CAPPS RUNAWAY

[.]

You mean Scott's funny car past the 1320ft line?

It blew up closer to 1000 ft and kept running on it's own oil.

 

[Sean D, shondoo]

There's no question in my mind that it was the wrong thing to do. But what bothered me the most was him being so non-chalant about it. The fact is there was a top end worker that didn't much more than get out of the way, yet he laughs about it and talks about his dirt track experience.

Whatever, man. Brag all you want about your dirt track experience. That was a bad decision. BAD.

Sean D

 

[PJ]

He made a great save but in hindsight probably not the best move. I also bet the majority of the drivers would have done the same thing as the sand trap hurts the car and puts a huge cleanup on the team. Didn't he slide one sideways a few years ago to avoid a sand trap? It was a great driving job and glad he got away with it.

 

[Huge]

I thought 1,000 ft was to keep this kind of thing from happing, Maybe those who like 1,000 ft should watch

I did a few times... and it shows that 1000 ft did it's job very well. The driver came back uninjured with the car in one piece. Sorry, if this was not the opinion you were looking for.

 

[.]

Scotts car blew the motor at 1,000' and kept on going, the finish line at the time was 1320', I was responding to the question about the motors dieseling on oil and fuel from the pan

It blew up closer to 1000 ft and kept running on it's own oil.

I realize what you guys were refering to. I specifically remember the details of Scott's crash. In fact it was our very own Jerry Newman who mentiond Scott's car was running on oil. Others on this site didnt want the believe him and wanted a link to that info.... Jerry responed "there is no link, the crew chief on Scott's car has been a friend of mine for X (forget exact number) number of years"

My reply to this thread was to point out Scott was driving a Funny Car, not a Dragster.... and the finish line was still 1320 back then, not 1000'. Mark clearly stated in his previous post that Scott was driving a dragster and he also mentioned the "1000 foot line"

That is all, carry on.

 

[Jimbo]

I have not seen Capps run but either way it makes for one hell of a scary ride for sure.

Jim Hill
http://www.nostalgicracingdecals.com

 

[smokey]

Nothin wrong with what he did.If yer gonna watch cars run over 300mph,and you work for nhra you better be payin attention AT ALL TIMES!.No different than these people I see at a ball game siitin behind the dugout ,to busy yapping and get drilled by a foul ball,then complain.Pay attention people.

 

[Nobody]

Just my .02 but I feel the decision was questionable under the circumstances. That said, the circumstances should not have allowed personnel in an unprotected position near a hot car turn out. Let's face it things (brakes, steering) can fail after you have committed to the turn just as well as before. I have similar opinions about the "crowd" of people currently allowed in the starting area. In the final rounds that is a lot of people to be running with the bulls if a reversing problem occurs or a car hits the wall and comes back up the track.

As a side note, let's throw ourselves in a car backing down from a 300mph run with the adrenaline going and see what decision we make in the last .05 seconds.......

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Thanks for the link Joe. After watching, I agree that Capps was wrong. He though only of himself, with NO regard for the pedestrians. He ignored the sand trap
that is designed for the purpose of stopping cars, and aimed his car into an area NOT for runaways. #2 Capps also intentionally crossed his opponents lane,
again careless disregard.
It's past time that we put front breaks on the fuel cars.

 

[Just Paul]

It's past time that we put front breaks on the fuel cars.

Funny cars have had front brakes since 1986.


Capps isn't the first person to drive around the sand trap to avoid damage to the car. Mike Brotherton comes to mind, and he ended up worse than if he had gone in the sand!

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Thanks for the info on FC brakes Paul Songas.. Just because Capps wasn't the first to do it still doesn't make it right. Mike Dunn even said so. If he would have run out of room in that area, or hit Force, It could have got real ugly real fast.

 

[Sean D, shondoo]

Nothin wrong with what he did.If yer gonna watch cars run over 300mph,and you work for nhra you better be payin attention AT ALL TIMES!.No different than these people I see at a ball game siitin behind the dugout ,to busy yapping and get drilled by a foul ball,then complain.Pay attention people.

Are you serious?? The turn offs on drag strips are there for a SAFE exit from the racing surface, period. If you can't exit safely, then you put it in the sand like designed.

I can't believe ANYBODY thinks what he did was ok! Lmao!!!

Sean D

 

[You!]

He went through the opening at like 20 mph...BFD. Two guys (one in the orange vest) that ran had no reason being there in the first place. Capps got it through there just fine. I see no issue with the way he handled it, neither did the pros under the EZ Up. Problem is they have too many volunteers working down there that become complacent.

And to say the car was a Runaway is just ignorant.

 

[stitcherbob]

There's one guy who had an issue with the way he handled it .... Graham Light......

 

[Leebone]

I remember the Melanie incident. Her motor re-fired and she didn't have much time to think, or to make a choice. Neither did Capps, but he did have a decision, the sand trap or the turn around? Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Capps fan, but that was not wise of him. Sorry Ron. I'm only thinking of the people that were scurrying from your car.

 

[Sean D, shondoo]

Comparing it to Melanie's incident is ridiculous. They weren't even close to the same situation. And Graham Light SHOULD'VE taken issue with it, because it was a dumba$$ move.

Bill, I agree with you that calling the car a runaway is ignorant, but 20mph or not, that car wasn't in complete control hopping around like that. I've been in my share of situations like that with solid mounted stuff bouncing and I don't care what anybody says, your control is compromised when that's going on.

Sean D

 

[T.Smith]

I probably have more of an issue with the first parachute on BOTH cars turning into confetti after they are released and no second chute with the car in question.

 

[stitcherbob]

I didn't find any info in the NHRA rules but the next track (Maple Grove) has it's own rule book and it states:


"End of Track
When approaching the end of the track, you will be directed by a Raceway Official with help
in exiting the racing surface. If you are experiencing stopping problems, GO STRAIGHT
INTO THE SAND TRAP. Never attempt to turn left while traveling at a high speed. Always
be alert when exiting the racing surface in the event your competitor has a problem and would
need to proceed straight into the sand trap. Remember that you are still on the racing surface
until you have turned off to the left and are on the return road"

 

[Bullard Anderson]

Or there is this approach....The NHRA should make sure that everyone on the top end is alert at ALL times. Period!! That's a dangerous place and to turn a blind eye to thinking bad things can't happen is just ludicrous. That's a dangerous spot, I don't care if there is a wall between you and a car that should be stopping after a 325mph run. Cause we all know cars do exactly what we expect each time.

 

[PJ]

I didn't find any info in the NHRA rules but the next track (Maple Grove) has it's own rule book and it states:


"End of Track
When approaching the end of the track, you will be directed by a Raceway Official with help
in exiting the racing surface. If you are experiencing stopping problems, GO STRAIGHT
INTO THE SAND TRAP. Never attempt to turn left while traveling at a high speed. Always
be alert when exiting the racing surface in the event your competitor has a problem and would
need to proceed straight into the sand trap. Remember that you are still on the racing surface
until you have turned off to the left and are on the return road"

Well I easily see two loop holes there. First what is "high speed" ? Ffor cars that go over 300mph, 50 isn't much in comparison. The guess by some here is that it was only 20, meaning he could have driven through a school zone.
hole #2 he turned right, not left, so he's all good.