2016 King of the Hammers Every (Wo)Man Race with the 1st Place finisher, the Queen, Jessi Combs | She's been called the "Queen of the Hammers," she holds the title of "World's Fastest Woman on Four Wheels," and she seriously is the "real deal." She's an Ultra4 National Champion and a Baja 1000 podium finisher. We're talking about none other than our friend and serious bad ass, Jessi Combs. You may remember her from MythBusters, her Overhaulin' days with Chip Foose, or from All Girls Garage. Or maybe you've followed her as she sets out on her series The List: 1001 Things to Do in a Car before you Die! 
Breaking down barriers in off-road, Jessi Combs the Queen of the Hammers in her savvy Ultra4 | We hung out with Jessi one afternoon at her shop, while she put the final touches on the REAL DEAL land speed-inspired 2016 BMW R nine T that was featured in the BMW booth at the 2016 SEMA show, the 50th Anniversary of the world renowned event. A long time brand ambassador of K&N filters and performance products, we are thrilled she chose to have K&N as part of this build. 
It's obvious that Jessi Combs loves what she does | We were pretty stoked that we got to see her in action. Mind you most people in the midst of the SEMA thrash are pretty much running themselves ragged in the final hours before the Big Show. That wasn't the case with Jessi though. Sure she has a lot on her plate. Between Jessi co-hosting the SEMA Banquet with Dennis Pittsenbarger, and her laundry list of meet and greets, signings, and appearances at her many sponsor's booths. It's impressive to see how organized and settled this incredible female is and how she handles stress and what she is capable of!But let's go back just a couple steps. On October 9, 2013, Jessi drove the North American Eagle (NAE) Supersonic Speed Challenger in the Alvord Desert, claiming the women's land speed record with an official run of 392.954 mph and a top speed of 440.709 mph. And just a few weeks ago she would return to the Alvord Desert in Oregon breaking her own record and driving 477.59 as part of a complex, ambitious goal to become the fastest woman on Earth. 
Behind every great driver is a great team and Jessi's team is no exception | During her speed run, Jessi encountered a pretty hairy setback when the car drifted slightly off course. When moving that fast, movements appear subtle with few reference points to judge where you are. As soon as Jessi realized where she was and that she couldn’t correct back to the proper course, she quickly aborted the mission. But by the end of the run, the Eagle had come dangerously close to the edge of the track, due to malfunctions with braking and steering systems. Calm and collected throughout the ordeal, Combs still remains determined to continue her goal of breaking the women’s record of 512 miles per hour, set in 1976. Jessi also remains the fastest woman on four wheels, a record she broke in 2013. When we asked Jessi when she would get back in the seat of the North American Eagle, she assured us just as soon as the car is ready and safe. She's determined to accomplish that goal she has set for herself. 
Brains, beauty, and serious bad ass, Jessi Combs has it all | It's no surprise that Jessi is driven, just look at what this very impressive young lady has accomplished. Jessi remembers when she was just about eight years old asking her mother what the third pedal was next to the brake in the family car. She says she's always been interested in cars and how stuff worked. Growing up in farming country in South Dakota she had a proper driver's license by the time she was fourteen years old. Her first ride was her Plymouth Laser that got her to the dirt track or Sturgis Dragstrip for a little fun. She learned early on that off-road was definitely her jam and she was good at it. She loved the speed and was the real deal behind the wheel. However, she admits to having one or two run-ins with the law as a result of her lead foot.It seemed car guys didn't take her too seriously so she decided to change that. Originally wanting to become an architect, she soon discovered the extensive time and significant cost involved and chose to follow a path that combined her love of design with her passion for speed. Enter Wyo-Tech. Combs earned her degree in custom automotive fabrication and has inspired millions showcasing her skills. Her shop reflects her design sensibilities, from the artwork on the walls to the uber chill vibe the exposed brick walls create. Her surroundings can't help but inspire some amazing builds like the 2016 BMW R nine T. 
Jessi's likeness was added to the SEMA sketch wall in the Las Vegas Convention Center | Looking back on Jessi's long list of accomplishments really gets one thinking. For instance, who is she inspired by? Not surprising, Jessi is inspired by the likes of Amelia Earhart and not just for her prowess in the cockpit behind a prop. Jessi is inspired by what she did on the ground as well. As a member of the National Women's Party, the 40-year-old Earhart was a legend in her own time, breaking social norms of female roles in aviation. Although she was not the first female to be issued a pilot's license, she was the first female to successfully fly a plane across the Atlantic Ocean. We can definitely see some similarities between Amelia and Jessi. Both women have set records, and done what many have said couldn't be done! 
Jessi's design sensibilities abound throughout the shop. Who doesn't love James Dean? | Jessi has big plans for the future. She met Theresa Contreras, her "REAL DEAL" business partner, in 2012 during the SEMA Businesswomen's Network Ford Mustang all female build. During the project the two realized that they shared not only a passion for details but a very palpable drive to inspire. Through REAL DEAL Jessi has an opportunity to share this lifestyle with others on a global level. The REAL DEAL mission? To motivate others in a way that breeds self-confidence, breaks stereotypes, encourages healthy decisions, offers hands-on training and inspires community involvement. We asked Jessi where she thought REAL DEAL would be in a couple short years and she told us she would love to have workshops that teach adolescent girls some of the skills she has learned throughout the years. "To work with them one on one at the shop would be my goal," said Jessi. 
This incredible sign created for the REAL DEAL twosome sits prominently in the shop. | Jessi assures us she has no intention of stopping now. And boy this beauty is busy! She handles all of her own social media, arranges her own travel, schedules her meetings and product launches, and that is just the back office stuff. Then there are the events like the 4th Annual Babes Ride Out, where she taught close to 100 women the art of welding. Seriously this girl does it all. She is kind, compassionate, and grateful. She understands the importance of giving back. More importantly - she is super silly! When we asked if there was anyone, dead or alive, who she would most like to spend time with, her response? Her mother. She said she would love to just sit down to dinner and be with her mom. When talking about where she sees herself in five years, her blue eyes sparkle as she admits, "I really want to change the world!" You can bet if anyone can do it, we believe Jessi Combs is that person. She inspires women of all ages to move out of their comfort zone and continues to leave her mark on the automotive world not just for herself, but for all women, everywhere. 
Jessi installing the K&N filters on the REAL DEAL 2016 BMW R nine T build featured at SEMA | 
The finished REAL DEAL land speed inspired 2016 BMW R nine T featured at the BMW Booth SEMA | |
