About Valerie Thompson

A seven-time motorcycle land speed record holder and owner/driver of the Valerie Thompson Land Speed-Racing Team, Valerie is known as “America’s Queen of Speed.”

Valerie’s racing career started in 2006, racing motorcycles on quarter-mile tracks around the US as part of the All Harley Drag Racing Association and the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle series. Valerie’s first year as a team owner/driver met with tremendous success, setting three national speed records and gaining membership in the Mojave Magnum 200 MPH Club. Then in her second year she became an official member of the Bonneville BUB Speed Trials 201 MPH Club and the Texas Mile 200 MPH Club.

2014 was another breakout year for the VTR team. Valerie set her sixth land speed record with a record-smashing run of 208.71 mph and became one of few female members in the ECTA 200 MPH Club. Then Valerie collected her seventh speed record at the World of Speed event to earn the famed Red Hat of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club. Valerie is now one of only 24 females in the Club, which has approximately 730 total members. She set a personal best top speed of 217 mph (350.53 KM/H) on her CTEK-sponsored BMW S 1000 RR at the Texas Mile land speed competition in October 2014.

Off the track, Valerie works as a vehicle presenter at Barrett-Jackson Auction Company, LLC and Metro Auto Auctions in her hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona. She also donates time supporting and inspiring children overcoming personal challenges with charitable organizations such as HopeKids.org, which earned her the 2011 “American Women Riders Community Hero Award.”