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.

Reggie Showers
Born (1964-02-06) February 6, 1964 (age 60)[1]
NationalityAmerican
Alma materTemple University[1]
OccupationMotorcycle drag racer
Years active1989–[1]
Known forDouble amputee and International Drag Bike Association world champion, 14 world records[1]

Accident

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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

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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

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  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ "Showers the "World's Fastest Amputee"", ESPN.com, August 8, 2002
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