I want you to close your eyes and picture this: you are standing on a dry lake bed. The dust mixes in with the mirage in the distance, where soon you will be headed at speeds that not so long ago were considered so impossible, that it was expected that the human body would never be able to cope. Where is your mind at? Where is your heart? Is it beating through your chest in excitement and anticipation, or is your self-preservation kicking in? Do you fear the moments you’ve been training for, or can you not wait to strap yourself in and point your nose to the horizon?
I think I was introduced to Jessi Combs once or twice in passing at big shows, nothing major, little more than “hello”. I can’t say I knew her personally. But I know her type. Fearless, determined, and eager to bring those who want to go along for the ride with her. I saw it in the best I worked with in the military, and you could see it everywhere she walked, every time she talked. More than willing to be a leader, more than willing to call someone out on their bullshit the moment she smells it. You could pick her out of a crowd…if you didn’t see the radiating smile and hear the laughter, you couldn’t miss the streak of blue-green hair mixed in with the blonde. You probably saw her on television, be it on Overhaulin’, Mythbusters, All Girls Garage, or any of the other shows she was a part of. Maybe you saw her at King of the Hammers, or at Baja. You might have seen her adventures with Autoblog’s “The List” video series. Maybe you saw footage of her encouraging girls to get their hands dirty. Maybe you saw her triumphantly celebrating when she became the first woman to place at an Ultra4 event.
Jessi was many things to people in the automotive world. But first and foremost, was what she was to herself: a wrench, a rider and a racer. She was working on land-speed records in the North American Eagle Supersonic Speed Challenger racer in Oregon, trying to beat her previous record, when fate intervened. We lost Jessi, and we lost an enigmatic, positive influence to millions.
As Brian Lohnes wrote:
“In 1905 on Ormond Beach in Florida, Frank Crocker and his riding mechanic Alexander Raoul were killed making a land speed attempt in their Simplex. It was the first time that death visited America during this pursuit.
Over the years, it has reared its head numerous times claiming brave people attempting to push the physical and mechanical limits of humanity on the land, in the air, and across the water.
It has happened again and this time Jessi Combs’ name will be added to the saddest of rolls. A woman who stood for the right things not only to other women but to all of us who embrace speed, adventure, and the machinery which carries us to both, Jessi inspired countless young people to pursue their own passions.
As the stories spread and as the news continues to emerge, many will question the reasons she and the rest of the North American Eagle team were doing what they did. Those people are within their rights to do that but in doing so they identify themselves as beings so far afield from Jessi, they’d never understand anyway so don’t waste a lot of breath yelling at them. Jessi would not have.
Jessi’s death is terribly sad but for those that have a mission like hers in their heart, they won’t be deterred and frankly that’s her legacy.
Impactful human beings have an amazing way of continuing to provide a positive force for people long after they have left the Earth. Jessi Combs will be one of those unique breed of souls who will serve as reminder, inspiration, and model for many years to come.”
Fly high.
RIP Jessi.
I met her at sema. She’s awesome
RIP Jessi break your record in that flat bed in the sky. There you will meet my son Sergio j Gomez whom left us 9 years ago at the age of 20. He’s the one shredding the clouds on his skateboard. He as I was a big fan.
Well said, Bryan and Brian. I did know her personally, she was a shining light who inspired so many, and will be missed by all who knew her or knew of her.
AR
Followed her over the years. Very sad day when I heard the news.
Huge loss. I just talked to her at the SEMA Hall of Fame installation banquet on July 26th. I introduced her to a couple of people at our table, and asked her exactly how fast she had gone. She just lit up and talked to us for quite a while describing her past accomplishments, but was really excited about her future attempts to go even faster.
Sad news. RIP. We need more women…people like her.
The coolest of the cool, most awesome of the awesome, human being.
A truly sad story to lose somebody who had such a passion for all things mechanical. An inspiration for for all and even more so for women to get involved in motorsports.
I read about this yesterday. Sad to see a women that had done more than 99% any guy have accomplished.
RIP Jess.
Very sad she was an inspiration to many may you rest in peace Jessi
if you look at the vehicle she was driving it has no safety cage in it at all what were the they thinking when they built this .
Rip Jessi sad for the family and her love one .
They were probably thinking “what’s the point?” At 500-600+ Mph, You’re not going to survive anyway!!!
Don, but people have survived very high speed crashes on the lake beds, with proper safety cages built into their vehicles. Not saying that would make a difference here, but with none it would seem to garantee a horrific outcome should something go bad.
First thing I thought of when I saw the cockpit of that car/aircraft… was, is there no safety regulations for these vehicles?
They weren’t thinking. This was the cockpit of an F-104 jet. This was never designed to roll across the ground at the salt flats. It was designed to go fast across the sky.
I met Jessi at an event a few years ago and I thought wow, this woman can inspire my daughters and my granddaughters by showing them what they can do.
RIP Jessi.
Safety cage or not unfortunately at that speed nothing would of saved her
Well said. Godspeed Jessi!
I don’t get choked up about people I don”t know, but for some reason this is different. Jessi has done more to advance motorsports than anyone I can think of in recent memory–especially for women. I followed her Instagram & felt like she could’ve been my own daughter or sister.
I’ll be prayin’ for her family & friends. I’ve already found 2 of my own friends who knew her personally. She touched a LOT of folks.
Such a tragic loss to a young woman who had everything ahead of herself. The future was wide open to her a d she did what she did best. That was everything.. God rest your soul .
When I heard the news I was shocked and it really saddened me, thought about it all day. I didn’t know her personally, but always enjoyed seeing her on TV, and followed her exploits on Facebook. She stood out as so much more than the typical “eye candy” type women on automotive tv shows, she had skills, was great at what she did, and just came across as a really cool chick, the kind of girl every car guy would love to find and fall in love with. The tragedy also effected me because the car was built here in my home state and my friend and I were invited to the hangar they built it in, I guess around 15yrs. ago, got to spend several hours talking with the original leader/owner/driver Ed Shadle and the crew, all great people, feel really bad for all of them also.
Jessi lived big, fast and successful. 36 years of living her dreams, chasing goals and sharing it all with the world..If someone writes her biography it will be a great read.
Very few people leave this earth doing what they truly love. Dale Earnhardt, Blaine Johnson, Elmer Trett, Emilia Earhart are a few that come to mind. The world will always remember Jessi Combs as a lady who pursued her dreams and lived life to the fullest. God speed Jessi.
jessi was a 100% legit badass at everything she put her mind and hands on the world lost another great way too soon RIP !!
one of the most determined and respected women of her time, this is a blow and a tragedy to the automotive and trade\’s world.I watched her on T.V and she was a true inspiration, my condolences to everyone who were her friends and her family, I am truly sadened by this as if I knew her and thats the legacy she leaves behind.
Jessi was 1 of a kind I was blown away when I heard the news,Rest in peace Jessi God Speed!
we pass this way but once . some spend a lifetime trying to live others live a lifetime in a short time and a few experince all there dreams in the blink of an eye. told you not to blink jesse
you have left a large void you will be missed greatly
love joe
I REMEMBER EXTREME OFF ROADING , JESSIE WITH IAN. SHE WAS A WONDER WAY BACK THEN.
RIP. Truly one of the best