Blower restraint question

[The Swegian]

When was it the use of blower restraint straps was mandated by NHRA? I want to say it was not long after that cameraman was killed by the blower that came off a top fueler that crashed at Indy in 1979.

 

[Ma Green]

I was working for Mike Kuhl Superchargers when he first started selling them. The design for his came from Jerry Darien. It took a while to go through the SFI certification, so perhaps sometime in '80 or '81. These were just a plate under the injectors, four straps and tabs hooked to the heads. Now, of course, it's a full blanket set-up.

 

[turbo ken]

INDY 1979

 

[Dave]

You know what I take from that picture is they were hitting openings in the walls in Indy 17 years before Blaine was killed. Way to go NHRA.

 

[The Swegian]

INDY 1979

That's exactly the incident to which I was referring. I remember seeing this photo in the Minneapolis paper that weekend.

 

[.]

Whole sequence here: 1979, Charles Robinson, 1st prize, Photo Sequences

 

[.]

Damn. That's brutal. He never saw it coming.

 

[DrRocket]

I'd be careful about leaving that hotlinked photo up. There might be copyright issues.

 

[The Swegian]

I'd be careful about leavin
g that hotlinked photo up. There might be copyright issues.

Isn't that only if you're receiving income from its posting?

 

[Nunz]

I was at Indy that year, man that pic just gives me a chill. A fuel bike rider died that year also, Ernie Rife? Not sure if I got that right. But I remember seeing an equally chilling photo of him at speed with no front wheel, again, it was a LONG time ago, so I may be wrong on the details.

 

[Just Paul]

I was at Indy that year, man that pic just gives me a chill. A fuel bike rider died that year also, Ernie Rife? Not sure if I got that right. But I remember seeing an equally chilling photo of him at speed with no front wheel, again, it was a LONG time ago, so I may be wrong on the details.