July 2nd

July 2nd 1881

Paul "Dare Devil" Derkum born. Riding an Indian V-twin, in 1908 he broke ten speed records at a one-mile dirt track in Los Angeles. The following year he lowered the 17 hour record for Los Angeles - San Diego return by six hours.
Dare Devil Derkum

July 2nd 1917

T. E. Lawrence defeats the Ottoman forces at Aba el Lissan, an outpost of Aqaba.
Lawrence and his Brough Superiors

July 2nd 1955

Russell Wright sets a new World Land Speed Record of 184.83 mph at Swannanoa, Canterbury, New Zealand, riding a Vincent Black Lightning. He then bolted a sidecar to it and set the sidecar record at 162 mph.
Vincent Black Lightning

July 2nd 2000

Joey Dunlop dies in Tallinn, Estonia.

Dunlop won 26 races at the Isle of Man TT, along with 5 consecutive TT Formula One world titles. He was awarded the MBE in 1986 and the OBE in 1996.
Joey Dunlop

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