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Another race car drive dies :(
Started by
NYR2119935
, Oct 14 2000 18:40
19 replies to this topic
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#2
The Swerve
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Posted 14 October 2000 - 20:21
That's 3 deaths in NASCAR series races this year. Why aren't the 'good 'ole boys' looking into this?
Just racing? Once maybe, but 3 times in one year? And already a driver has decided that it was just a racing incident before any kind of official enquiry has been launched?
Seems like there isn't much being done in NASCAR to improve things.
I don't expect things to be supersafe but there does appear to be a an air of resignation to the fact that sometimes people die in NASCAR races. Motor racing will always be dangerous of course, but it would be nice to see NASCAR take a slightly different attitude to it rather than just shrugging their shoulders and moving on to the next race.
[p][Edited by The Swerve on 10-14-2000]
From ESPN:
The accident occurred as the younger Roper tried to move through a pack of traffic. He apparently bumped with another truck, then veered sharply to the right and slammed head-on into the wall along the frontstretch on the 32nd lap of the O'Reilly 400. The mangled truck burst into flames and spun out of control.
"This place has had some accidents in the past as well," runner-up Andy Houston said. "It's just hard racing. Everybody is out trying to prove themselves and trying very hard. It doesn't have anything to do with the racetrack or the drivers, it's just some people are trying for the same spot and sometimes that spot isn't there, and this happens."
Just racing? Once maybe, but 3 times in one year? And already a driver has decided that it was just a racing incident before any kind of official enquiry has been launched?
Seems like there isn't much being done in NASCAR to improve things.
I don't expect things to be supersafe but there does appear to be a an air of resignation to the fact that sometimes people die in NASCAR races. Motor racing will always be dangerous of course, but it would be nice to see NASCAR take a slightly different attitude to it rather than just shrugging their shoulders and moving on to the next race.[p][Edited by The Swerve on 10-14-2000]
#3
molive
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Posted 14 October 2000 - 20:32
NASCAR is made for TV. It isn't about racing, IMO, at least not what real motor racing is supposed to be.
THATS JUST A BIG SHAME.
RIP.
THATS JUST A BIG SHAME.
RIP.
#5
T0NT0
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Posted 14 October 2000 - 21:17
what the hell is going on... two deaths in the same hour.
#6
tony
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Posted 14 October 2000 - 22:03
I've always been worried about drag racing, especially for the fans. The NHRA and IHRA have the potential for serious lawsuits if one of the top fuel dragsters or funny cars ever seriously gets out of control. Both organizations are lucky that the drivers have kept the cars(engine with a seat really), in reasonable control during the crashes. If one of these dragsters were to vere 10-20 meters from the edge of the track at 320 MPH it could potentially take out an entire row of fans. NHRA is skating on thin ice. I've seen this things flip over when the wings break. If one were to flip, twist sideways or like said venture just a 10 meters from the trackside it would be all over for drag racing. Sorry to hear about the deaths.
#7
tony
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Posted 14 October 2000 - 22:05
Anybody in the USA staying up late tonight to watch the CART race in Australia?
#8
paulb
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Posted 14 October 2000 - 22:11
The IHRA fatality appears to be an unusual circumstance given that the car was "split in half", whereas the NASCAR death happened during the normal course of the race.
It will be interesting to see the folow up from the IHRA. I'm sure it won't be a case of "just hard racing".
If all NASCAR racers are constructed in a similar fashion, that is, emphasizing rollover protection, you would hope that with all the fatalities they have had this year that officials would seriously consider changes to the cars that improve driver safety.
If they do not improve driver safety, wouldn't it be hypocritical since NASCAR claims to be such a family friendly sport? Maybe most NASCAR fans are in the mortuary business.
It will be interesting to see the folow up from the IHRA. I'm sure it won't be a case of "just hard racing".
If all NASCAR racers are constructed in a similar fashion, that is, emphasizing rollover protection, you would hope that with all the fatalities they have had this year that officials would seriously consider changes to the cars that improve driver safety.
If they do not improve driver safety, wouldn't it be hypocritical since NASCAR claims to be such a family friendly sport? Maybe most NASCAR fans are in the mortuary business.
#9
John B
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Posted 14 October 2000 - 22:18
Swerve,
NASCAR did do quite a bit of investigation after the two earlier fatalities at New Hampshire. Within a few weeks they came up with changes meant to address the throttle system, which was believed to be a factor in those deaths. They also checked out some new material to line the walls with, which did not meet their standards. Finally, they took the controversial step of adding engine restrictor plates (the same used at the 200+ MPH superspeedways) on the return visit to the track. This had never been done on shorter tracks like NH before.
Whether or not NASCAR needs to evaluate what types of ovals they want their various series to race on is another question. The truck series started on shorter tracks, and is comprised of teams and drivers with much less experience than the top level Cup cars.
NASCAR did do quite a bit of investigation after the two earlier fatalities at New Hampshire. Within a few weeks they came up with changes meant to address the throttle system, which was believed to be a factor in those deaths. They also checked out some new material to line the walls with, which did not meet their standards. Finally, they took the controversial step of adding engine restrictor plates (the same used at the 200+ MPH superspeedways) on the return visit to the track. This had never been done on shorter tracks like NH before.
Whether or not NASCAR needs to evaluate what types of ovals they want their various series to race on is another question. The truck series started on shorter tracks, and is comprised of teams and drivers with much less experience than the top level Cup cars.
#10
NYR2119935
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Posted 14 October 2000 - 22:52
Originally posted by tony
Anybody in the USA staying up late tonight to watch the CART race in Australia?
HELLZ YEA!!!!!
me and my sister and lots of Taco Bell!!
#11
tony
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Posted 14 October 2000 - 23:16
NYR where do you live? I am in Champaign, IL here at the Univ of Illinois?
#13
Pacific
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Posted 15 October 2000 - 01:30
It saddens me to have read of Tony Roper's death this morning. I got to meet Tony Roper a few years ago when he raced in the ASA at Hawkeye Downs, similar how I met Adam Petty. Met a lot of drivers in the ASA.
Another tragedy in stock car racing a couple months ago was ASA driver David Anspaugh was injured quite badly. He's pretty much a vegetable now, which is so sad in that Anspaugh used his racing to connect with kids and the community a lot. Anspaugh was the superindendant of schools in some town in Michigan...
Lot of driver deaths this year in stock car racing.
I am staying up to watch the CART race. For some reason I see Montoya winning a leapfrogging a lot of people in points. Montoya has been really fast this year, just a lot of mechanical problems. In laps led...man. Montoya hasn't lost it, the switch to Lola and Toyota hasn't been 100% smooth, but not a total loss, Vasser picked up a win, so...Jimmy needed that win.
Michel Jourdain Jr. wasn't too bad in qualifying really. Happy with that. Second fastest Mercedes...Jason Bright...did okay. Looking forward to tonight.
Another tragedy in stock car racing a couple months ago was ASA driver David Anspaugh was injured quite badly. He's pretty much a vegetable now, which is so sad in that Anspaugh used his racing to connect with kids and the community a lot. Anspaugh was the superindendant of schools in some town in Michigan...
Lot of driver deaths this year in stock car racing.
I am staying up to watch the CART race. For some reason I see Montoya winning a leapfrogging a lot of people in points. Montoya has been really fast this year, just a lot of mechanical problems. In laps led...man. Montoya hasn't lost it, the switch to Lola and Toyota hasn't been 100% smooth, but not a total loss, Vasser picked up a win, so...Jimmy needed that win.
Michel Jourdain Jr. wasn't too bad in qualifying really. Happy with that. Second fastest Mercedes...Jason Bright...did okay. Looking forward to tonight.
#14
dooly
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Posted 15 October 2000 - 10:54
about the 2 driver deaths.Never watched a CART race before, but had nothing else to do on a Sunday arvo - it was quite good. The amount of overtaking was good to watch and quite a few incidents.Originally posted by NYR2119935
Originally posted by tony
Anybody in the USA staying up late tonight to watch the CART race in Australia?
HELLZ YEA!!!!!
me and my sister and lots of Taco Bell!!
Btw, what is taco bell?
#15
Mat
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Posted 15 October 2000 - 11:16
Man, thats terrible news. I didn't know any of the drivers, but it is always sad knowing someone died in a sport you are passionate about. My thoughts are with their families.
On the changes NASCAR made to the cars and tracks. I believe, what they had installed on the car was a kill switch on the steering wheel if the throttle became stuck, but one driver, i think it was Bobbly Labonte, said that by the time you realise you already into the wall, there is no way you can reach it in time. And the installation of a restrictor plate, good short term, but not for long term. Honestly, it all stinks of the same reaction after Imola '94, with the silly chicanes installed in Spain, and Belgium. Just patches, which didnt help anything really.
They need to sit down and think of real solutions, to these REAL problems. I'm not claiming to know these answers, but work does need to be done.
Onto happier news.....I'm an aussie, so for once I dont have to stay up all night to watch a CART race!! And what a strange race it was. Does anyone want to win this championship!?!? I cant believe Tracy through it away like that, and De Ferran for that matter. I was really hoping from a good performace from Montoya, shame about his race, he has been a star this year. And....finally, Bright!! He did a top job, even if he was helped by the carnage, although it eventually caught up with him in the end.
Now, this post is getting to long.
Mat
On the changes NASCAR made to the cars and tracks. I believe, what they had installed on the car was a kill switch on the steering wheel if the throttle became stuck, but one driver, i think it was Bobbly Labonte, said that by the time you realise you already into the wall, there is no way you can reach it in time. And the installation of a restrictor plate, good short term, but not for long term. Honestly, it all stinks of the same reaction after Imola '94, with the silly chicanes installed in Spain, and Belgium. Just patches, which didnt help anything really.
They need to sit down and think of real solutions, to these REAL problems. I'm not claiming to know these answers, but work does need to be done.
Onto happier news.....I'm an aussie, so for once I dont have to stay up all night to watch a CART race!! And what a strange race it was. Does anyone want to win this championship!?!? I cant believe Tracy through it away like that, and De Ferran for that matter. I was really hoping from a good performace from Montoya, shame about his race, he has been a star this year. And....finally, Bright!! He did a top job, even if he was helped by the carnage, although it eventually caught up with him in the end.
Now, this post is getting to long.
Mat
#16
Joe Fan
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Posted 15 October 2000 - 11:55
I was sorry to read about this. Like Pacific, I too got to meet Tony Roper. It was at a Craftsman Truck Series race at I-70 in Odessa, Missouri. Since Tony was a fellow Missourian from Springfield, Missouri, I always rooted for him there at I-70 where naturally he always had a strong following. And he always performed well there too despite not having top equipment.
I haven't seen the crash yet because I was a hockey game Friday night. From what I have heard he got clipped from behind and his truck shot across the track where he hit a ton at a bad angle in the sweeping portion of the dog leg. His death was attributed to neck injuries which cut off blood to his brain. This one seems to be one that could have been easily prevented with a HANS device.
Some NASCAR drivers are apparently already wearing a HANS device (or one that is similar to it made by Simpson). From what I have heard, Ford and GM have offered to pay for a HANS device for any driver. I think it is time for NASCAR as a sanctioning body to make either one of these devices mandatory.
I haven't seen the crash yet because I was a hockey game Friday night. From what I have heard he got clipped from behind and his truck shot across the track where he hit a ton at a bad angle in the sweeping portion of the dog leg. His death was attributed to neck injuries which cut off blood to his brain. This one seems to be one that could have been easily prevented with a HANS device.
Some NASCAR drivers are apparently already wearing a HANS device (or one that is similar to it made by Simpson). From what I have heard, Ford and GM have offered to pay for a HANS device for any driver. I think it is time for NASCAR as a sanctioning body to make either one of these devices mandatory.
#17
Ross Stonefeld
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Posted 15 October 2000 - 14:53
Saturday afternoon at Road America two drivers tangled in the high speed kink in the penultimate round of the Formula Dodge championship. One driver is fine. One had to be cut out of the car and will have difficulties walking for a very long time....
Ross Stonefeld
Aztec International
Ross Stonefeld
Aztec International
#18
mhferrari
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Posted 15 October 2000 - 23:54
That's racing, safety still needs to go a lot farther in some series.
#19
John B
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Posted 16 October 2000 - 00:09
More sad news from this weekend was the death of a marshall from a heart attack at the CART race.
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#20
Hard Driver
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Posted 16 October 2000 - 01:02
It makes me sad. I love racing, but this is the dark side of the sport. Condolences to both drivers families.
Nascar needs to make HANS mandatory. HANS (Head and Neck restraint System) Some CART guys have worn it in a few oval races. It is a shoulder harness that attached to the helmet to keep the head from flying forward and seperating the skull from the spine. Unlike the open wheel guys, those NASCAR guys have no head restraints. This is what is killing them.
Nascar needs to make HANS mandatory. HANS (Head and Neck restraint System) Some CART guys have worn it in a few oval races. It is a shoulder harness that attached to the helmet to keep the head from flying forward and seperating the skull from the spine. Unlike the open wheel guys, those NASCAR guys have no head restraints. This is what is killing them.
