Re: Ken Etter recovery fund
 

Julie

Is an account # required on the check when sending a donation to the bank in Modesto? Any other info?

Re: Ken Etter recovery fund
 

Mark ~ It's a small bank so no account number needed, they know where to route it. Just put in the check (and in the address to the bank) "Ken Etter Recovery Fund".

Re: Ken Etter recovery fund
 

Thanks Julie

Nancy & I don't know Ken, but we have seen him many times and watched him run. We praise God that he survived this horrible incident. On the bright side, it has been the spark for a new level of discussion by the locals in SoCal about safety equipment, disaster prep, and accident preparedness.

Re: Ken Etter recovery fund
 

Looks like the pre-existant safety equipment worked as it was designed to, or there would have been no good news to report. Every time we think it's hot, uncomfortable, or a pain in the neck, we should remember that there are people alive today because of it. And, we thank God for delivering Ken from a worse outcome. Sounds like the track had the right personnel that took over and did their job well, too.

Re: Ken Etter recovery fund
 

Can't argue with that......

However, from my perspective, it seems that we should all take a second look at our own preparedness. I think we all need to take inventory of our equipment and senses in a "what if" scenario. Many of the things that may help us in a disaster tend to be taken for granted while we ponder things like jetting, tire pressure, dial-ins, etc. Personally, I'm going to revisit things like:

Master kill switch inside the car
Brake push rod ( possibly what caused Ken's ordeal )
Fuel shutoff switch within reach
Tubes/no tubes
DIAPER!!!!!!!
Full face vs. open helmet
Excuses for not having a cage......remember this was an 11 second car(not clear on whether he had a cage or not....conflicting reports)
Aftermarket seats......and seat mounting
Pulling belts tight
Angle of pull on shoulder harness
Crap laying in the floor of the race car
Front suspension bolts, nuts, and joint integrity

I'm sure y'all have many more ideas than I. Let's all take a second look at our junk so we can avoid these things in the future. Lord knows we've lost enough of our good friends to allow complacency to cost us another competitive soul.

Re: Ken Etter recovery fund
 

Ken was wearing a full face Helmet which probably saved his life and steering column hit him like a spear. Fortunately it still had collapsible stock column........not tubing like I see a lot. No full cage but Rod did a nice job on bar and 2 x 3 connectors. My Demon is very similar right down to color but has a Full Moly Cage that is completely attached to frame connectors or ctossmembers every place it comes down. Ken did have the front plate pull off floor. I also have 3 extra crossmembers tying the whole thing together(even before the were legal in mid 90's) covered in undercoating. I wish I could add bars to front of frame area but still not legal and hard to hide to boot.

Re: Ken Etter recovery fund
 

The eerie thing about this accident is we had been discussing safety equipment earlier in the day. Thankfully we all take it seriously. I will be looking a little closer at the cars before we go racing this weekend.

Re: Ken Etter recovery fund
 

This is Kenny's mom. He is about to go in for his first surgery. He appreciates all your thoughts and prayers. He is saying that he has alot of thoughts and ideas on how to better save someone else from having to go thorough this. He does now have a unique outlook on this subject.. We will update you after his surgery. Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers. They mean alot to me and his family.

Re: Ken Etter recovery fund
 

John,

Which car was Ken driving? I know he has his S/S'er, but many times will drive someone else's car.

Rick

Re: Ken Etter recovery fund
 

Ken was driving my old Demon that I sold to Bill Riddle.