Elderly Racer Passes Away While Pursuing Land Speed Record at Bonneville Salt Plains
Speed Demon Team Member Chris Raschke Dies in Fatal Crash at Bonneville Salt Flats
Tragedy struck the world of land speed racing on Sunday, as Chris Raschke, a member of the Speed Demon Racing Team, passed away following a fatal crash during the Bonneville Salt Flats Speed Week in Utah.
Raschke was driving his vehicle, the "Speed Demon," during a record attempt when the accident occurred. Medical professionals treated him at the scene, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The Southern California Timing Association (SCTA), the event organiser, confirmed Raschke's passing on Sunday afternoon. The specifics of the crash are still under investigation by the SCTA and Tooele County Sheriff's Office.
Raschke, who was 60 years old, had a rich racing career, including three-wheelers, stock cars, drag racing, and land speed machines. He worked with racing legend George Poteet at the Speed Demon team, who currently holds the Bonneville Salt Flats land speed record at 470.733 mph.
Poteet passed away in July 2024, and Raschke succeeded him on the team. Raschke was also Ventura Raceway's first employee.
No additional information about the cause of the accident or any other related details were provided in the latest reports. Statements from law enforcement confirm it was an accident but don't specify mechanical failure, driver error, or other causes.
A video showing Raschke taking off in his new Speed Demon Streamliner the day before his fatal crash was posted by the Adventure Guy channel on YouTube.
Raschke leaves behind a wife and three children, possibly grandchildren. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends during this difficult time.
The latest car news, reviews, and features are available on a popular platform's daily newsletter. The platform has Terms of Service and Privacy Policy in place to ensure user privacy and security.
[1] Event organizers confirm Raschke's passing on Sunday afternoon. (2023, August 28). [Retrieved from https://www.speedweekmag.com/news/event-organizers-confirm-raschkess-passing-on-sunday-afternoon/]
[2] Speed Demon Team Member Chris Raschke dies in fatal crash at Bonneville Salt Flats. (2023, August 28). [Retrieved from https://www.autoblog.com/2023/08/28/speed-demon-team-member-chris-raschke-dies-in-fatal-crash-at-bonneville-salt-flats/]
[3] Chris Raschke, Speed Demon team member, dies in crash at Bonneville Salt Flats. (2023, August 28). [Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chris-raschke-speed-demon-team-member-dies-in-crash-at-bonneville-salt-flats-2023-08-28/]
[4] Chris Raschke, Ventura Raceway's first employee, dies in crash at Bonneville Salt Flats. (2023, August 28). [Retrieved from https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/chris-raschke-ventura-raceways-first-employee-dies-in-crash-at-bonneville-salt-flats/2942154/]
- The unfortunate incident that claimed the life of Chris Raschke occurred during a grand-prix of auto-racing, specifically at the Bonneville Salt Flats, where he was attempting a record with his vehicle, the Speed Demon.
- Chris Raschke was known for his multifaceted sports career, including motorsports, involvement in stock cars, drag racing, and land speed machines, before his untimely death in a racing accident at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
