Rest in Peace, Jessi…

There’s already been a few threads on the HAMB about the tragic passing of Jessi Combs on August 27th, as she was attempting to further her ‘fastest woman on four wheels’ record in a jet-powered racer (in which she had already eclipsed 483 mph on a shake down run last year). Jessi seemed to know everybody cool in the car and motorcycle world, and everybody that she knew seemed to love her very much. I can honestly say with no hesitation that she was like a modern day Veda Orr in so many ways: Doing her thing, in her way, pursuing speed with excellence, and not taking crap from negative naysayers in a male-dominated culture of cars. This woman could weld, fabricate, drive, ride, race, and Raise Cain all at the same time, while keeping a positive attitude and a beautiful smile on her face. The only good news is that she died doing what she loved the most, and we all can only wish to go out the same way. One of the last posts Jessi wrote on her Instagram sums her up very nicely: “It may seem a little crazy to walk directly into the line of fire… those who are willing, are those who achieve great things… People say I’m crazy. I say thank you.”