Drag Race crash....knowing when to lift

[firefighter3931]

Some good lessons to be learned here ;

(1) Race on a prepped track
(2) Use the proper safety equipment (race harness/protective clothing)
(3) When your car or the car in the other lane gets out of shape....get off the throttle !

Last and not least ; no race is worth wrecking your car or worse ! 

This guy was very lucky....the car barrel rolled several times and he ended up on the hood. This is why it's important to have a 5 point harness when you're racing 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uud7rcwhI5U&feature=player_embedded



Ron

[6spd68]

Since they both went squirrelly after launch, I'm guessing the track not being glued played a factor?

[TUFCAT]

Absolute stupidity....all over the place. 

[John_Kunkel]

The "drag strip" they were running on appears to be the pit lane of an oval track...absolutely no rubber buildup.

[tan top]

 he was lucky ,  wonder how the belts /seat let go ,   not big/ thick  enough sandwich plates & washers etc both sides of the floor ,   on the mounting bolts ,  with weight of driver   , pulled  through the floor ?

[HPP]

Yes, its the pit lane on the above pictured oval track. I wonder if this incident will have them rethinking straight line events.

I've heard a few different stories on it, belt mounts failed, and all he had was a lap be, etc. Don't know the true story.

What is surprising to me is this track is 30 minutes down the road from me, but I had no idea that was even going on. I guess a Denver radio station sponsored the event as Outlaw eighth mile drags.

Proof positive that trying to be a pedaling hero at bracket drags can rarely lead to a good outcome.

[Indygenerallee]

Wonder who's genius plan it was to go racing on a track designed for road racing.....   Idiot's galore 

[Aero426]

Wonder who's genius plan it was to go racing on a track designed for road racing.....   Idiot's galore 

It's a track built during the boom years of the 90's, and has no major events today.    Looks like they do a lot of track rentals.     I didn't realize it was still operating. 

[HPP]

This event was the brain child of a Denver radio DJ. However, the track's organization was foolish enough to buy into it and lease the date.

They do have events there regularly. Southwest tour cars ( touring series below the Busch cars) are coming through next weekend. SCCA and NASA both use it regularly. AMA runs there. Chumpcars have run there. Bondurant, Rusty Wallace, Richard Petty as well as Supercar Driving Experiences all run there regularly. But yes, there are no longer any events the caliber of the Indy races or Busch races there any longer.

[Mike DC]

      
Ouch.  And no insurance coverage on a racetrack . . . when he gets the bill for that wreck he may wish he got killed in it after all.


 
It never ceases to amaze me how many guys wreck cars rather than just getting off the throttle when things go south.   I mean, shouldn't the instinct to lift come so naturally that it takes a conscious effort NOT to do it?  

Besides, the guy in the other lane had already gotten visibly loose while being 1-2 car lengths ahead.  The guy in the '55 should have known to abort the run before he himself even started getting loose in the first place.   


As for the seatbelt, it appears to be a rollcaged car.  One would expect a 5pt harness with that.  

[RallyeMike]

Well, the 55 is not a total loss. The wipers were still working.

[F8-4life]

At least they got the wreck on video.
Good thing it was a post car and not a hardtop.

[c00nhunterjoe]

Wow. I had to watch it twice. Wow.

[Ghoste]

I did too, I'm still a bit shocked.

[moparnation74]

That guy in the 55 better buy a lottery ticket.  I am amazed he walked away.

[Mike DC]

 
Big & little drag racing tire combos.  Don't ask for 5 degrees of turning control, and everything will be fine.

[HPP]

Driver confirmed he was belted in, but his belts pulled through the floor from the force of the accident. I haven't seen anything saying he had a harness at all.

Car was his wife's street car.

More photos and alternate footage on Facebook at Colorado Street Outlaws.

But agree with others, once he saw the Camaro get out of the groove, he should have backed off himself. However, there is a percentage of racers out there who extoll their inability to react reasonably in these situations by saying they are all out all the time let the chips fall where they may. I personally find it foolish to have such a win at all costs attitude.

[moparnation74]

Driver confirmed he was belted in, but his belts pulled through the floor from the force of the accident. I haven't seen anything saying he had a harness at all.

Car was his wife's street car.

More photos and alternate footage on Facebook at Colorado Street Outlaws.

But agree with others, once he saw the Camaro get out of the groove, he should have backed off himself. However, there is a percentage of racers out there who extoll their inability to react reasonably in these situations by saying they are all out all the time let the chips fall where they may. I personally find it foolish to have such a win at all costs attitude.

And wreck his wifes car, ouch

[wingcar]

"Car was his wife's street car".

You can bet, he'll be hearing about that for some time to come.....

[TUFCAT]

I can see the wife's face when he tells her it NOT covered by insurance! 

[Aero426]

Any time you put a car on the track, you have to understand it may not make it back.

[6spd68]

But agree with others, once he saw the Camaro get out of the groove, he should have backed off himself. However, there is a percentage of racers out there who extoll their inability to react reasonably in these situations by saying they are all out all the time let the chips fall where they may. I personally find it foolish to have such a win at all costs attitude.

Yep, unfortunately for that guy; he became a living example of why you back off it...

[Baldwinvette77]

I almost cried.. Then i remembered brand new 55 chevy's were available reproduction 

[Paul G]

I had to think twice before I put my 72 on the track at MATS. Competition events are not covered by insurance. Same deal if something bad happens street racing.

[myk]

I had to think twice before I put my 72 on the track at MATS. Competition events are not covered by insurance. Same deal if something bad happens street racing.

I have to get a special policy from Hagerty if I want to do any sanctioned events as well...