Antron OK after round 1 accident

[tnitro2]

not TO an axle. THROUGH an axle. Have you ever held a live axle in your hands from today's live axle rear ends?? Its a hollow tube. Splined at both ends with drive plates, splined in the center for the carrier. You dont tether to the axle, you tether to the other wheel. Now if you don't mind i got some rocket engines to modify.

That's a great trump there AL...

 

[The Counterfeiter]

We were at the Matco pit after the accident. Very somber mood. Larry and Linda Smiley from RFC were there. Antron came out of the hauler and left with Linda driving. Didn't ask any questions and don't know what actually happened.



Whether this was an injury or a fatality, it's devastating to the victim's family, Antron and DSR. Thoughts and prayers go out to everyone.

 

[Mooseman]

Just reported on the Tv Broadcast that someone did infact die in the accident.

 

[Jenn]

In light of the spectator succumbing to her injuries, NHRA.com should have chosen different wording for the headline for their lead story of the event's postponement.

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Sunday rain claims Arizona Nationals
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Condolences to the spectator's family and friends for their loss.

Oh Good grief!

Over sensitive much?

 

[Triple Nickel II]

Oh Good grief!

Over sensitive much?

No, not really.

P.S.

I'm not an NHRA 'basher' but if the passing of the spectator was known before the last pass of the day was made (as it apparently was since the Indian tribe and 2 Phoenix news outlets had already reported the death), the headline should have included something that acknowledged that fact.

The failure to do so makes NHRA look as if they are trying to hide or ignore the situation.

 

[.]

My condolences to the family of the lady, a fellow race fan.

These are the risks I accept knowingly and readily when I go to a motorsports event.

 

[Pete]

No, not really.

P.S.

I'm not an NHRA 'basher' but if the passing of the spectator was known before the last pass of the day was made (as it apparently was since the Indian tribe and 2 Phoenix news outlets had already reported the death), the headline should have included something that acknowledged that fact.

The failure to do so makes NHRA look as if they are trying to hide or ignore the situation.

Wayne, it was known she had passed away for hours before they reported it. That is from reliable sources.

I want to pass my deepest condolences along to the family of the victim!!

 

[The Counterfeiter]

The failure to do so makes NHRA look as if they are trying to hide or ignore the situation.[/QUOTE]

There will be huge repercussions from this incident. You can bet that statements on NHRA's official web site (if any) will be very carefully worded by NHRA's General Counsel.

 

[Kansas Stan]

I was encouraged to see that NHRA did acknowledge the death of the lady. Accidents do happen and that was one of the things that really PO'ed me in the past...the way they tried to act like nothing had happened at all. Any one remember Pat Dakin at Topeka? Lady was hit by the tire in the stands...ambulance at the base of the stands and still they refused to acknowledge that it even happened. So, not that it means anything one way or another, I'm just happy to see a little more open attitude. And like Randy was saying, they do everything in their power to keep folks safe...sometimes things just happen.

 

[jackass]

MY thoughts and prayers go out to the person that passed away and their familys.. as well as to Antron...stand strong and you will get through this....


Bad situation.. nothing more needs to be added to it.. let those directly involved deal with it and move forward....


Billy

 

[HEMI6point1]

This is just horrible for everybody.

Prayers to Antron and the family of the spectator.

 

[Randy]

Proof no matter how much money you spend, how many engineers are on the payroll, or who you think you are, stuff happens. It's no different at a drag race.

Big Mike and I were standing in dragster staging past the finish line at OCIR when Larry Bowers blew the clutch and bellhousing out of his car 35+ years ago. Steve Reyes took a photo that was in all the magazines. The center section of the clutch went in spinning high the air like a frisbee. We watched it intently as it started coming back to earth. We dove under dually's ready to push start the next pair for safety. It hit the ground and took a chunk out of the asphalt, hit a spectator in the leg, went across the 5 freeway and was never seen again.

When I saw the qualifying show and noticed motorhomes and everything else lining the track all the way to the turn off where they did the interviews my first thought was "They have no room for error down there."

10 or so years ago we were pitted past the finish line in an area they set up for the TAD's and TA/FC's. Gary Scelzi kaboomed and crashed the Johnson TF car. It rained pieces of intake manifold, blower chucks and everything else on our trailers, trucks, pit area and race cars for what seemed like an eternity. One rule they may need to consider is a "crash zone" for parts rather than using every piece of real estate which is why Firebird may not be the best place to hold a race.

Remember (I think it was Doug Kalitta) making the turn and almost flipping his dragster at Firebird a few years ago? They had trucks, people and equipment parked on the outside of the turn. He overshot the turn and ended up in the sand with the car skipping, bouncing and trying to flip over. Remember the guy in the Safety Safari truck that floored it to get out of the way? One way to avoid disaster is to think about worse case scenarios before they happen and plan ahead in the parking layout in the pits.

RG

 

[NHRADeuce]

You can thank the lawyers for NHRA.com not acknowledging injuries or deaths at the track as soon as they happen. There are all kinds of privacy laws they have to worry about before they can report anything at all.

 

[Wayne]

You can thank the lawyers for NHRA.com not acknowledging injuries or deaths at the track as soon as they happen. There are all kinds of privacy laws they have to worry about before they can report anything at all.

On the money, Brent!!!

There are way too many folks out there who are always looking for any way to make a cheap buck.
C.Y.A.!!!

 

[Al smith]

You can thank the lawyers for NHRA.com not acknowledging injuries or deaths at the track as soon as they happen. There are all kinds of privacy laws they have to worry about before they can report anything at all.

Well, I dunno, You have to let them inform the family first I would think. I would hate to find out one of my family members was killed at an event during a live broadcast. Or if someone tried to ease the blow by telling me to show up at a hospital, only to hear on a audiocast that "A woman was killed" , I'll withhold judgment on this one. It's already made network news.

May she rest in peace and my family's prayers go out to the friends and family of all involved.

 

[ctownflyer]

Accidents happen.

We better all stop going to the races and watch them on tv.

While we are at it, better not go to a Hockey game. The puck you know.
Baseball while we are at it. How many times does that ball fly into the stands at 100+mph.
Heck basketball too. Never know when a player may get pissed off and come into the stands after you yell something stupid to him.

Lets all just sit home and never leave the house.

No, why don't all those who worry about every little thing stay home. I would sure enjoy the extra room to walk and sit where I want at the races.

Been to many hockey games lately? There's been nets up for years now after a little girl was killed by a puck in Columbus Ohio at a Blue Jackets game.

As a season ticket holder I attended meetings with the Flyers since my seats were behind the new netting and of course we complained, etc. We were told that the NHL was ORDERED by their insurance carrier to put up the nets. No nets, no insurance coverage for the team in effect no game. Simple as that.

Like anything else we got used to them and frankly don't even notice them now.

 

[Al smith]

Been to many hockey games lately? There's been nets up for years now after a little girl was killed by a puck in Columbus Ohio at a Blue Jackets game.

As a season ticket holder I attended meetings with the Flyers since my seats were behind the new netting and of course we complained, etc. We were told that the NHL was ORDERED by their insurance carrier to put up the nets. No nets, no insurance coverage for the team in effect no game. Simple as that.

Like anything else we got used to them and frankly don't even notice them now.

my late dad was a season ticket holder for many years, I can remember going to Flyer games at the Spectrum when it was brand new. Pucks went into the stands a few times that i remember. I thought the plexiglass was to prevent the fans from getting blood on them during the fights. about 200 square feet of the roof deck blew off the place once, luckily not during a game.

 

[Alan]

that's why NHRA sucks

right on!

Go watch something else then. Maybe hang out somewhere else...

What makes you think this accident was directly caused by the percentage of nitromethane?

Uneducated.....

My 4th or 5th thought after hearing this news (after being saddened for the spectators and Antron) was that this would bring out the morons and know-it-alls on the 'Mater ... there isn't any "official" news yet and some of you haven't disappointed.

If some of you actually believe the nonsense you posted (and the ones surely to follow with ridiculous posts), then I am sad for you too.

Chris, you have nailed it. Some of the newer people are just one of the reasons that I no longer frequent the Mater as much as I once did.

 

[hotrod]

You can't protect everyone...from every thing. It's inevitable that someone will be injured or die while attending or participating in a dangerous sport. Anything can happen at a race. Back in the 80's, my hearing was permanently damaged when Mike Dunn popped a blower on the starting line at Dallas. I thought that I was safer sitting nearer the starting line than sitting further down track. There is no "safe" place to sit.

My biggest fear for many years was that a car would run back to the starting line under power. I never could have guessed that it would have happened to my friend Shelley. It may even happen at a major event at some point. There's also the possibilty of an entire car running into the stands or into the RV section. I hope it never happens.

Like I said, there's no way to prevent every possible accident.

My condolences to the family.

 

[Toejam]

I've read a few of the mindless NHRA bashing posts and it sure is amazing how many experts and mind readers there are on public message boards.

People get killed in 747's. People get killed in traffic accidents. People get killed jogging, in classrooms and cruise ships. California wants to spend a couple billion $$ to build a 200 mile per hour bullet train from Los Angeles to San Francisco. One little pebble on the track or some idiot with a crow bar and that thing will take a couple of miles to stop. All this to say, it happens.

But to say that NHRA couldn't give a crap is crap. Every year we have new safety rules that costs us racers thousands of dollars.

The valve covers on a TF car cost $5,000 because they have to be made to keep spark plugs, head studs and pushrods from shooting into the grandstands. Blower restrainst, bellhousing and bellhousing mounting systems have been beefed up to keep clutch parts out of the stands. NHRA mandated billit engine blocks to minimize the chances of parts flying out of them. Ballistic kevlar blankets cover the superchargers, crankshaft and bottom end. Funny car body have hood burst panels on them to minimize the chances of losing the body in an engine explosion. After the wheel episode of Dixon, NHRA immediately rewrote the spec's on wheels and required new SFI certification.

We kaboomed an engine second round at the Winternationals at Pomona and it blew a hole through the pan, kevlar bucket and belly pan allowing parts to exit my car. As soon as we got back to the pits NHRA tech was all over the car inspecting our stuff and the SFI dates to make sure we were using the safety products we passed tech with.

You bashers need to move on to something harmless like reality TV or video games. Life is fragile.

Our prayers are with the individual who was struck and her family as well as those effected by the unfortunate ACCIDENT.

Good post Randy, its a shame anytime a life gets taken NHRA is automatically at fault! If Tire tethers are practical I'm sure NHRA will explore that option. I'm suprised nobodies called for 1/8 mile racing yet?