Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Check out the YouTube Video showing Biondo's win over a spinning Thomas Fletcher ......Thomas might try NASCAR after this save ! ! ![ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXHeCpBAagA&list=UUJcErqlzaBzFmAh2uIxeqxQ& feature=share&index=2"]Thomas Fletcher makes incredible save after 360 spin - YouTube[/ame]

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Excessive braking.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Wow!! NHRA actually posted something from the sportsman class!

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

O Snap Batman what save!Wow What happened ?

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

no **** genius...

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

There were some great match ups in the round 1 and this was one of them. I'm just glad no one was hurt.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

WOW..Got to give the kid some credit, great save an some luck, 4 new Mickeys and a once over and it will go back in the trailer in one pc.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Great job by young Mr. Fletcher!! Glad he's safe.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Will somebody have to be killed before nhra dose something about this ??


Hammer

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Glad to see the young Mr.Fletcher and the car was not hurt.
I think he probably learned a lesson there and fortunately neither car was hurt.


I was at NED in 1977 or 1978.....Sitting up on the hill. A Chevelle stocker spun out and went into the weeds....no guardwall back then. He kind of disappeared in the woods....Don't know what caused the spinout....The car was not really hurt....

He won the race on Sunday....Rich Rann.....It was a WCS race as they were called back then....

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

better check his diaper.... and not for oil...the one in his pants..nice save

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Sounds like they already checked...

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

First let me say that I am super happy no one was injured or no cars were destroyed.
The aggressive breaking is one thing that I am 100% vocally against!!!
I have been right behind too many of these including watching someone getting air flight ride out of the track. I do realize that there are hazards that come with racing, however if the sanctioning bodies came down hard on these things they would happen far less and our sport would be safer because of it.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

What should they do? Remove the brake pedal???

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Respectfully, I need to take the other side of this argument. You are in a racecar, and you know the inherent dangers when you enter this race. Many will hold their nose when I say this, but when you put the shoe polish on the window, the same things that work in a bracket race work for us. Your job is to beat your opponent to the finish line while not beating your time, or to force your opponent to. If there is one thing that has always bothered me, it is the people standing at the finish line at New England Dragway, deciding if there was excessive braking. Maybe it goes back to the '70's when my father was disqualified for hitting the brakes before the finish line (a NED rule back then), but I have always thought that you should be able to do whatever it takes to win the race, and if that means locking up the front tires, then so be it. I remember seeing pictures of Lee Shepard in the RMS Corvette with the front tires just a smoking, and he was just trying to protect his index.

Two weeks ago at Lebanon Valley, Gene Monahan and I both dumped at the first speed line. We hit the finish line with both cars standing on their noses, and that was fine. In fact, it was fun. Gene won, and I wouldn't want to have someone say, "No, Gene's braking was excessive, Greg's was not. Greg's the winner." It doesn't work that way. We have rules for crossing the center line or hitting the wall, and they apply to all classes in drag racing. If John Force can cross the centerline after the finish line, then Thomas Fletcher can too.

Don't like the rule? Then change it, but change it for all of drag racing. Maybe you can't cross the centerline for 300 feet past the finish line. Fine with me. Thomas screwed up, or he had a mechanical failure (the left front tire was turning until the car was mostly sideways), but he didn't break the rules.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

I've watched the video at least a dozen times and I don't see any "excessive braking". Both cars had the noses dropped but I'm not seeing any tire smoke anywhere.
I think that Dad should be looking for something mechanical, swat the kid on the a**, give him a hug and call it a day.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Is it possible there was something down on the track that caused the car to move like that on the top?

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Guys, obviously he hit the brakes too hard, too long, or whatever, that goes without saying. He has driven that car on and off for 8 years, and he's dropped hard a million times. We had weight out of the trunk to run E, I recently removed the 2nd rear caliper deal, and the fronts locked up on him, plain and simple. Apparently a proportioning valve adjustment is in order, lol.

I'm sure he learned a valuable lesson. I'm equally as sure it won't happen again. I'm just glad he's ok, and I'm very thankful he didn't hit Pete.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

The left front was 100% locked up every time I looked at the video (first part in real-time speed). It looked like he let off the brakes somewhat once it started to turn sideways and it unlocked.

Mistakes happen, I'm just glad both drivers ended up unhurt and everyone's cars are fine. Scary stuff.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Change the format, maybe?
If they do ,they'll lose two thirds of the 60% they have now.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

we've all had our top end monents...fletcher's are from modified country !... great save tim.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

I saw the exact same thing, the front wheel was locked up on the video

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Not even considering what transpired in this unfortunate event...

This type of racing has been going on too long as far as I'm concerned.

It is fairly easy to monitor each race and see too many ET's not match the MPH. I'm probably missing something, but that wasn't the way I was taught to race this class.

I have no issue running against anyone, even if they are trying to kill 20+ mph in the last 5' of the track on a 3.5" front tire.

My concern is lining my Wife up against one of them and having her get caught up in a similar case.

Something needs to happen soon, our classes are crashing too many beautiful cars and somebody is gonna get hurt.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Isn't excessive braking already illegal? What enforcement is there?

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Wow! That was a close one. Glad Thomas and Pete are ok. But this whole "when is NHRA gonna stop this", and "when will this style of racing be stopped" is crazy. You've gotta put yourself in Thomas's shoes. Yes he hit the brakes too hard, I think about 75% of us competitive racers on this site can say they have done the same thing at least once. He was racing one of the best, and his dad is arguably the best sportsman racer we have. He knew he wasn't gonna get there or knew he had to dump hard to kill what he was holding and anyone trying to make a name is Drag racing wants to beat the best at any cost. Mistakes happen, I know Thomas learned from this mistake and it's never anybody's intention to lock me up or put a car into the wall. Unfortunately this is part of racing and there are several "great" racers who have done the same thing, just didn't get as lucky. Trying to patrol this style of racing would be about as effective as America's war on immigration.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

In the video, Biondo was almost imperceptibly tapping the brakes having already caught Fletcher at the MPH stripe.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

I would like to know if there was a mechanical failure on the right front caliper. It appeared to free up after the spin and looking at the left front wheel it certainly doesnt appear that the brakes were applied in the spin. Worn pads and a cocked piston ? And yes I know a heavy brake pedal did cause it, just what happened next ?? There was a similar incident at the Maple Grove LODRS race in May where they did tag the wall in the end. That was the initial prognosis at the track that day. I TRY not to excessively brake and I did inspect my pads after that and was going to call Lamb and replace all the pads just to be safe. I like to learn from others mistakes if at all possible, and never heard the results of mechanical assessment post inspection of the MG incident. I hate to think how far I would pull the car apart and inspect/ replace parts after this incident and would love/ hate to see the racepak lateral G-meter after this carousel ride....

Looking at this from another side - and I wouldn't even post if there was any major damage or anyone got hurt, But almost 20,000 people viewed the video as of right now. Very good sponsor exposure for Peak and Biondo racing....

Not to drag this excessive braking debate off track but last week I did buy a couple cases of Anti-Freeze and it was Peak brand. Support those that support us.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

I agree with Greg Gay's post this is a product of the type of racing we do. At some point we all have had to use the brake pedal a little hard to win. It has only gotten worse with the newer high speed cars in the class. And don't start with the B.S. about dialing honest it's still going to happen. the last thing we need is someone making a judgement call like this at the finish line. You keep in the boundries of your lane your OK.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Guys, Most of the older cars we race came with drum rear brakes. Many of us now have disc's in the rear. The proportioning valve is not set for that. You may want to try the proportioning valve from a corvette for the same year as your car. That way it is more apt to fit...

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

One Way We Can Avoid This From Happening Is:

Give A 3 Hundredths Under Your Dial Leeway.

If you dial 10.00, You can go 9.97 & Still Win.
Anything More Than 3 Under You Lose.

BUT NO USING YOUR BRAKES PERIOD.

THAT IS FAIR FOR EVERYONE !!!

Glad no one was hurt or their cars got wrecked.


Just My Opinion.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

1. Anti-lock brakes. Just another safety rule that makes sense to me.
2. Full width tires. no skinnies up front (I know that is a major paradigm shift and will be controversial).


I can stand my solstice with autocross tires on it's nose going through the lights. With the electric throttle control, it isn't consistent so I have to drive the stripe.

Jeff Laferty

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Tim knows what he did and we all know his Dad will go over that car with a fine tooth comb. The very last thing Dan wants is for anything to happen to his son and also another competitor. This issue can be beaten to death. As long as there is a dial in and the completion as stiff as it is there is the possibility of this happening. Everyone needs to make sure that their brakes and components are checked weekly or prior to the next race.

Dan Chipman

Hamburger, Bachelder & Chipman

70's-80's SS

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

In my opinion, Nolan Grier said it perfect. This type of mistake has happened to many of us, including myself. I know I got away with a few, but there are some that have not been so lucky. but it is all part of BRACKET RACING, some on this forum may disagree, but this has been going on since shoe polish was applied to car windows.

Now, if only all of us could be so "lucky" to have our own experience make the NHRA news, and be plastered to social media and youtube, get viewed by probably 25,000 people by the end of today, and let me add get ridiculed, and criticized by racers and non-racers.. wouldn't that make for a great day?

Video can capture and help us understand why and how things happen, and if, in fact it is mechanical, we can get things fixed for the next time, but there are times when some highly publicized video can have a negative effect, like the criticizing of the individual in this case.

Rob, this is in no way a slam to your dedicated work, your videos are much appreciated, and we are all grateful for them. Also, glad to hear your son is doing better.

Food for thought... I remember when I was about 13 yo, dialing in the late Great Jim Harrington at a bracket race in Tennessee, and he told me, a good racer never runs it to the stripe. It took me a few years to fully understand that phrase, but if you understand what he meant, you are a true bracket racer.

Good Luck out there..

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Since no one was hurt in the making of this video except 4 flat spotted tires i have to say it . They almost got tangled up at the finish line!

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

I did that a couple of years ago. It is strange to slide sideways for several hundred feet and think 'those are sure funny lines I'm making in the track'. Just bumped the wall, got back called my body shop manager and told him we would be home in about 5 Hrs (Houston) and get me some body people. Those guys took care of me and Tuesday we went to Gainesville. Put the brakes on, not too hard I thought, but a trans failure ahead of me in the lights, which was cleaned well, and cold day in Houston in Feb I think. I wasn't hurt and Thomas wasn't either, except for a little ego repair, and all is well. It's racing folks. In my case I had a little body repair in addition to the ego. Helps to have another DP sitting there for parts. See for 2 cents I give you a dollars worth.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Many of us have hit the brakes hard at the other end.
Dan summarizes the facts and event very well and it should not become a new agenda or the new conspiracy theory.
We all should be glad with the results; nobody got hurt and no wrecks; just a shaken up driver that has earned a lessons learned.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Exactly.

Including what Dan said as well as what Sal said, too.

There is no benefit for any of us in using this incident to go on a crusade or a witch hunt.

It happened. We were blessed by God and good fortune, no one was hurt, and short of an ego, some pride, and some tires, (and maybe some underwear or a fire suit) no damage was done. Let's just all be glad we were so fortunate, and let it go at that.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

In the early 70's, you could go under the record(which was used to handicap) by a .1 before you broke out. But there was still plenty of braking going on. Impossible to enforce a 'no braking' policy.

It would be nice to 'legislate' some new rules, but I really don't see a workable 'rules' fix. The excessive braking rule is there, but rarely enforced.

IMHO

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

No comment on the cause of the mishap, it's up to each individual as to how close to the edge they want to be.

Otherwise, that was some excellent driving. I do have to wonder if the rear quarter panel wheel opening bottomed out on the right rear slick preventing a barrel roll while it was sideways.

Re: Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call
 

Glad it worked out for everyone involved. Too much, too late and too long...after the front tire breaks the beam it is pointless.