Pretty wild story, I know Eugene posts here:
http://competitionplus.com/drag-rac...n-sends-diehl-and-crewman-into-evasive-action
http://competitionplus.com/drag-rac...n-sends-diehl-and-crewman-into-evasive-action
Nitromater
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Close call for Diehl and Eugene!
- Thread starter Nunz
- Start date
That was close, glad to hear everything's ok. As a side note, I had no idea Eugene Gray worked with Jim Dunn. Jim has long been one of my heroes for his personality, work ethic and the fact he's done it all. I wish I'd known about Eugene last summer in Seattle. I stood outside their pit area at the end of the day hoping to get a chance to meet Jim Dunn. Maybe this year I can meet Eugene!
mick
Nitro Member
a quote from the article..... The incident got Diehl's attention to the inherent risks of drag racing, even as a spectator.
at the beginning of the year someone posted 'make your 2017 prediction'.....one of mine was, 'something catastrophic
will happen that may alter racing as we know it'.....how many bombs are going to go off without severe or fatal injury?
this piece broke a 2.5" diameter galv. fence pole. .....i think i'm done watching nitro cars from the top end.
at the beginning of the year someone posted 'make your 2017 prediction'.....one of mine was, 'something catastrophic
will happen that may alter racing as we know it'.....how many bombs are going to go off without severe or fatal injury?
this piece broke a 2.5" diameter galv. fence pole. .....i think i'm done watching nitro cars from the top end.
The cars are a lot safer now, even with the boomers they have. I wish I had a dime for every blower I saw come off an engine when there were no restraints. Rotors going down the track ahead of the car, pieces of the blower going everywhere, etc etc. I have a small piece of a blower from a AA/FA, that exploded at Speedworld years ago. Right in front of me. Was amazed no one got hit. Once I was standing at the finish line at OCIR, next to the ambulance. Dragster goes thru & kicks the rods. I hear the noise of something hitting the ambulance & it was pieces of the rods. Missed me by a couple of feet. We usta call it "woofing the blower" cuz when it blew, it BLEW! If anyone on this site drove a front motor AA/FD, and it woofed the blower on the starting line, they will tell you it felt like a grenade going off.
Dennis
Nitro Member
I'm in by no means saying that this is a catastrophic story...just pointing out that yes there are dangers inherent in the sport.
A few years ago when IHRA still had the national events at Rockingham, my son and I were sitting in the top row of the stands somewhere between 1/2 track and 1000'. One of the fuelers took out the centerline block at full speed. Of course the foam block didn't fly very far but the circular reflector on the block became a flying saucer. The thing literally buzzed at head level between the two of us. It was just one of those "wow that could have hurt" moments.
A few years ago when IHRA still had the national events at Rockingham, my son and I were sitting in the top row of the stands somewhere between 1/2 track and 1000'. One of the fuelers took out the centerline block at full speed. Of course the foam block didn't fly very far but the circular reflector on the block became a flying saucer. The thing literally buzzed at head level between the two of us. It was just one of those "wow that could have hurt" moments.
Huge
Nitro Member
Mike, I still feel very safe watching nitro cars from behind them on the starting line or down track along the fence. During the 20 plus years that I have been out here and the thousands of runs I have watched I have only had 2 incidents. This one I was standing past the finish line, and Doug Herbert's explosion in 99 I was by the starting line. Now traveling from race to race is a different story...between the idiots pulling out in front of me and the moronic drunk drivers going the wrong way on the highway I'm taking a pretty big gamble.
It doesn't matter if you are on the highway or at the track...you just need to pay attention with what's going on around you. My motto is that you never turn your back on a live bull or a running nitro car.
Here is a link to some good pics of Doug's explosion.https://www.google.com/search?q=dou...4CgAQ#imgrc=RhpsNQS4FTs6rM:&spf=1497989998260
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Huge
Nitro Member
We must have ate to much of their shrimp last year because the Kalahari buffet was closed for dinner tonight.Glad you didnt get hurt buddy! See ya at the buffet
Indy during the 60s was like a battlefield at the finish line. Every motor was set on kill and shrapnel (sp) flew with almost every pair. Back then the only way to get any help with parts and press was to win one of the few majors so everyone let it all hang out. You just loaded all your extra parts and went to Indy expecting to come home with no parts left..
mick
Nitro Member
Mike, I still feel very safe watching nitro cars from behind them on the starting line or down track along the fence. During the 20 plus years that I have been out here and the thousands of runs I have watched I have only had 2 incidents. This one I was standing past the finish line, and Doug Herbert's explosion in 99 I was by the starting line. Now traveling from race to race is a different story...between the idiots pulling out in front of me and the moronic drunk drivers going the wrong way on the highway I'm taking a pretty big gamble.
https://www.google.com/search?q=doug+herbert+engine+explosion&safe=off&tbm=isch&imgil=RhpsNQS4FTs6rM%3A%3BeEuW0aX7t339HM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.dragracermag.com%252Fthe-big-bang-theory-part-3&source=iu&pf=m&fir=RhpsNQS4FTs6rM%3A%2CeEuW0aX7t339HM%2C_&usg=__L-ClrALp2PWQe7PjWXu0IjsAEOg=&biw=1093&bih=465&dpr=1.25&ved=0ahUKEwiMvNf9ns3UAhWB7YMKHd4pABQQyjcIMw&ei=xoJJWYzBEIHbjwTe04CgAQ#imgrc=RhpsNQS4FTs6rM:&spf=1497989998260
i agree uegene, but it's like skydiving and risking parachute not opening.....you can always opt to NOT skydive in the first
place. unfortunately we all have to drive ourselves around for work everyday......you are totally rite, paying attention is key, especially
around live bulls, nitro cars, and wifes/girlfriends
Huge
Nitro Member
Especially when the wives meet the girl friends.With wives/girlfriends being the most dangerous.
LOL!Especially when the wives meet the girl friends.
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