Ashley's incident... (1 Viewer)

[Bob]

It looked like John had a panic attack after he thanked everyone for their lightning quick response time!
I agree that was an awesome job by the Safari, now you really understand why they consider each other as family...
She defintely got some real hands on learning, the best kind, and I'm banking you won't see that again. This is just one step closer for her becoming a seasoned pro.
Ashley definitely followed one of the oldest rules "Never lift on Sunday"!

I don't know if you guys race or are spectators but I can tell you that when the car gets out of shape you lift until you regain control. She knows that from years of experience. The only thing she may have learned is that she needs to get a grip on her emotions. She saw Kenny out of shape and did something she knew she shouldn't do.

 

[HEMI6point1]

Anybody think that the throttle could have hung open?

BTW that crash caused lots of tense moments in my house, glad she is OK!

 

[farmje]

Maters, I'm surprised. I watched the race at a friends house, and thought I'd come home to a message board talking about how unqualified Ashley is to race a funny car, and how terrible it is that she moved up from TAD...but you all are being incredibly supportive of her, and I applaud you for that.

It was definitely scary, I even told my buddy after she got sideways the first time, "she's gonna wreck" -- and lo and behold, she did.

She's an impressive young talent. Remember Jason Line rolled his PS car in his first years, many other greats have crashed. Ashley did a heckuva job handling that car. MAD props to her.

And Larry Dixon for being there so quick. That proves why NHRA is such a great sport.

I can't wait to see what the rest of this year brings. Whatever it is, it'll be great.

 

["Dr. Dirt"]

I clearly saw a number of things happen here:

* Ashley went up in smoke like many others through no fault of her own and upon seeing Kenny up in smoke shortly thereafter, I saw her competitive spirit get a shade ahead of her control. (most of us can relate)

* I witnessed a series of quick responses to minimize additional damage as Ray so aptly mentioned. (not sure I would have had such composure)

* I saw her father take the time to individually thank each member of the safety safari. I was emotionally moved by this gesture of gratitude.

* I witnessed one hemorrhoidal Mater jump on the thread like a vulture on a dead carcass and remind us of her mistake after insisting, many times in the past, that she is a danger to so many others on the circuit (supposedly repeated by many of her pro competitors who also openly stated to this hemorrhoid that they wouldn't race against her?)

Does anyone have some Preparation H?

 

[Demon]

I see that some of us are back to the usual knocking other opinons when they don't agree with their own.I'm sure you have a tube of that Prep H at your side, right Doc??

 

[r2]

I clearly saw a number of things happen here:

* Ashley went up in smoke like many others through no fault of her own and upon seeing Kenny up in smoke shortly thereafter, I saw her competitive spirit get a shade ahead of her control. (most of us can relate)

* I witnessed a series of quick responses to minimize additional damage as Ray so aptly mentioned. (not sure I would have had such composure)

Oh come on now Bobby...
You know these drivers are just stab and steer monkey's, right??

I'm sure you would have somehow, found time to read the textbook in that nano-second that it took, from the instant it had turned nose first, pointed straight at the wall, until the rear french kissed the concrete, and you would have done the exact same things that Ashley did... Quite the busy bee, she was...

Quit playing around...
Someone may get the idea this girl can handle herself...
Much less her racecar...

And what's with the "aptly" Doc?? re; unusually intelligent... GREAT!!
You must not have read my early work...

 

[Kris]

Of course I decided to step away from the track and find some people to interview when Ashley has a massive wreck.

I took a picture of the body of her Mustang on the trailer they used to take it back to the pits.

Anyone wanna see?

 

[Suzanne]

Thank god Ashleys okay!! I heard about it at work and had to come home and hopefully see something on here, thank you all for posting. And as far as Larry Dixon and crew member helping out, no surprise to anyone on here Im sure, Dixon clan is definately a class act jr and sr. Glad everyone is OK!!

 

[yoda]

I have missed ALL of this today until I got here... Just looked at the photo sequence.. My question is- How did she get into the wall backwards like that??

 

[r2]

I have missed ALL of this today until I got here... Just looked at the photo sequence.. My question is- How did she get into the wall backwards like that??

The car had rotated 90 degree's like really quick, once the nose impacted the wall, it swung the rear of the car around before you could say, OH... And slapped the wall at a high G-Force reading, then it just spun like doing a doughnut in the rental car twice... you really have to see it, to fully appreciate what all went on, in a very short amount of time...

 

[Horsepower & Heels]

The important part is she is okay... and that's the ONLY important part.

 

[ROCKY]

She will be fine. She steered the car the whole time, and did everything she was suppose to. The best sea captains have all been through storms. That's how you learn. Remember John in the eighties??

 

[DLB]

The important part is she is okay... and that's the ONLY important part.

Right on.

I am sure all of us, and her dad, could find fault, and find praise in how she handled the situation. The good news is - we didn't lose a driver this weekend - or even have one hurt.

DLB

 

[Husky]

She will be fine. She steered the car the whole time, and did everything she was suppose to. The best sea captains have all been through storms. That's how you learn. Remember John in the eighties??

Brandon Bernstein did a similar feat while learning the trade.

The margin of error is microscopic in regard to driving fuel cars.

 

[hellfirejim]

I find it interesting to read about how poorly Ashley did as posted by some people. Let's get back to reality. I have been drag racing for almost half a decade and have talked with Funny car drivers, Fuel altered drivers and even the old A/FX drivers [was a crew chief for a funny for about 7 years] and everyone had stories about how the car simply got away from them or they stayed in it about 1 second too long. It happens to ALL of them.

Ashley kept her composure and did exactly what she trained to do and did it well.

BUT here is the most important part of all, she was NOT hurt. Think back to Robert Haight hit the wall and knocked it back a foot and he walked away ok.

The point in all this is that the Safety Improvements WORK. That is the only thing that counts.

Just out of curiosity, how many of you who are saying she should have done something different have been in that position and have done better? Oh.

jim

 

[Von Halen]

I find it interesting to read about how poorly Ashley did as posted by some people. Let's get back to reality. I have been drag racing for almost half a decade and have talked with Funny car drivers, Fuel altered drivers and even the old A/FX drivers [was a crew chief for a funny for about 7 years] and everyone had stories about how the car simply got away from them or they stayed in it about 1 second too long. It happens to ALL of them.

I haven't really taken any comments as saying how "poorly Ashley did". Were mistakes made? Yes. That is fact, as confirmed by her Dad, and Ashley herself. I don't think anybody is chastising her for that.

To say she did everything on that run perfectly, is a little weird though.

Ashley kept her composure and did exactly what she trained to do and did it well.

I thought she was extremely composed, during and after the crash. Notice the difference in the interview after this incident, compared to the other one earlier this year?

BUT here is the most important part of all, she was NOT hurt. Think back to Robert Haight hit the wall and knocked it back a foot and he walked away ok.

The point in all this is that the Safety Improvements WORK. That is the only thing that counts.

Yep. Thank goodness she wasn't hurt. Hopefully they talk more about the information they downloaded after the crash. Will be interesting to hear about that stuff. Glad the new padding did its job!

Just out of curiosity, how many of you who are saying she should have done something different have been in that position and have done better? Oh.

jim

She should have gotten out of it sooner, or longer, in my opinion. I could be wrong though. I've obviously never been in that position, and if I was, I may have done the same thing. Hell, I've lost control of street cars before. There are so many variables involved. She will learn from this.

I believe the majority of us here want her to be safe, and successful! Anybody that doesn't, is just jealous!

 

[Paul]

Just out of curiosity, how many of you who are saying she should have done something different have been in that position and have done better? Oh.

jim

Hey Jim, I bet she will not do that again. This is all a part of being a rookie. Brandon Bernstein had a similar incident back in 2003 when he crashed. As Mike Dunn pointed out, the car was not going straight when she hit the gas and the end result was the crash. Thankfully she is OK and she will learn from this.

 

[Mr. Jean]

She's not hurt and will continue to learn. She is coming along fine. Anyone notice the great race between her and Capps? (Sorry Kelly) Looked like a good job to me. Even had the bad lane.

She got in trouble, as many have and got through it unharmed. She will learn from it. Thanks to everyone involved in making those cars safer. Let's race.....

 

[DrRocket]

Wow. I wonder how many times Papa John did a flying dismount from his scooter this weekend? I counted at least twice.

 

[Bullet]

I think that Ashley did a great job doing everything she could once the accident occurred. Brakes, bottles, steering. It would definitely be difficult to keep your composure with all of that fire and wall banging going on.

As they said on TV, it was the result of limited driving experience. Based on what I saw I think it had a lot to do with not being familiar with the dynamics of a sliding almost out of control car flicking back on itself. I have had a little bit of experience in regular cars and you learn when and when not to get back on the throttle. I can't even imaging how fine a line that is with 8,000hp under your right foot. I was glad to see her get out under her own power.

Papa John personally showing his gratitude to each of the Safety Safari members was great. These guys and girls are the true heroes.