SALT LAKE CITY -- Sam Wheeler, a renowned land-speed motorcycle racer, is dead after the high-performance bike he was testing at Utahs famed Bonneville Salt Flats fish-tailed, went airborne and crashed at 200 mph. He was 72.Wheeler died Monday afternoon at Intermountain Medical Center in the Salt Lake City suburb of Murray because of traumatic injuries suffered in the motorcycle accident, hospital spokesman Jess Gomez said.Wheeler was going about 200 mph (322 kph) during a test run when the back of the streamliner motorcycle started fish tailing, said Mike Cook, the event organizer who witnessed the incident. His motorcycle began to slide and then popped into the air and came crashing down on the caged section where Wheeler was seated, Cook said. Wheeler was alive when emergency crews extracted him from the car, but he died about four hours later at the hospital, Cook said.We all have real heavy hearts, said Cook, organizer of Mike Cooks Bonneville Shootout. Land-speed racing is one of the most family-orientated sports there is in the world.Wheeler, an engineer from Arcadia, California, was known as an innovator and pioneer in the sport. He spent more than two decades building, fine-tuning and racing a motorcycle on which he reached speeds exceeding 300 mph, said Pat McDowell, a fellow racer and longtime friend. At one time, he held the land-speed record for motorcycles, he said.Hes was pretty much one of the legends of our sport, McDowell said. He did it with his brain, not his wallet.Wheeler was testing the motorcycle this week in anticipation of two big races in August and September at the Salt Flats. The site brings races from around the country to use the flat, glasslike surface to set speed records.He had been working on the motorcycle in recent years with a goal of setting the motorcycle speed record and surpassing 400 mph, McDowell said.Everyone was rooting for him, even competitors, said McDowell, vice president of the Southern California Timing Association.Wheeler was known for his ability to build and modify his motorcycle by himself. He was a perfectionist who knew aerodynamics well, said Bill Lattin, president of the Southern California Timing Association, which is set to host a major racing event at the Salt Flats in August.He built that motorcycle by hand. Every single part on it, Lattin said. Hes been rebuilding it, making it stronger, faster and more aerodynamic.Wheeler is survived by his wife and two children, McDowell said. Wheelers family couldnt immediately be reached for comment.McDowell, Cook and Lattin said Wheeler was a kind-hearted, laid-back man.He was the nicest guy in the world, Lattin said. He would do anything for anybody. Chicago Blackhawks Jerseys Custom . After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. Wholesale Custom Hockey Jerseys . JOHNS, N. http://www.customhockeycheapjerseys.com/ . The deal is pending a physical, assistant general manager Bobby Evans said. Traded from Seattle to Baltimore on Aug. 30, Morse also can play first base and right field to give manager Bruce Bochy some flexibility in writing his lineup. Custom Hockey Jerseys China .Y. -- Jayna Hefford scored the winning goal Friday as Canada survived a scare with a 4-3 win over Sweden at the Four Nations womens hockey tournament. Cheap Custom NHL Jerseys .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Black Caviars daughter Oscietra has made an immediate impression in her first public appearance, winning a jump-out at Flemington as she builds towards a highly anticipated race debut.The two-year-old filly, the first foal out of the champion mare who was undefeated in her 25 starts, flew out of the barriers in Fridays 800m hit-out to lead her trial and was never headed as she won the five-horse heat by about a length.I sort of expected her to do that, trainer David Hayes said.I would have been a bit disappointed if she came out and ran poorly. I was really happy.She showed terrific gate speed, she was a bit new in the straight having a look around but she did enough to win the trial and I thought she had a bit in hand.So I gave her a pass mark, definitely, for her first jump-out and on the 23rd of December in her next trial, I think shell trial pretty well.Hayes said Oscietra would have a more serious test in her next jump-out in two weeks which will decide whether she is ready to head to the races.Hayes has earmarked a two-year-old fillies race at Fleminngton on January 1 and there another option a day earlier should she come through her next trial with flying colours.dddddddddddd.Oscietra was ridden by jockey Luke Nolen who partnered Black Caviar in 22 of her 25 wins.The group of people who raced Black Caviar and have retained her progeny were on hand to watch Oscietra.I think they relaxed a bit when they saw her jump like she did, Hayes said.They were really excited and I think they were happy with what they saw.Hayes says Oscietra is not an filly but is a good mover and is showing promising signs.He is looking forward to seeing what she can produce on the racetrack.Shes really growing towards me, he said.Horses either grow towards you or away from you when you go into a prep, and shes heading in the right direction.Oscietra, by Exceed And Excel, is the eldest of three foals Black Caviar has produced so far.She also has a yearling colt by Sebring and a filly foal by Snitzel. 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