Nasty TF Crash @ Aussie Nationals (1 Viewer)

[mike]

Very much like Dixons crash from a few years ago...

YouTube - lamattina top fuel crash

YouTube - Awesome Dragster Nats Crash Willowbank Sept 2007

Glad to see he walked away from it, the car was the ex Gary Scelzi car from 2000.

 

[Nitrohaulic]

Front half broke off and the rear wing took over, huh? Maybe taking a long car with wings at both ends bowing it upwards isn't a good idea after all? Now you have to worry about them breaking in the front half as well?

What would happen if they shortened the wheelbase? Would that take some of the wings' leverage out of the chassis? Still have the frontal area of a dragster, but get closer to the chassis rigidity of a funny car?

 

[Bazzil]

Here's a new report on it

YouTube - Amazing Dragster Destruction Australian Nats

 

[Nitrohaulic]

I think they have the order wrong. I think it became broke apart, THEN became airborne.

 

[Just Paul]

Wow he got pretty high and flew a LONG ways. 4.68 was a nice pass too.

 

[davey]

Holy cow! I wonder which piece of debris stopped the clocks? 4.68 at only 262 mph.

 

[Toejam]

Looks an awful like Dixon's and Tony Shoe's crashes from a couple years back.

 

[4d]

the sponsors name seems apt

 

[Bobby]

running a seven year old car? I don't think they should be bragging about their safety standards so much.

 

[.]

Some of the media outlets here have been showing it!

Glad the driver is OK!

 

[Paul]

The crash made the 10:00 news last night in Chicago.

 

[Bullet]

running a seven year old car? I don't think they should be bragging about their safety standards so much.

I understand what you are saying Bob, but you do need to consider that a Fuel car in Australia makes nowhere near as many passes as one in the US does per year.

 

[Bazzil]

Ironically enough they were going to the US this week to buy a new chassis.

 

[Nunz]

It's on AOL's cover page for video highlights.

 

[mick]

made 'good morning america' this morning.

 

[Jim]

the sponsors name seems apt

Imagine the publicity for his sponsor if he had been "miked" <GGGG>

He's a lucky fellow!

 

[murdock]

It also made the CNN morning show.

 

[Wes]

Yep...made the news here in Dallas, too. Timely with the national fiasco coming to Ennis this week.

Here's a silly question for our Aussie friends. Are there no dragster chassis manufacturers in Australia? I know that chome-moly tubing, aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber are all available in country. As are TIG welders. I know that the dragster importing business is thriving but wouldn't it be a wise move for someone with the talent and ability to start building dragsters for Top Fuel to brackets exclusively for the Australian market?

I'll gladly move down there and bring my experience and marketing ability in the chassis business.

 

[shawn fleischmann]

Yep...made the news here in Dallas, too. Timely with the national fiasco coming to Ennis this week.

Here's a silly question for our Aussie friends. Are there no dragster chassis manufacturers in Australia? I know that chome-moly tubing, aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber are all available in country. As are TIG welders. I know that the dragster importing business is thriving but wouldn't it be a wise move for someone with the talent and ability to start building dragsters for Top Fuel to brackets exclusively for the Australian market?

I'll gladly move down there and bring my experience and marketing ability in the chassis business.

I was told by an Aussie TAFC driver visiting at Maple Grove that the reason why they buy cars from over here is that:
1.They can buy a good "used" car over here and have it shipped to Australia in 4 weeks.
2. If you are looking to purchase a new rail in Australia you are looking at anytime between 6 months to 2 years.

If you look at who buys the cars that are 3 years or less old the majority of the buyers are from down under.

 

[Wes]

That answers my question loud and clear. I know there is a strong market in building doorslammers there. You'd figure with the recent growth in Top Fuel and the sportsman dragster classes someone would seek to corner the market. A full service dragster manufacturer could deliver a wide array of configurations in 6-14 weeks time plus be available for steady repairs and updates (backhalf, fronthalf, bodies, wings, etc.).

Heard on the local news that the video of the crash was the highest-viewed clip on YouTube yesterday.