Reggie Showers
Reggie Showers | |
---|---|
Born | [1] Philadelphia, Pennsylvania[1] | February 6, 1964
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Temple University[1] |
Occupation | Motorcycle drag racer |
Years active | 1989–[1] |
Known for | Double amputee and world champion, 14 world records[1] |
Reggie Showers (born February 6, 1964[1]) was a two-time motorcycle drag racing world champion in the IDBA as a double amputee, and a motivational speaker.
Accident[]
In 1978, at the age of 14, Showers lost both of his legs below the knee in an electrical accident. He later said of his disability, "It really didn't faze me; it was kind of surreal. I just said, 'Come on, let's get it over with.' This was another challenge."[2]
Motorcycle drag racing[]
Showers had a successful career drag racing motorcycles in the National Hot Rod Association series. He used specially-made race-day prosthetics that made him shorter than his usual stature. Showers has retired from drag racing. He is now a motivational speaker working with mentorship programs; he is also an enthusiastic participant in adaptive snowboarding.
On Saturday, 21 June 2008, Showers proposed to his girlfriend Vikki on-camera during the ESPN2 coverage of the NHRA Super Nationals in Englishtown, NJ. It aired on Sunday, 29 June 2008 during the NHRA Summit Nationals in Norwalk, OH.
Notes[]
- ^ a b c d e f Sanchez, Brenna, "Reggie Showers", in Henderson, Ashyia N. (ed.), Contemporary Black Biography, vol. 30, Farmington Hill, Michigan: Gale Group, pp. 183–184, ISBN 0-7876-4621-0
- ^ Showers the "World's Fastest Amputee", ESPN.com, August 8, 2002
External links[]
- 1964 births
- Living people
- African-American racing drivers
- American amputees
- American disabled sportspeople
- Motorcycle drag racers
- 21st-century African-American people
- 20th-century African-American sportspeople