diablo II waits on the truck. |
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Orin and
Steve make some last minute adjustments to the Big Gun |
| Steve tapes
his streamliner back together in preparation for
launching. |
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Chase
vehicles, streamliners, racer and volunteers fill the
gravel pit access road at the starting line |
| Andrea's
speedbike, the Varna Mephisto, is carried to the
starting line. |
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Andrea gets
in the bike and gets small so that the top can get
fitted over her. |
| Neil Carson
fits the back of the Mephisto together, while Sean
adjusts the front. The top is
locked and taped in place. She's ready to go! |
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Andrea is
launched by hand. |
| Off she goes
on a world record 64MPH run. |
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At the end
of the run, Andrea is extracted from the bike. |
| Andrea
Blaescki, a tired but happy world record holder. |
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The White
Hawk comes in from a run, with chase vehicle in hot
pursuit. |
| Whoa! Catch
the bike before it falls over! |
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Warren
Beauchamp in the Barracuda comes into the catching
area after another run. |
| Sean opens
the lid on the 'Cuda after Warren makes another 3
point landing. The 'Cuda may not be the fastest bike
here, but it's the most practical. It raced every day
in all weather, and started and stopped without
launchers and catchers. |
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Freddy
Markham is extricated from the Double Gold after the
bike went over while being caught. |
| Garrie
Hill's timing system waits for the next racer at the
end of the 200 meter traps |
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Michelle,
the Battle Mountain high school physics teacher,
checks the racers speed on Paul Gracy's timing system.
Michelle was one of the many wonderful volunteers who
helped make the event possible. |
| Volunteers
at the end of the 200 meter traps watch a racer come
up the road. |
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Sam
Whittingham flies up the course, while dusk settles on
the high mountain plains. |
| The
Bearacuda (UrsaCuda) makes a 68MPH pass by the finish
traps. |
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The brightly
colored Mango tries to outdo the colors of the desert
at dusk, while it's rider Rob English makes a high
speed finish. |
