Draft:Ralph A. Hudson

Ralph Hudson (May 19, 1951 - September 6, 2020) was an American businessman and motorcycle racer who gained recognition for setting multiple AMA and FIM motorcycle land-speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats and El Mirage Dry Lake between 2009 and 2020. In 2018, during the Top 1 Oil Boliva Speed Trials at the Uyuni Salt Flats, Hudson made a one-way pass of 304 mph (489 km/h), the fastest ever recorded speed for a sit-on motorcycle.

In 2018, Hudson participated in the Top 1 Oil Boliva Speed Trials at the Uyuni Salt Flats where he set a motorcycle land-speed world record of 297.970 mph aboard his Suzuki GSX-R1000, which remains the FIM world record as top speed for a sit-on motorcycle.

In total, Hudson broke 39 records at Bonneville and El Mirage and won 3 SCTA motorcycle points championships. He was inducted into the Dry Lakes Racing Hall of Fame in 2017, and is a nominee for the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

On August 14th, 2020 during the return run on a record attempt in Bonneville, a strong gust of wind blew Hudson off course while driving at a speed above 250mph. The resulting crash led to his passing 23 days later on September 6th.

Racing Career
Hudson first participated in Speed Week at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the 1971, where he raced a stock Kawasaki.

After stepping away from racing to focus on his career and starting a family, Hudson returned to land speed racing in 2009 after purchasing a stock 2003 Suzuki GSX-R1000 on Craigslist that he would spend the following decade customizing himself.

Driven by an idea he had more than 30 years prior, Hudson devoted himself to the study of aerodynamics to come up with a custom design for his motorcycle's bodywork that he personally fabricated at his shop in Glendale, CA. The success of this design propelled him to his first land-speed record at Bonneville in 2009, with a speed of 210.623mph to become a member of the Bonneville 200 mph club.

In the decade to follow, he continued to improve upon his bodywork design, and created a custom-engineered motorcycle that would ultimately break dozens of land speed records, many of which stand to this day.

Land Speed Records
Bonneville Land Speed Records

El Mirage Land Speed Records

TOP 1 Oil Bolivia Speed Trials