World Bicycle One Hour Record Holders Damjan Zabovnik (87.12 km, 2008) vs Sam Whittingham (86.77 km, 2007) duel for new One-Hour record at the Ford Michigan Proving Grounds the afternoon of Sunday July 19, 2009.
In an epic match. Sam Whittingham, of Canada, in his newest bike the Varna Tempest overtook Damjan Zabovnik, of Slovenia, in his Eivie II bike, and passed him on the way to a new world one-hour record (56.216 miles, 90.471 km) on the Ford track, the first performance in history over 90 km.
Damjan designed and built his Eivie II. He rides it with his head facing backwards, using a mirror to see forward. The Varna Tempest was designed and built by Georgi Georgiev of Canada.
View is from the Chase vehicle driven by Mike Mowett, the event organizer. Commentating is Julius Makuch in passenger seat, husband of Barbara Buatois, who set two new women's hour records in the same Varna Tempest Friday and later on Sunday after this attempt. Barbara was riding chase in the white van behind Sam with Steve Nash. In the rear seat is Scott Wilson, IHPVA observer, who performed the official records measurement.
Video shown with permission of Damjan Zabovnik, a great competitor. After this pass, he chased hard for at least two laps , increasing his speed by 3 to 4 kph, before slowing down and abadoning the race due to overheating. Damjan had two crashes at the start of the race which caused him not to have a good start. He did not have enough dry ice to keep him cool, which was partially Mike's fault for not buying more at the store prior to the event.
Well done Sam - next stop ..... Battle mountain !
bdeclare 2 years ago