Posted on 08/28/2019 9:16:30 AM PDT by Rummyfan
Jessi Combs—vehicle builder, racer, fabricator, TV personality, and all-around automotive legend—was killed on Tuesday in a crash while attempting to break her own land-speed record in southeast Oregon. She was 36.
The crash occurred as Combs was piloting her jet-powered land-speed car on the Alvord Desert, a dry lake bed where several land-speed records have been set. According to local reports, the crash happened shortly after 4pm local time.
Combs held the title of "fastest woman on four wheels" after setting a record of 398 mph in her jet-powered North American Eagle Supersonic Speed Challenger in 2013. More recently, she had piloted that same car to 483.227 mph in a single shakedown run in October 2018, though that run ended prematurely with mechanical troubles. (Governing bodies require two back-to-back runs in opposite directions to set an official speed record.)
Combs was a legend in the automotive world. Trained in fabrication and hot-rod building at WyoTech, she soon made her way to automotive television. Combs was a host, builder, and technical expert on shows like Xtreme 4x4, Overhaulin', Truck U, and Two Guys Garage. She brought about Velocity channel's All Girls Garage, and was a host and builder on a season of Discovery Channel's Mythbusters.
When not on camera, Combs competed in a wide variety of racing venues. She was the first woman to place at Ultra4's King of the Hammers; she took home a Class 10 podium finish at the Baja 1000; and she ran in the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles, an all-women rally race...
Combs joined the North American Eagle Supersonic Speed Challenger team as driver in 2013. Her goal was to pilot the car (built from a decommissioned fighter jet) beyond 512 mph, the record for Fastest Woman on Earth, set in 1976 by Kitty O'Neil.
(Excerpt) Read more at roadandtrack.com ...
RIP. She died doing what she loved.
Who?
Lot of respect for this woman.
She did everything. Welder, fabricator, racer. Never ever heard hear spout the feminist mantra or come across as a victim.
Saw her one year at Goodguys and she took time out to talk with each fan and sign autographs and photos.
Talk about wife material.
Who? She was a legend.
“Talk about wife material.”
Indeed. Wikipedia doesn’t gush over her, so she wasn’t gay.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessi_Combs
To some people perhaps. I’d never heard of her either.
Sorry to hear of her death.
I had never heard of her before, but as a general rule I don’t like hearing of people’s death, and she was too young.
Neither have I. Loose usage of the term legend.
“Indeed. Wikipedia doesn’t gush over her, so she wasn’t gay.”
She was dating Chris Jacobs I believe.
Yeah, I’d have to agree.
I interpreted your response to back up the premise she was a legend.
My misperception...
“RIP. She died doing what she loved.”
Yeah, just like drug addicts, alcoholics and suicide bombers.
And you forgot the Girl Power fist-pump. The Reality is - No kids. Darwin award.
Hmm, lots here I didn’t expect, and casts doubt on my earlier post:
https://hollywoodmask.com/celebs/jessi-combs-mythbusters-married-husband.html
“And you forgot the Girl Power fist-pump. The Reality is - No kids. Darwin award.”
What a nasty comment. Jessi was a hero to car guys and girls the world over. Her accomplishments are a mile long.
Maybe at one time.
https://jalopnik.com/fastest-woman-on-four-wheels-jessi-combs-killed-in-jet-1837654356
It looks like this guy might be her man.
https://www.instagram.com/terry_madden/?utm_source=ig_embed
“What a nasty comment. Jessi was a hero to car guys and girls the world over. Her accomplishments are a mile long.”
Nasty? It’s compassionate compared to the encouragement of her fans who cheered their “hero” on to the point of death.
Every town has its local “hero” who was encouraged and supported by their fans to the point of death. Not a new or unique phenomena at all.
Take it as a moment of clarity, providing a bit of wisdom in an age of self-absorbsion and adulation.
“How about we give you the ignorant jackass award?”
Sorry, as her fan you’re stuck with it.
What was she doing out there? Craig Breedlove hit 600.6 mph in Spirit of America way back in 1965. What was her point and why didn’t she see that an inability to get past a FIFTY YEAR OLD RECORD didn’t portend well for her future. It woulda’ been more than enough of a hint for me.
I’m kinda bummed about this. The car was headquartered not far from where I live. It was painted by students in the Automotive program at Bates Technical College in Tacoma.
A few years ago, I was able to see the car up close. My wife even got to sit in the cockpit. It was a real beauty.
The North American Eagle was the only real possible challenger to the Bloodhound LSR. The British-built vehicle was begun by Sir Richard Noble to beat the Land Speed Record, set by his ThrustSSC, driven by RAF Capt. Andy Green.
The original driver of the Eagle was Ed Shadle. He passed away last year.
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