quote:

Originally posted by 1320racer:
rollbar collapsed too.

That said, the NHRA is aware of this crash and their division directors have been briefed. They have been told that he removed his helmet before the crash.

So I would think it's reasonable to assume the belts were popped loose also.

helmet was laying in the track and the strap was in the buckle. i have seen people run the helmet strap loose and just pull the helmet on and off without strapping and unstrapping. this may have been the case here. wreck was quite a bit down in the shut down. i saw a pic after the wreck and it did not look like a car afterwards. the whole incident/accident is tragic and may have been avoidable.

evidently safety gear regarding this situation was an issue because my local track Union County Dragway has put out a post on fb stating that more rule enforcement regarding the proper use of all required safety equipment will take place. from what is required for your et to jr dragster kids and loose seat belts and all in between. so you only have to put 2 and 2 together to conclude this incident revolves around safety equipment.

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DISCLAIMER: the following is a summary of what I was told by several that were there at the crash scene…

He lost and stabbed the brakes hard in what is believed to have been an attempt to take the first turn off. It is also believed that he removed his helmet and belts before the crash. I’ve seen the same photo as pauley and based on it, I don’t know how he could have survived even if his helmet was on.

As I stated previously here, this could be, SHOULD BE, a defining moment, a turning point in our sport regarding safety but won’t be if tracks and promoters continue to look the other way when it comes to behavior and safety, allowing racers to police themselves as well act and do as they please.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 1320racer,

So now we get to the Truth of the matter. That was not so hard was it? Playing silly little games "I got a Secret" is stupid. If you know something say so and if not STFU.

As for me I do not unstrap my seatbelts until I get to timing booth usually and remove my helmet when I get back to my pit. But I drive back, if I was getting towed pull over stop and remove it on return road.

I do not think you should ever release seatbelts and helmet while still on the track.

If the guy did remove his helmet and seatbelts prior to the crash he made a fatal mistake, may he Rest In Peace and hope others learn from it and it never happens again.

I am sorry for the loss of life and it probably could have / should have been avoided. But it has already happened so learn from it and move on.

Rest in peace..............

quote:

Originally posted by Curly1:
So now we get to the Truth of the matter. That was not so hard was it? Playing silly little games "I got a Secret" is stupid. If you know something say so and if not STFU.

No one was playing silly little games. When this thread started it was all hearsay and rumor mill so it was not put out in a public forum out of respect for the family. If you have something to say without being a Richard then do so otherwise YOU STFU.

quote:

Originally posted by jenavet:

quote:

claim this could never happen to them because they do x, y, z.

I know one person i would not want to be in a lane next too!! Thats why bradenton banned those triple chrome bumpers!!

Get in line sugar britches.

quote:

Originally posted by TonyB6255:

quote:

Originally posted by Curly1:
So now we get to the Truth of the matter. That was not so hard was it? Playing silly little games "I got a Secret" is stupid. If you know something say so and if not STFU.

No one was playing silly little games. When this thread started it was all hearsay and rumor mill so it was not put out in a public forum out of respect for the family. If you have something to say without being a Richard then do so otherwise YOU STFU.

My very first post in this thread was asking what happened in hopes we can prevent it from ever happening again.

I was not the one playing the silly little game like they know what happened and the rest of us are not allowed to know or talk about it out of "Respect".

Pretty simple if you know tell us if not be quiet and do not play games.

quote:

Originally posted by Curly1:
I was not the one playing the silly little game like they know what happened and the rest of us are not allowed to know or talk about it out of "Respect".

Pretty simple if you know tell us if not be quiet and do not play games.

your statement right here is a silly little game, implying that someone was playing a silly little game.

Pretty simple, if you've got something to say, say it, if not STFU with your silly little games.

Nobody here knows what happened, all you have here is rumors, hearsay.

That's why it's in poor taste to discuss rumors of dead men, when dead men can't defend themselves.

It's in worse taste than beating or bullying a cripple person, indicting a dead man on rumors.

If you're sitt'n around in private playing cards with other racers or any activity.

There's nothing wrong with a guy saying ; "this is what I think probably happened... Bla,Bla, Bla.

But to promote rumors in a place like this, is in poor taste.

You're kicking the dead for no justifiable reason.

To a relative or friend of this man, its hurtful for them knowing how much this man poored into and loved drag racing. It's not supporting properly, a fellow drag racer.

It's the internet, anybody can post whatever they want, anyone can like it (or not), and anyone can get over it (or not).

Getting on here and saying "I know what happened, but I'm not going to repeat it out of respect" implies that whomever told YOU was likewise being disrespectful. It's a non-sensical position to take. Anyone opposed to a discussion of the incident should never have posted in the first place.

I believe youth and inexperience were the main contributing factors to this accident. We had a minor accident at one of my local tracks last year at the turnoff gate. Two cars collided at slow speed after a competition pass at the gate while turning off the track. I assume each thought the other was going to yield. One car ended up on it's side (no one was hurt). Both drivers were very young. We need to find a way to remind all drivers (and especially younger drivers) to be mindful that this doesn't have to be a dangerous hobby, but it CAN be if we aren't always mindful and aware.

So what we really need is:
-More rules?
-More vigilant policing?
-More punitive measures?
-More fines?
-Racer bans?
-More track labor and expense?

My opinion is that with few exceptions, these are grown assed adults who do, and should make their own decisions in life, and ought to and do pay the price for poor decisions.

I really think there should be rudimentary inspections that hit the high points of safe operations that would likely involve other racers or spectators if things went wrong. Diapers etc. And maybe racers need to sign off on their own safety equipment or cars. Legal and binding is near impossible with litigations gone wild society.

I think in the world of more governance....I prefer less.

quote:

Originally posted by SlyFox:
It's the internet, anybody can post whatever they want, anyone can like it (or not), and anyone can get over it (or not).

Getting on here and saying "I know what happened, but I'm not going to repeat it out of respect" implies that whomever told YOU was likewise being disrespectful. It's a non-sensical position to take. Anyone opposed to a discussion of the incident should never have posted in the first place.

I believe youth and inexperience were the main contributing factors to this accident. We had a minor accident at one of my local tracks last year at the turnoff gate. Two cars collided at slow speed after a competition pass at the gate while turning off the track. I assume each thought the other was going to yield. One car ended up on it's side (no one was hurt). Both drivers were very young. We need to find a way to remind all drivers (and especially younger drivers) to be mindful that this doesn't have to be a dangerous hobby, but it CAN be if we aren't always mindful and aware.

And if you have no self respect, you'll be incapable of respecting,... even the dead.

Whatever dude. Your opinion is about as important to me as the weather on the back side of the moon.

I won't lie, when I was a much younger man, transitioning from street to track racing, I caught myself one day steering with my left knee, belts unbuckled, and using my hands to remove my helmet. It hit me, I'm still rolling 100 MPH plus, this is stupid.
I stay belted now until I'm back to my trailer, ever since that day.

quote:

Originally posted by Goob:
I won't lie, when I was a much younger man, transitioning from street to track racing, I caught myself one day steering with my left knee, belts unbuckled, and using my hands to remove my helmet. It hit me, I'm still rolling 100 MPH plus, this is stupid.
I stay belted now until I'm back to my trailer, ever since that day.

Yeah, I was like that 20+ years ago. I never really thought about what could happen in the shutdown. I only changed then because someone told me there were personnel at the end of the track watching for that and would kick my out(big event). After hearing about this incident, my wife started asking about my down track safety procedures.....lol.

Currently at the D4 race in Noble OK.I was told by an NHRA official since last season they have been watching racers close at the turn off for anyone removing safety gear on the track and have been sending warning letters out to the offenders. Said after this death there are going to watch even closer and repeat offenders will get a fine or suspension.
I just received this text before Q1
1 of 2
FRM:nhradivision4@gmail.com
SUBJ:NHRA LODRS 42 Thunder Valley Raceway Par
MSG:Reminder- Do not remve any safety equipment while on track.
(Con't) 2 of 2

- Msg by PTS 3:37:25 PM

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