In the end, more then likely the short tracks are just something that is part of racing, much as we'd like to see it addressed. I run a top fuel harley and shutting down is a HUGE issue with no chute and not much in the way of tire contact with the track. On many tracks, Firebird and Pomona for example, you just have to be on the brakes right now, and if you don't, you pay the price. Seattle is nice and long, but the end is a nightmare. I went off the end up in Fort St. John BC two years ago and still have the scars, limp and medical bills to remind me. Unfortunately, no matter how we try, this sport will find new ways to damage people. Doesn't mean we shouldn't have the discussion, but I just don't think we'll ever avoid the occasional tragedy.
Nitromater
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Jim Head interview.
- Thread starter The Counterfeiter
- Start date
Watchman
Nitro Member
Why not have a driver released hook on the back of the car or wheelie bars. Like aircrafts on an aircraft carrier.
Have 3 cables across the track to give more chances of "catching".
If it can stop a jet that weighs many tons it can stop a car that weighs 1 ton.
The outcome would not be worse than Saturday.
Someone like Jim Head could design this and make it work.
Leave the sand trap and net as last resort.
Also it seems like a short track like Englishtown could have had ten rows of those water filled barrels to cushion the impact.
Anything better than a concrete barrier.
Mike
Have 3 cables across the track to give more chances of "catching".
If it can stop a jet that weighs many tons it can stop a car that weighs 1 ton.
The outcome would not be worse than Saturday.
Someone like Jim Head could design this and make it work.
Leave the sand trap and net as last resort.
Also it seems like a short track like Englishtown could have had ten rows of those water filled barrels to cushion the impact.
Anything better than a concrete barrier.
Mike
Rexfiles
Nitro Member
Drive-by Opinions huh T-Rex? I've been to over 150 races, don't tell what I know and don't know *****!Had Scott's Chute deployed we wouldn't be discussing this would we???
HOLY CRAP?????????
Really?!?!?!
Over 150 races attended!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOW
I'm impressed.
bet ya' got plenty of diecasts, autographs, and drank plenty of beer too
Scotts chute deployed.
The fire kept it from blossoming.
I've DRIVEN alky cars kid.
Ever DO that?? As in action not words??????????
Have another Budweiser on me and stop stealing your employers time.
It's theft.
Criminy
REX
Rexfiles
Nitro Member
Rexfiles
Nitro Member
I just replayed the incident.
you may be correct.
however I've wittnessed chutes doing the same thing over and over again in cases of extreme heat and fire.
they may have deployed as the body left though and were then tangled.
I can tell you though that compared to what I have been around, and I have seen some horrific boomers, this was about the worst. EVER.
Just a bad deal all 'round.
REX
HOLY CRAP?????????
Really?!?!?!
Over 150 races attended!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOW
I'm impressed.
bet ya' got plenty of diecasts, autographs, and drank plenty of beer too
Scotts chute deployed.
The fire kept it from blossoming.
I've DRIVEN alky cars kid.
Ever DO that?? As in action not words??????????
Have another Budweiser on me and stop stealing your employers time.
It's theft.
Criminy
REX
God your such an *******!
Last edited:
Rexfiles
Nitro Member
God your such an *******!
Thank you........coming from you I have been complemented in the highest fashion.
I'm outta' here.
Keep your heads in the sand.....................
REX
Ok Primodonna, I'll accept your premise that because fans like me can't afford to run as fast as you are somehow not entitled to voice an opinion! But now I'm curious; you say you've driven an Alky Flopper? Care to share a pic? I don't seem to remember an alky Flopper driver with your name! Not in the last 18 years anyway, I can't wait!
n/a
Nitro Member
Hey guys, how about PM'ing this friendly discussion and get back to the Jim Head interview on this chat.
Rexfiles
Nitro Member
Rexfiles
Nitro Member
The Alky Flopper I drove belonged to Frank Hawley.
I never said I was an ALKY Flopper DRIVER
I also Drove His TAD and a small block chevy alky car that belonged to a bunch of friends and I for a season.
I also drag raced 11, 10, and 9 second bikes in the late seventies and early eighties.
not to mention a bracket dragster a couple years ago (right.......Ron?) like I never left the seat.
point is I have been at that velocity where stopping is paramount, and that is stopping safely.
you have not, yet continue to opine.
I think your opinion lacks any sort of experience at all, rather sitting and standing and watching then blowing off here claiming people with at least some type of further exposure to the sport have no idea.
I have needed to stop and had problems doing so. I remember it like it was yesterday yet it was 22 years ago.
And if things work out I just may be doing it all again.
So I'm not a Star driver like you make goo- goo eyes at.
At least I did it, you did not.
REX
Sean D, shondoo
Nitro Member
Before I ramble like everyone else, I will go on record saying that if they shorten the racing surface, my spectating days will be over. I would rather watch 290- 300 Mph 1/4-mile racing every day of the week and twice on Sunday before I watch 270 - 280 Mph 1/8-mile racing. Slow the cars down a little and get over it. NASCAR survived it, so don't think for a minute that drag racing can't.
Like has been said before, these cars didn't just start running over 320 Mph yesterday. I'm sure a good argument can be made that several facilities' ability to contain these monsters is definitely in question. However, these cars have went down E-Town, and many other shorter-than-average venues for that matter, several hundred times over the years without incident. If everything works properly, there is more than adequate room to stop the machines, and it's been proven over and over again. Do the shutdown areas at such places like E-Town need to be extended? Maybe. But here's some food for thought. I was at the St. Louis points race (it might have been the National Open, I actually don't remember) when we lost Super Gas racer, Phil Burghard. He went off the end of the track, at reportedly full throttle, past the sand trap, up and over an embankment, and ended up in the stream. I never heard for sure just what happened, but this was a 160Mph Super Gas car, folks. My point? When you have a failure of some kind, whether it's mechanical or driver, no shutdown may be actually long enough. That being said, I don't believe for a minute that the reason Scott is no longer with us is because of inadequate shutdown. I think it's because there were things down there that shouldn't have been. I know I can do without the view that particular camera angle has been providing.
It's difficult to put things in proper perspective when a tragic event such as this is so fresh in our minds. That's why I think it's never a good idea to address major situations in life within just a day or two. If you address things any quicker than that, your emotion will be playing a larger role in your subsequent actions than it should be, and you'll generally make a decision you'll regret. Scott is gone, and that is a tragedy. But we will learn from it, and we will go on. I'm sure he knew the risks, as do we all. I don't run near as fast as these boys do, but I run near 200 Mph on a regular basis, so things like this make even guys like me step back and have a look. But at the end of the day, I'll keep on racing just like everyone else, at which point I will just focus my energy on any points of continual improvement I can contribute to and keep on truckin'.
Sean D
Like has been said before, these cars didn't just start running over 320 Mph yesterday. I'm sure a good argument can be made that several facilities' ability to contain these monsters is definitely in question. However, these cars have went down E-Town, and many other shorter-than-average venues for that matter, several hundred times over the years without incident. If everything works properly, there is more than adequate room to stop the machines, and it's been proven over and over again. Do the shutdown areas at such places like E-Town need to be extended? Maybe. But here's some food for thought. I was at the St. Louis points race (it might have been the National Open, I actually don't remember) when we lost Super Gas racer, Phil Burghard. He went off the end of the track, at reportedly full throttle, past the sand trap, up and over an embankment, and ended up in the stream. I never heard for sure just what happened, but this was a 160Mph Super Gas car, folks. My point? When you have a failure of some kind, whether it's mechanical or driver, no shutdown may be actually long enough. That being said, I don't believe for a minute that the reason Scott is no longer with us is because of inadequate shutdown. I think it's because there were things down there that shouldn't have been. I know I can do without the view that particular camera angle has been providing.
It's difficult to put things in proper perspective when a tragic event such as this is so fresh in our minds. That's why I think it's never a good idea to address major situations in life within just a day or two. If you address things any quicker than that, your emotion will be playing a larger role in your subsequent actions than it should be, and you'll generally make a decision you'll regret. Scott is gone, and that is a tragedy. But we will learn from it, and we will go on. I'm sure he knew the risks, as do we all. I don't run near as fast as these boys do, but I run near 200 Mph on a regular basis, so things like this make even guys like me step back and have a look. But at the end of the day, I'll keep on racing just like everyone else, at which point I will just focus my energy on any points of continual improvement I can contribute to and keep on truckin'.
Sean D
Great suggestions Wes. I've been thinking about the consequences of active fuel/clutch management system for a while now. Is it not true that many of the bad fuel car accidents result from motors grenading? You get disintegration of the vehicle, loss of control, and all the nasty consequences. Wouldn't fast-acting electronic systems largely prevent such explosions? In addition, it would likely result in a better show -- how often does one see close, side-by-side racing? I suspect it's less than half the pairings. Too many dropped cylinders and tires over-powering the track. When reliability improves, you'll have fewer oildowns, reduced breakage of expensive parts --- and less terrible accidents.
Sean D, shondoo
Nitro Member
Good points, Mike and Wes. I guess that's what I was trying to get at with my ramblings before. The shutdowns aren't the problem. What is leading to the need for longer shutdowns is the problem........
Sean D
Devin Nickle
Nitro Member
It's really sad that someone has to die, or get severely injured before anyone makes a stink. Unfortunately, this seems to be the way the world works with EVERYTHING. If the track isn't safe, shut it down!!! NO NEGOTIATING!!!
I noticed the concrete wall was gone yesterday. Ya think the brainchildren could have put 2+2 together maybe 10 years ago?
Sad and senseless.
To Jim Head: You are an intelligent and dedicated man, but the sport has always been 1/4 mile. That's what people want to see. We can watch sand drags if we want 1/2 track shut-offs. No dis-respect.
Come up with a shut-off/object standard, that will solve the problem. That being said, it is a dangerous sport. Something can and will go wrong. Look closely, and remove the OBVIOUS hazards.
I would like to see the Kalitta family sue the track owners, and NHRA. Not for money, (I don't think they need any) but to shut-down tracks that don't conform to reasonable standards. Just my 2 cents.
To the Kalitta Family: We're all deeply saddened by the loss of Scott. Please see that his tragic death has an impact on safety. Please force the NHRA, and track owners to conform. The entire NHRA family cannot tolerate the sensleless death of another hero.
Condolences
If the track isn't safe, shut it down!!! NO NEGOTIATING!!!I noticed the concrete wall was gone yesterday. Ya think the brainchildren could have put 2+2 together maybe 10 years ago?
Sad and senseless.
To Jim Head: You are an intelligent and dedicated man, but the sport has always been 1/4 mile. That's what people want to see. We can watch sand drags if we want 1/2 track shut-offs. No dis-respect.
Come up with a shut-off/object standard, that will solve the problem. That being said, it is a dangerous sport. Something can and will go wrong. Look closely, and remove the OBVIOUS hazards.
I would like to see the Kalitta family sue the track owners, and NHRA. Not for money, (I don't think they need any) but to shut-down tracks that don't conform to reasonable standards. Just my 2 cents.
To the Kalitta Family: We're all deeply saddened by the loss of Scott. Please see that his tragic death has an impact on safety. Please force the NHRA, and track owners to conform. The entire NHRA family cannot tolerate the sensleless death of another hero.
Condolences
I have never been to Englishtown.
Could someone please explain to me why the sand trap area was configured as it was? Why was the k-rail curved around the back of the sand trap?
And why is the sand trap so stinking short? Why is the safety net only 3 feet tall?
I was dumbfounded when I saw the configuration of the sand trap area. It appeared to me, the set-up was needed for placement of the camera highlift.
As for those who would never attend a race that's less than 1/4 mile. Fine, see you later and don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out! The idea that anything less than 1/4 is somehow unfulfilling is completely ridiculous. How many times have we seen cars run nearly identical elasped times yet one was only going 280 at the strip while the other was going 310... and you wouldn't know the difference if not for the scoreboard!!!
I say, make it all 1/8th mile... every single class on the track!
BTW... the 1/8th mile fuel car show George Howard put on last year was a roaring success. The fans didn't mind one bit it and the racers loved because they didn't hurt parts.
Could someone please explain to me why the sand trap area was configured as it was? Why was the k-rail curved around the back of the sand trap?
And why is the sand trap so stinking short? Why is the safety net only 3 feet tall?
I was dumbfounded when I saw the configuration of the sand trap area. It appeared to me, the set-up was needed for placement of the camera highlift.
As for those who would never attend a race that's less than 1/4 mile. Fine, see you later and don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out! The idea that anything less than 1/4 is somehow unfulfilling is completely ridiculous. How many times have we seen cars run nearly identical elasped times yet one was only going 280 at the strip while the other was going 310... and you wouldn't know the difference if not for the scoreboard!!!
I say, make it all 1/8th mile... every single class on the track!
BTW... the 1/8th mile fuel car show George Howard put on last year was a roaring success. The fans didn't mind one bit it and the racers loved because they didn't hurt parts.
