Times are apparently tough for adventurers of the two-wheeled variety. First came news that a noted world-traveling bicyclist was run over by a car in Greece. Now comes word from the AP that a motorcycle maverick was killed at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah after a crash at almost 250 mph.

Cliff Gullett of Bozeman, Montana, held several land speed records, and was apparently trying to set a record in the 500cc Streamliner class. These machines are enclosed, low-slung motorcycles that are designed to have as little wind resistance as possible (this the name “Streamliner”). It goes without saying that it’s a bit more technically advanced than my old dirt bike.

Tragically, according to the BILLINGS GAZETTE, Gullett had essentially reached the end of his run and was likely about to decellerate when he crashed. The cause of the crash - which apparently involved the craft flipping at least once - is still unknown, although Gullett’s father was told that the craft might have broken apart before it crashed.

Gullett had much bigger plans than passing the 250 mph mark in his vehicle: he was hoping to get it to go 400 mph. Ironically, Gullett had been part of a profile on racers at the Bonneville Flats by the BILLINGS GAZETTE earlier this year. In that article, he had compared the need for speed to an addiction:

“I’ve never done drugs, but if drugs are anything like racing, there ought to be a Betty Ford Clinic for racing,” Gullett said. 

Clearly, this is a dangerous thing to be involved in. Just don’t, for the love of God, let Ben Roethlisberger know that this sort of thing exists.