The Jesse James H2 speed record, which according to him and Spike TV, was set last month is put under questioning by Louise Ann Noeth, author of the Bonneville: The Fastest Place on Earth book on land speed racing. According to a statement she sent us Jesse James' H2 speed record is without merit mostly because there was not any motorsports sanctioning authority present and the vehicle was not inspected and certified.
The statement also says Jesse James did not go the whole required distance, two runs over a one-mile course within one hour, and was 132 feet short.
The BMW HR2, which Jesse claims he has beaten, holds a FIA ratified speed record of 185 mph.
Louise Ann Noeth statement:
Cable TV personality Jesse James claims he set the world record for hydrogen-powered vehicles on June 16th on the southern California El Mirage dry lake.
The claim is without merit since the activities were conducted without benefit of any motorsports sanctioning authority. The vehicle was neither inspected, nor certified and all the timing
personnel were on the James TV payroll.
World speed records require two runs over a one-mile course within one hour. James was 5,148 feet short -- being timed one-way for a total of 132 feet; he made only three or four passes over an eight to ten-hour period. Any world record holder will tell you it’s quite a technical feat to hold speed for a full mile.
The baseless speed stunt was reportedly for "the season-ending episode of James's TV show, Jesse James is a Dead Man." The episode is set to air in early August.
James claims to have bested the FIA ratified BMW HR2 record of 185 mph. The BMW HR2 race car set 9 international and FIA-ratified land-speed records for hydrogen cars at the Miramas Proving Grounds in France. The BMW HR2 is one of the few hydrogen cars developed with internal combustion engine (ICE) technology instead of fuel cell technology.
Mr. James efforts count for absolutely nothing on the world motorsports stage and amount to little more than a self-promoting “TV racer” PR stunt since he chose to ignore the sport's sanctioning
rules that have applied to all records certified for the past 80 years.
Further, Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc., a supplier of parts to the car has posted the release on PR Newswire with a solicitation for stock investment. This has generated numerous news stories around the globe propping up the lie. Now the fraud is enhancing the image of a company to sell stock.
The sad part is that the car itself is something to take note of, but its credibility as an alternative fuel vehicle is diminished by the lie of a world record
When contacted to explain the fraudulent claim, James responded with a short crude retort that reminded this writer that vulgarity is indeed the refuge of a destitute mind.
