Addicted to Speed
David Dean from Johnstown, Ohio has been involved in street luge since before his days at Ohio State University (OSU) where he graduated in 2007. Dean has seen his share of wipeouts at speeds between 70 and 80 mph, breaking fingers, straining his back and fracturing both of his legs.
Street Luge (Image Courtesy www.wikipedia.com)
But recently, Dean decided he wanted to make a big statement by beating the world record of 97.8 mph achieved by Canadian luger Cedric Touchett in 2008. Dean teamed up with OSU graduates and spent two semesters with the team of engineering students in an effort to design and engineer a luge capable of reaching 100 mph.
Street Luge (Image Courtesy www.wikipedia.com)
According to Dean, the main issue in making the luge fast enough is aerodynamics. Street luges are relatively simple, and braking is done with the rubber soles of a rider’s shoes.
David Dean has an Indiegogo campaign to help fund his participation in the Street Luge World Championships.
The following video is from the 2014 Finals.
