Tragedy in the fast lane

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

Don't ruin the sport over a rare tragedy. There's no reason to over do it. The only way to make racing perfectly safe is to stop doing it.

There are changes that help without ruining the sport - HANS, SAFER, onboard extinguishers, etc. We don't need things that ruin the sport, like restrictor plates, or pop-off valves in Indy.

I agree that they need to look at what could have helped here. His chutes didn't deploy effectively. Maybe that's the answer?

The parachutes deployed - they just caught fire.

I don't like the idea of the HANS device in NHRA. Fire is the biggest concern - hitting a concrete wall head on is not very likely in the NHRA since most tracks don't use concrete walls to stop the car.

The concrete wall and the length of the stop zone are two of the biggest factors here. Would a HANs device had helped? Not if he was unconcious.

I think you hit it dead on with the SAFER barrier. IF we're going to have them be stopped by a wall, a SAFER barrier is the way to do it.

Also, I believe KHI and Bob Vandergriff are working behind the scenes on a newer, safer NHRA top fuel car. I wonder what else NHRA could learn from NASCAR.

Of course, the NHRA's solution to everything the past 5-10 years had been concrete. It'll cost the tracks a little more money, but the NHRA's going to have to choose: spend the money or watch more drivers die.

Every accident has something you can take away from it? Realistically, what would've happened in NASCAR if Dale didn't die?

That said, the drivers know the danger. They know they might not walk away. It's the danger guaranteed every time they get in that car. At least Scott died doing what he loved to do.

 

[clevalley]

Andy,

I have been following NHRA for a while.... the shutdowns arent long enough at MIR or englishtown....

its a major problem that needs to be fixed

:dingdingding: We have a winner! This has been an issue since the cars have been consistently running in the upper 200 range.

Semi runaway ramps are 100+ YARDS on Rt. 68 and 70 AND the ramps go uphill, so at 280+ it does not matter if you have a net and 80' of gravel/sand... that car will glide right over top of it at that speed for 80'. It will not stop until it hits something or coasts for another mile...

It is extremely tragic and 'effing trivial to be arguing about 35' or 80' of gravel/sand - that 'aint going to do sh1t for a car at that speed.

I feel bad for his family and especially his dad Connie, he must be heartbroken.

 

[clevalley]

...At least Scott died doing what he loved to do.

I like pussy, but would not want to die interacting with one... :shrug:

 

[Gtmustang88]

I think the hans device does help nhra drivers with the gforces they face when they are on the gas and when they let off. It makes the whipping motion on your head and neck less severe. Also, you never know what is going to happen, and they can hit the wall, so i still believe that is a good device for them.

Maybe slowing the cars down a lil bit, to say 300 or so maybe something to look into because most of these tracks were not built for these speeds.

 

[Gtmustang88]

I like pussy, but would not want to die interacting with one... :shrug:

 

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

I think the hans device does help nhra drivers with the gforces they face when they are on the gas and when they let off. It makes the whipping motion on your head and neck less severe. Also, you never know what is going to happen, and they can hit the wall, so i still believe that is a good device for them.

Maybe slowing the cars down a lil bit, to say 300 or so maybe something to look into because most of these tracks were not built for these speeds.

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[Gtmustang88]

Tapered spacer.

That or limiting the blowers some with a larger pulley. I am not sure how much boost they are pushing, but I know it has to be alot. I know it takes about 12 gallons or so of fuel to get down the track.