SAFETY #8
Just reading through some stuff here at the library and
happened across your latest column regarding the sanctioning
bodies shouldering the blame for Shelly's demise in lie
(sic) of her not wearing a head and neck restraint.
How can NHRA be held accountable for a racer's actions when
not at an NHRA event? When a racer like Howard is testing
her car at a non-NHRA track without NHRA tech officials
on hand to implement the association's rules, how can they
be tied to the tragedy at all?
Their hands are clean of any wrong doing. From the published
reports of both her and her son being thrown from the vehicles
following the horrible impact, I seriously doubt anything
could have saved her life. Tragic indeed.
Just my slant...
Peace.
John Drummond
BURK RESPONDS
John, according to all reports Shelly
was only thrown from the car after it ran from past the
top end to the starting line under full throttle and hit
the tow vehicle. Her husband reportedly believes she was
either dead or unconscious before the car started back down
track. My problem is that the HANS device isn't required
at sanctioned events by the sanctioning bodies, and since
the sanctioning bodies, Goodguys included, set themselves
up as the rule makers and that includes the safety items,
that makes them culpable in my book. John, I realize you
are part of management but do you really want to see one
of the guys that races for your organization - perhaps one
that you call friend - get killed in an accident that might
have been preventable if the only the sanctioning body had
made a HANS device mandatory as they do firesuits and seat
belts? -- JB
SAFETY #9
Jeff, your remarks about Shelly and the HANS device are
bang on. All of us that participate at speeds above 150
mph should be wearing a device. You're also correct when
you comment that cost is usually the issue that keeps us
from obtaining devices such as the HANS system. I have no
excuse as to why we don't have one for (my driver son) Shawn
since we're above the 150 by a ton. The wall is not forgiving
simply because we normally run 1/8th mile stuff, and with
the new parts we'll be pretty close to 200 in that distance.
We're going to do all we can to secure a HANS device as
soon as possible and would encourage all of our fellow TA/FC,
AA/FA, and SuperQuick friends to do the same.
I wasn't there, but all indications are Shelly would not
have benefited from anything short of an Abrams tank in
her accident. A fueler with all the candles lit for over
1320 feet, even hitting the wall a couple of times, would
have been above 250mph on impact with the support vehicle.
There's no way this wasn't going to be very bad for anyone
in either car.
In the 50 years I've been involved (not that YOU have,
since you're way too young!), there's not been anything
in my memory that comes close to this. Garlits, on his first
blow over, came back up the track a short distance but was
able to shut down. If your suggestion is that the HANS would
have kept her from losing consciousness, that could be a
very valid point. We're also investigating the new side
bar pads we're seeing in the fuel cars. Anyway, we're saving
our pennys and hope to have all this stuff very early in
the season.
Thanks for holding our feet to the proverbial fire.
Ron Evans
