Reggie Showers
Reggie Showers | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 6, 1964[1] |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Temple University[1] |
| Occupation | Motorcycle drag racer |
| Years active | 1989–[1] |
| Known for | Double amputee and International Drag Bike Association world champion, 14 world records[1] |
Reggie Showers (born February 6, 1964[1]) is a two-time motorcycle drag racing world champion in the IDBA as a double amputee, and a motivational speaker.
Accident[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f Sanchez, Brenna, "Reggie Showers", in Henderson, Ashyia N. (ed.), Contemporary Black Biography, vol. 30, Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale Group, pp. 183–184, ISBN 0-7876-4621-0
- ^ "Showers the "World's Fastest Amputee"", ESPN.com, August 8, 2002