Re: Bad news from Thompson Dragstrip
[Re: Plumb Wired]
#1248060
06/10/12 08:47 AM
06/10/12 08:47 AM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,330 Lynchburg, VA
Leon441
master
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master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,330
Lynchburg, VA
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It is very disturbing to hear of a fellow racer taking his final pass this way. Although a releif to see that his final breath was shortly after one of the best fealing moments in life, DRAG RACING.
Rest In Peace fellow racer.
Leon
Career best 8.02 @ 169 at 3050# and 10" tires small block power.
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Re: Bad news from Thompson Dragstrip
[Re: jake4cars]
#1248066
06/10/12 11:23 AM
06/10/12 11:23 AM
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,601 ky
headhunter
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,601
ky
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Re: Bad news from Thompson Dragstrip
[Re: theraif]
#1248069
06/10/12 04:21 PM
06/10/12 04:21 PM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,532 off the grid
340B5
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,532
off the grid
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Truly sad . Does anyone know what type of injury occurred so that the rest of us can guard against it in the case of a mishap?
Yeah, it's got a smallblock.
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Re: Bad news from Thompson Dragstrip
[Re: Shoozy]
#1248071
06/10/12 05:02 PM
06/10/12 05:02 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,875 communist bloc of new jersey
jamesc
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,875
communist bloc of new jersey
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Quote:
Does anyone know what type of injury occurred so that the rest of us can guard against it in the case of a mishap?
armco rail went through the car with obvious results...sadly there's only one way to guard against that, don't race at a track that has it.
i'm sure i might get flamed for this but on another site a member made mention of some of the (ever increasing) nhra and ihra regulations regarding safety equipment and such. then went on to mention that perhaps some of this would be better invested in making facilities (racing surface and surroundings) safer to begin with.
i fully agree with this opinion.
i don't know how many tracks still use these type barriers but i'm sure there's still a fair amount and i know i've run at a lot of them over the years.
with regards to safety, engineering controls are to be used preferential to safety equipment with safety equipment being your last line of defense. what this means it don't try to build a car that will survive accidents such as this but better yet remove the hazard (rail) to begin with.
this may sound ridiculous to some but personally i think the large sum of money that is WASTED on replacing belts that's there's nothing wrong with every two years would be better spent towards removing this particular hazard from tracks. i wouldn't really call this a freak accident, one of US is no longer here because of these rails and it could happen to anyone running next to these rails.
it's a horrible accident and the least that can be hoped for is that it brings to the forefront a problem and solution so we don't see more stories like it.
anyhow that's how i see it
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Re: Bad news from Thompson Dragstrip
[Re: jamesc]
#1248072
06/10/12 05:22 PM
06/10/12 05:22 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,020 Pangaea
B5 Bee
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,020
Pangaea
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Quote:
i wouldn't really call this a freak accident, one of US is no longer here because of these rails and it could happen to anyone running next to these rails.
it's a horrible accident and the least that can be hoped for is that it brings to the forefront a problem and solution so we don't see more stories like it.
I know of two Orlando Speedworld regulars that had wrecks where the Armco got into the cabin/cockpit. The first was ~25 years ago at Gainesville in the shutdown area, door car, driver suffered severe and permanent foot damage. Second was ~18 years ago at Southern Dragway in GA, rear motor digger, gruesome outcome.
When watching the video of Richard making a pass in his Dart, you could see he had many friends and family that supported him. I feel sorry for their loss.
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