Did Force and KB Crash?

[shane]

I heard that same story Jackee..BUT it looks like the info was wrong... From the new update on NHRA.com it says he only had a broken ankle and a severly dislocated wrist(No break)....

 

[Jenn]

A nice article by Phil Burgess:

Inside National DRAGSTER

Great article, thanks for posting Samual!

 

[farmje]

I heard that same story Jackee..BUT it looks like the info was wrong... From the new update on NHRA.com it says he only had a broken ankle and a severly dislocated wrist(No break)....

His legs hanging out could, however, have caused the severe abrasions that the official updates have said, "are to the bone." When you're hitting/sliding on concrete at over 300 mph, a firesuit isn't going to do any good for you. It's cutting right through that.

I'm just glad that John's alive. And that Phil Burgess article was incredible.

 

[Rexfiles]

From someone at the track, apparently when the car broke in half, his legs were hanging out, that's how his legs got so broken. They picked his boots up off the track.

As bad as this was, it could have been worse.

We know you're a tough old hot rodder John. Hope to see you back in action soon!

On the replay you can actually see one of his boots come off

Really quite nauseating, but the outcome is definitely the bright spot of the whole incident.

I agree that John is a tough 'Hombre, and as a previous member noted, I can hardly WAIT for John to tell this story

REX

 

[stanman]

i've watched the video about 100 times now and the more i watch it the more i tend to think that the clutch came out of John's car.....the blocks/Kenny had nothing to do with this at all other then they were simply there

If you frame by frame the video you can clearly see the right side tire come apart... first one big junk that splits into two.

 

[ProStockJunkie]

His legs hanging out could, however, have caused the severe abrasions that the official updates have said, "are to the bone." When you're hitting/sliding on concrete at over 300 mph, a firesuit isn't going to do any good for you. It's cutting right through that.

I'm just glad that John's alive. And that Phil Burgess article was incredible.

And that's what happened Jeremy. I didn't want to get too graphic.

 

[Rexfiles]

If you frame by frame the video you can clearly see the right side tire come apart... first one big junk that splits into two. John car was still in tact until it hits Kenny's then the wall.

No

It was not.

REX

 

[ROCKY]

IN high def it does look like pieces of something going under John's car. Not pieces of the block but something else.

I'm replaying on my HiDef DVR on my 50" HiDef LCD TV. (In other words......pretty clear picture)

I can clearly SEE shards and small pieces from the first block appearing to go under Johns car.

NOT the block, but definitely pieces that were in that foam block, the mirror perhaps?

At 300 mph that could easily take out a tire and precipitate the rest of the carnage.

If not that is one HELL of a coincidence.

During the the broadcast even Mike Dunn speculated that (not Paul Page)

REX

 

[stanman]

No

It was not.

REX

I just got a look on a better screen and you're right.

 

[Randy]

If you frame by frame the video you can clearly see the right side tire come apart... first one big junk that splits into two. John car was still in tact until it hits Kenny's then the wall.

The rear half where John was sitting separated from the rest of the car while John was still in his own lane. After the separation, the front half of the car shot in to Bernsteins lane and hit him. When contact was made John's seat, rear axle and chutes were sliding to a stop on the left guardail.

 

[stanman]

Randy,

As noted above, I stand corrected. I did not see the cockpit portion clearly on my small monitor at home. It just looked like part of the body... but on my good monitor here at work it is clear.

 

[ProStockJunkie]

You are correct Karl, there is no rhime or reason at all as to why it broke where it did

Since Eric's death, John, John Medlen and all of JFR have been dedicated to making these cars as safe as they possibly can be. The whole team credits Eric as riding with them, and looking down on them on every run.

As horrible as this failure was, and as badly as John has been injured, no one would know that this could be an issue, if it had not occurred. I don't believe it is a stretch to say that this could have been a much worse situation, even though it seems unthinkable. The idea of a driver's legs being exposed in a top end crash gives me the chills.

JFR has dedicated the Eric Medlen Project to not only commemorate Eric and his impact on his team, and their lives, but to also advance the safety of all motor sports vehicles. Motorsport.com: News channel

A quote from the link above... "To address safety and performance goals, Force ultimately wants to create every race car component and perform every step of the preparation process in-house. That would include everything from building the engines and the chassis for Funny Cars and dragsters to applying the paint. "

There is not doubt in my mind, that Eric was riding along with John yesterday afternoon. And that something good for all drag racers will result from this horrible accident.

 

[Randy]

Since Eric's death, John, John Medlen and all of JFR have been dedicated to making these cars as safe as they possibly can be. The whole team credits Eric as riding with them, and looking down on them on every run.

As horrible as this failure was, and as badly as John has been injured, no one would know that this could be an issue, if it had not occurred. I don't believe it is a stretch to say that this could have been a much worse situation, even though it seems unthinkable. The idea of a driver's legs being exposed in a top end crash gives me the chills.

JFR has dedicated the Eric Medlen Project to not only commemorate Eric and his impact on his team, and their lives, but to also advance the safety of all motor sports vehicles. Motorsport.com: News channel

A quote from the link above... "To address safety and performance goals, Force ultimately wants to create every race car component and perform every step of the preparation process in-house. That would include everything from building the engines and the chassis for Funny Cars and dragsters to applying the paint. "

There is not doubt in my mind, that Eric was riding along with John yesterday afternoon. And that something good for all drag racers will result from this horrible accident.

Tough questions need to be asked. I have a horse in this parade and want answers, too.

After the Bernie Federle's interview we wondered if JF Racing has taken extra steps (added components, tubing, heat treat, whatever) with good intentions that have actually made their chassis less stable. This was a fairly new car. Comments made about one of the reasons they were withdrawing Ashley made us wonder.

Del had a violent crash going head over heals 2-3 times and the frame held together. KB's car was still driveable after getting T-boned by JF's and then impacting the wall. They even towed it back to the pits with a tow strap and put it up in the air on Pro Jacks to work on it in the pits. Robert Hight hit both guardails very hard when he caught fire and Ashley stated that her car sustained 54+G's when she smacked the wall head on in a peddal fest a few months ago. None of these violent crashes resulted in major chassis failure while JF's car came apart without contacting anything. Is this specific to the newer JF's cars only. If so, why?

RG

 

[farmje]

Here's an article from ESPN.com, and watch the video. Terry Blount (motorsports writer) said that the prognosis is good, and that he thinks John will want to run the final 3 races. The article however, contradicts what he says.

Interesting.

Thank God he's alright.

ESPN - Drag-racing star Force 'very good' after surgery - Racing

 

[Gutter Brain]

Thanks, Jeremy for the ESPN article. I can't view the video, but the article sounded good from what it could have been. Obviously, above all, my thoughts are still with John and the family. It is hard, but we know that as soon as Medlen and JFR can tell us all what happened, they will.

 

[Rexfiles]

I replayed my DVR frame by frame.

I hate (not THAT much), to belabor the point, but there is definitely a visable piece of schrapnel that makes it over to Johns car.

It is a decent size, and hits Johns car ahead of the right rear slick wayyyyy before the foam block is halfway there.

A few frames later the show begins.

I noted a few other things.

A. The first thing to happen to Johns car is apparently a piece (seems like a strip) of the left rear tire exits up and away from the rear of the Mustang.

B. A piece of Kennys car flies up and over towards the left lane, I do not know what it is. It is definitely behind Johns car though, not a factor.

C. There is a millisecond of a flash of fire in Johns cockpit.

D. John did have some green header flames on the left side of the motor at the stripe.

These other issues could be related or separately responsible, orrrr......none of the above, time will tell.

REX

 

[Cymon Sez]

Did anyone notice the comments that Mike made about wondering if the changes JFR made to the chassis could have led to the chassis coming apart where it did.

Also not to be over looked the tire chunking on Hot Rods car or if you watch Brandon's car there was a LOT of debris coming from the car at the top end as well.

Not saying there is an issue with the tires but something that might need further investigating.


Get well soon John.

 

[Randy]

Here's an article from ESPN.com, and watch the video. Terry Blount (motorsports writer) said that the prognosis is good, and that he thinks John will want to run the final 3 races. The article however, contradicts what he says.

Interesting.

Thank God he's alright.

ESPN - Drag-racing star Force 'very good' after surgery - Racing

I was joking to my wife last night that JF will show up at the next race with some high tech carbon fiber/kevlar casts and devices that will allow him to drive the car at the next race and end up in the countdown. I also said that JF is such a competitor he'll be mad at Ashley and the team for pulling her out of the semi finals (that was a very good decision in my opinion and kudo's to the team for doing it).

I'm sure that Roger Stull and John Medlen led the team in a prayer afterward thanking God that John was not (more) seriously injured.

RG

 

[farmje]

I was joking to my wife last night that JF will show up at the next race with some high tech carbon fiber/kevlar casts and devices that will allow him to drive the car at the next race and end up in the countdown. I also said that JF is such a competitor he'll be mad at Ashley and the team for pulling her out of the semi finals (that was a very good decision in my opinion and kudo's to the team for doing it).

I'm sure that Roger Stull and John Medlen led the team in a prayer afterward thanking God that John was not (more) seriously injured.

RG

I agree 100% Randy. I know that John will be wanting to compete, especially after his awesome comeback this year.

 

[K20A2]

I am confused on why people think it is a tire failure, all the pictures and video that I saw looks like there are two intact tires when they are getting the car back upright. Am I not seeing something that others are seeing? I saw the body and the wing get distroyed but I don't think it was caused by a tire exploding, I think it might be something else.