Bad News from Fontana today

Chuck Norton · 08-08-2009, 07:30 PM

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lano...-accident.html

Reportedly a case of trans brake testing without jack stands!!

c

FED 387 · 08-08-2009, 07:53 PM

So sorry to hear about this BUT NHRA has rules just to eliminate this situation---My condolences go out to the family------- BUT Hopefully everyone has learned a horrible lesson !!!!!! again not being a smart *** but RACERS THINK before you do something-----Comp 387

Mike Brogniez · 08-08-2009, 08:53 PM

Safety has to be everybody's responsibility. Still there are fsometimes individuals not following this important safety rules and taking chances by quickly.... checking or adjusting whatever...under their cars without using stands.
Loss of life is a high price to pay for not following safety rules......

Jim Bailey · 08-08-2009, 09:09 PM

So....The Next Time someone "tests" their two step button behind me in the staging lanes, and I knock 'em out, NHRA/IHRA and everybody's gonna understand? Pay attention Scotty Stillings.

Steve Williams · 08-08-2009, 09:58 PM

So sad. I have heard about this situation happening before and was at Central Michigan one year when it happened. Luckily that didn't result in a fatality. Take the time to think about what you are about to do. My condolences to his family and friends.

Steve

RJ · 08-09-2009, 09:27 AM

Terrible news, I knew Ronnie from the Service Center Downey days, condolences to all of his family and friends.

Michael Beard · 08-09-2009, 09:59 AM

From the new article, how did it hit a trailer at over 100mph?

Regardless, a very sad thing for all involved.

Floyd Staggs · 08-09-2009, 10:38 AM

They say he was on the transbrake and the throttle hung. One guy at the track said he thought he was knocked out when the button slipped, but another said he steered it through 3 pits before he hit the trailer.
Never the less, it was an unfortunate, tragic accident that could have been prevented.
God Speed, Ronnie. Your now with your brother Randy.

Hokes Racing · 08-09-2009, 12:23 PM

We were testing our transbrake at the track this weekend had it on the stand had the motor up and all at once the power shut off vibrated off and everything went dead but with the motor at 4000 the wheels turned quite a few time’s be for the driver got on the brakes to stop them. If we were like some that I have seen and did this in the lanes or in the pits without stands someone would have got hurt.

Michael Pliska · 08-09-2009, 12:46 PM

Damn, what a shame. I remember Ronnie when I used to race down there, but never knew him. RIP.

As I was building my Super-Gas car I remember being at a points race, where Johnny Gross (who had an immaculate early Corvette in S/ST) testing his converter stall speed just before loading it in the trailer. His finger slipped off the button and he rammed right into the rear of the trailer. I made up my mind right then to NEVER test my stall without being on jack stands. I'll test what I can hold on a foot-brake between the burnout box and the line (as I'm pulling up for a pass), since I can't get the same effect of the brakes when on jackstands, but if I can't hold it then I just get a really bad red light.

Regards,

08-08-2009, 07:30 PM	#1
Chuck Norton Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Covina, CA Posts: 474 Likes: 106 Liked 89 Times in 19 Posts	Bad News from Fontana today http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lano...-accident.html Reportedly a case of trans brake testing without jack stands!! c

08-08-2009, 07:53 PM	#2
FED 387 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,419 Likes: 528 Liked 332 Times in 180 Posts	Re: Bad News from Fontana today So sorry to hear about this BUT NHRA has rules just to eliminate this situation---My condolences go out to the family------- BUT Hopefully everyone has learned a horrible lesson !!!!!! again not being a smart *** but RACERS THINK before you do something-----Comp 387

08-08-2009, 08:53 PM	#3
Mike Brogniez Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Montreal Posts: 476 Likes: 7 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Bad News from Fontana today Safety has to be everybody's responsibility. Still there are fsometimes individuals not following this important safety rules and taking chances by quickly.... checking or adjusting whatever...under their cars without using stands. Loss of life is a high price to pay for not following safety rules......

08-08-2009, 09:09 PM	#4
Jim Bailey Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 674 Likes: 15 Liked 584 Times in 94 Posts	Re: Bad News from Fontana today So....The Next Time someone "tests" their two step button behind me in the staging lanes, and I knock 'em out, NHRA/IHRA and everybody's gonna understand? Pay attention Scotty Stillings.

08-08-2009, 09:58 PM	#5
Steve Williams Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 352 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Bad News from Fontana today So sad. I have heard about this situation happening before and was at Central Michigan one year when it happened. Luckily that didn't result in a fatality. Take the time to think about what you are about to do. My condolences to his family and friends. Steve

08-09-2009, 09:27 AM	#6
RJ Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 248 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Bad News from Fontana today Terrible news, I knew Ronnie from the Service Center Downey days, condolences to all of his family and friends.

08-09-2009, 09:59 AM	#7
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Bad News from Fontana today From the new article, how did it hit a trailer at over 100mph? Regardless, a very sad thing for all involved. __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

08-09-2009, 10:38 AM	#8
Floyd Staggs VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cucamonga, CA Posts: 1,522 Likes: 152 Liked 229 Times in 99 Posts	Re: Bad News from Fontana today They say he was on the transbrake and the throttle hung. One guy at the track said he thought he was knocked out when the button slipped, but another said he steered it through 3 pits before he hit the trailer. Never the less, it was an unfortunate, tragic accident that could have been prevented. God Speed, Ronnie. Your now with your brother Randy. __________________ Floyd Staggs 787 SST

08-09-2009, 12:23 PM	#9
Hokes Racing Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 32 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Bad News from Fontana today We were testing our transbrake at the track this weekend had it on the stand had the motor up and all at once the power shut off vibrated off and everything went dead but with the motor at 4000 the wheels turned quite a few time’s be for the driver got on the brakes to stop them. If we were like some that I have seen and did this in the lanes or in the pits without stands someone would have got hurt.

08-09-2009, 12:46 PM	#10
Michael Pliska Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Happy Valley, OR Posts: 260 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Bad News from Fontana today Damn, what a shame. I remember Ronnie when I used to race down there, but never knew him. RIP. As I was building my Super-Gas car I remember being at a points race, where Johnny Gross (who had an immaculate early Corvette in S/ST) testing his converter stall speed just before loading it in the trailer. His finger slipped off the button and he rammed right into the rear of the trailer. I made up my mind right then to NEVER test my stall without being on jack stands. I'll test what I can hold on a foot-brake between the burnout box and the line (as I'm pulling up for a pass), since I can't get the same effect of the brakes when on jackstands, but if I can't hold it then I just get a really bad red light. Regards, __________________ Michael Pliska 643 S/G