Free Republic

Combs had previously set the women’s land-speed world record for four-wheeled vehicles in 2013, driving the North American Eagle. She made the record-breaking run in the Alvord Desert in Oregon. She reportedly had an average speed of 398 mph. The previous record was 308 mph, which was set in 1965. Combs reportedly hoped to one day set the overall women’s land-speed record, which would require her to break speeds of 512 mph. In a statement obtained by Autoblog, her family said, “It is with extreme grief, and in celebration of her life that her family and close friends share that...

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...