Racers pushing for safer barriers... (2 Viewers)

[Triple Nickel II]

Here's a crazy idea. Why don't we wait until JFR has the time to analyze all of the information, check out every piece of the car, determine exactly what the sequence of events was that led to this tragedy, and then decide how best to attempt to prevent it from happening again.

Alan

Some keyboard engineers (formerly known as Keyboard Crewchiefs) and barely involved 'talking heads' live for subjects like this to hone their debating (err...sh*t stirring) skills and the opportunity to make themselves look important.

 

[The Counterfeiter]

Bill Stephens is a guest on Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain tonight. I would be willing to bet that the subject will come up.

Thanks for the heads up Wayne. I will certainly be watching for Bill.
Now - safer barriers. The units at NASCAR tracks are made of rectangular steel tubing that is strong enough to take the impact of a 3400 lb. car at
200 mph without being deformed. The barrier does bend and then springs back to its original shape. It is also almost three feet deep. I doubt this would work for drag racing.

Most of us do not know what caused Eric's head injury. If that information is released, that would be the time to start making suggestions.
BTW - I was told by one of the principals in the company selling the original HANS device (at Firebird Time Trials) that all drivers in cars running over 200 mph are required to wear an approved head restraint device.

 

[Bobby]

Do you think less injuries would really be achieved at 300 vs. 330?

I think when the cars weren't going 330 mph you didn't see as many crashes as you see now.

 

[Coop]

I think there were as many...if not more crashes before (in my vague recollection); what didn't seem to be as heavily discussed issue was the tires.

Accident or not, tires have been one of the most discussed topic of concern for the past - what? - 5 years now? Before that it was the chassis that were an issue (for top fuel). Before that it was blowers...

Not to pile on...Alan and I have exchanged a couple of private messages, so he knows where I am coming from.

Just in general it's time to start thinking about slowing things down.

Would the show be any less exciting? Would the popularity of the classes decrease if nitro was "only" going 300 to 310?

For my personal tastes, I think a side-by-side pedaling duel is the most exciting type of race in nitro...

Flame me as you see fit...

 

[Gordon]

Here's a crazy idea. Why don't we wait until JFR has the time to analyze all of the information, check out every piece of the car, determine exactly what the sequence of events was that led to this tragedy, and then decide how best to attempt to prevent it from happening again.

Alan

I would say that's a fair request Alan. I don't think anyone is trying to 'keyboard engineer' as much as they are seeking some sort of assurance that their favorite racers will be safer tomorrow than they were yesterday. Given our recent loss, I don't think that's too much to ask. Still, your point is valid & I'm willing to wait until the personnel "in the know" make their decisions based on facts rather than speculation...

Thanks, as always, for interjecting common sense into the equation, it's not always easy to see through the pain and sorrow we're all experiencing.

 

[The Counterfeiter]

It's too bad that Cory and JR didn't get some facts before speaking out.
Read the quote from NASCAR officials at CompetitionPlus regarding what occured during testing when vehicles impacted the barrier at over all of 156 mph.

 

[none]

That should be great, two more guys who weren't there, didn't see it and don't know what happened talking about how to fix it.

We already have enough people who don't have all the facts, but know all the answers,

Alan

I wish to apologize to Bill and Dave, I jumped to a conclusion that was unfounded. They are both professionals and didn’t go down that road. I should have given them the benefit of the doubt, or at the very least waited until I saw the show before deciding what they would be saying. And I will tell them both in person next time I see them.

Alan

 

[Triple Nickel II]

Hats off to you Alan.

At a time when everyone's nerves are still on end, few of us (and probably fewer 'known' personalities) would feel compelled to publicly apologize for a quick keyboard. You actions are commendable.

 

[__]

Here's a crazy idea. Why don't we wait until JFR has the time to analyze all of the information, check out every piece of the car, determine exactly what the sequence of events was that led to this tragedy, and then decide how best to attempt to prevent it from happening again.

Alan

Alan, I think you know that I've always respected your opinion. I agree it is too soon to be discussing this tragic incident. However, to some degree I think the NHRA has caused their own problem here. It's been nearly three years and the NHRA has never issued a full statement on what caused the tire on Darrell's car to come apart. I understand the problems with the pending litigation. The NHRA still had a nearly a year to release their "written report" before that case was filed. On some level, I feel that lack of communication is contributing to the high level of speculation we're seeing now. I don't personally care for all the hypothesizing but to some degree, I understand it. That's just my two cents anyway.

 

[Cabes]

Here's a crazy idea. Why don't we wait until JFR has the time to analyze all of the information, check out every piece of the car, determine exactly what the sequence of events was that led to this tragedy, and then decide how best to attempt to prevent it from happening again.

Alan

I totally agree. We have to wait to see what caused the crash, and what could be put in place to prevent another tragedy. I know that's what NHRA did after Blaine Johnson was killed, and they determined, if my memory serves me right, was that if the openings in the concrete barriers down track were closed, it could have been prevented. The result was they closed them at all national event tracks with the addition of making the barrieres higher as well.
It has to be the same here. The problem is that, as humans, we usually want the answers quick, and life just doesn't work that way.
The answers will come in time

 

[r2]

I wish to apologize to Bill and Dave, I jumped to a conclusion that was unfounded. They are both professionals and didn’t go down that road. I should have given them the benefit of the doubt, or at the very least waited until I saw the show before deciding what they would be saying. And I will tell them both in person next time I see them.

Alan

I taped the show and have not watched it yet... Kid shopping!! I, like you and probably most others, assumed what the content of their comments was going to be before ever hearing a word... I am happy that I have something to look forward to watching that sounds like reason rather than ridicule... How refreshing and surprising really...

 

[Toejam]

So what if they weren`t there...Cory and JR are two guys who strap themselves into these 330+ mph cars, unlike 99% of people on here. Are you saying their opinions don`t mean anything? Hell, Cory was lucky to live thru his Bristol wreck, so whatever he`s got to say is okay imo.

Since you mean't to address my quote Chris, I'll respond to your post. Sure Cory and JR strap into those cars, but what's next after Soft barriers? When Cory lost a Tire at Pomona back in the 90's and it went in the stands, did he suggest 100 fences to keep all debris out of the Stands? We're legislating our Sport out of existance whether we know it or not!

 

[rocketman]

Mitch, I agree that it is time to slow things down a bit. I know there's a whole host of problems doing that and crew chiefs are paid to find ways to go faster still, and it causes more damage, and more money, etc etc. but I still agree it needs to be done.

 

[Toejam]

I think there were as many...if not more crashes before (in my vague recollection); what didn't seem to be as heavily discussed issue was the tires.

Accident or not, tires have been one of the most discussed topic of concern for the past - what? - 5 years now? Before that it was the chassis that were an issue (for top fuel). Before that it was blowers...

Not to pile on...Alan and I have exchanged a couple of private messages, so he knows where I am coming from.

Just in general it's time to start thinking about slowing things down.

Would the show be any less exciting? Would the popularity of the classes decrease if nitro was "only" going 300 to 310?

For my personal tastes, I think a side-by-side pedaling duel is the most exciting type of race in nitro...

Flame me as you see fit...

So what happens when someone gets killed only going 290-300 MPH? Want to insure 100% safety we may as well Ban the Sport.

We had a kid get killed at our local track about 15 years ago in a 16 sec. Street car when he accidently shifted the Tranny into reverse at the finishline causing his car to flip like 3 times, He was only going 83 MPH!

And just last year a local racer died from Burns he recieved when his 11 sec. Corvette lost control and flipped like 3-4 times causing the car to ctach fire. It doesn't take going over 250 MPH to get killed in this sport.

 

[mike]

I'm on a very short break at work, so I really don't want to get into all of this right now. But slowing down the cars I don't agree with, they are dangerous from 100 to over 330 either way. And when you think about the track record of accidents, they are a rare occurrence. There is no need to slow them down. And until we find out what was the cause of Eric's crash we shouldn't start throwing out ways to change the class oer the sport... AGAIN!

Mike

 

[PJ]

There's not always a reason or a bad guy. I know we all want to blame someone or something and then fix it so this never happens again but sometimes thats just not possible. Thats why its called accident.

 

[Joker]

So what happens when someone gets killed only going 290-300 MPH? Want to insure 100% safety we may as well Ban the Sport.

We had a kid get killed at our local track about 15 years ago in a 16 sec. Street car when he accidently shifted the Tranny into reverse at the finishline causing his car to flip like 3 times, He was only going 83 MPH!

And just last year a local racer died from Burns he recieved when his 11 sec. Corvette lost control and flipped like 3-4 times causing the car to ctach fire. It doesn't take going over 250 MPH to get killed in this sport.

I agree with Joe, slowing the cars down isint the answer. There is no difference from 300 to 330 mph. Its still bad. People get killed in cars going 40 mph. Now granted your normal car isint near as safe as a pro race car but still. I dont think slowing them down will help anything. Fact of the matter is, racing is dangerous. Everytime someone straps themselves into a 300 mph+ rocket they are taking a risk. To me, you look at all the wrecks we have had and I think were damn lucky not to have lost more people. I am all for safety innovations but I just dont think slowing them down will solve the problem.

 

[BlueStangGT]

Mitch, I agree that it is time to slow things down a bit. I know there's a whole host of problems doing that and crew chiefs are paid to find ways to go faster still, and it causes more damage, and more money, etc etc. but I still agree it needs to be done.

I'd prefer to see 'em race the current cars in 1/8th mile contests rather than water down the nitro classes again.

 

[Speedy_Sticks]

Inprove Side Protection!

They did it in F1 and haven't had a fatel Crash since Senna.

Perhaps we n eed a 'Garlt's Moment', and re-think the design of the Top Fuelers and Funny Cars.

I always thought that Funny Cars were one of the safest classes of dragster, because of their side protection. But the SIDE PRETECTION but be looked at.

It doesn't take an Instine to work out that their is wafer thin protection for a driver of a Top Fuel Dragster.

Would A Top Fuel driver not fit parachutes? It 8is the same princablle when running a car. As the speed goes up, so should the safety levels of the cars.

Tracks can only do so much.

Perhaps we need to think of a cross between a role cage and a F1 Monocock, type of design?

Cheers

James
[email protected]

 

[Rajunz]

...................Most of us do not know what caused Eric's head injury. If that information is released, that would be the time to start making suggestions.
BTW - I was told by one of the principals in the company selling the original HANS device (at Firebird Time Trials) that all drivers in cars running over 200 mph are required to wear an approved head restraint device.

Our sport has always had a better safety record than other motorsports, mainly because the cars are travelling parallel to the barriers. This bounces the cars off and gradually slows their momentum. Dale Earnhardt died instantly because when he hit the wall it was at a perpendicular angle to the wall, which stopped his momentum instantly. The HANS device will work to stop the head from whipping, but in an instant stop like that, the brain keeps moving.

As much as we love motorsports, as much as we can do to make them safer is always a good thing, but everyone one involved with these things has to realize that racecars are dangerous.