Spectator killed at NC drag strip

[chris3racing]

Don't know if everyone saw the news last night. A spectator was killed and others injured at Harrells Dragway, at Harrells, NC, yesterday.

[Steve Williams]

No ambulance at the track. Engine hit a group of spectators.

[mcink]

http://www.wwaytv3.com/only_3_specta...aceway/05/2010

[Harry 6674]

No ambulance and evidently no tech inspection. What was it,some cow pasture independant track?

[John Leichtamer Jr]

I have looked at a few S/C dragsters and the front mounts seem to held down with hose clamps. Is this the norm for that type of car?

Hammer

[John Kelley]

Apparently the track is not sanctioned at all. The race was an Outlaw event.......

http://www.harrellsraceway.net/

[Jeff Lee]

Originally Posted by John Leichtamer Jr

I have looked at a few S/C dragsters and the front mounts seem to held down with hose clamps. Is this the norm for that type of car?

Hammer

I've seen that and can't believe it is allowed. The mounts are half tubes secred to a full round tube on the chassis with radiator hose clamps of the appropriate size. Although I'm not an engineer, that's a simple worm gear and not designed for the vibration or stress.
I understand the mounting system but some sort of billet blocks bolted together with safety wire (like a fire extinguisher mount to a roll bar) would seem economical and appropriate.
Sorry to see somebody lost their life to such.

[The Hawk]

By legal NHRA tech,the clamps are supposed to be aircraft style/regulated clamps,not Pep Boys style hose clamps. When I drove an early model rear engined car,my car owner was called on the clamps and had to change them.

[Marc Kinton]

1st of all, I am Very sorry for the families involved, the track and the racer. you are All in my prayers.

Secondly, there was a thread here a little while back wondering why even bother getting sanctioned as a track operator. THIS is why, to have rules to abide by and trained tech officials and mandated Ambulances and mandatory SFI Safety training, and well I could go on.

If you race at an outlaw track, please please please try to get them sanctioned and have some safety there.

[wupracing]

Originally Posted by Marc Kinton

1st of all, I am Very sorry for the families involved, the track and the racer. you are All in my prayers.

Secondly, there was a thread here a little while back wondering why even bother getting sanctioned as a track operator. THIS is why, to have rules to abide by and trained tech officials and mandated Ambulances and mandatory SFI Safety training, and well I could go on.

If you race at an outlaw track, please please please try to get them sanctioned and have some safety there.

The sanctioned track I have been to for Bracket racing has never check are car.At most all you do is go pay and sign the tech card.Don't even have to take the car for them to look at.
This is at Dunn-Benson,Fayetteville,Rockingham even Darlington all are IHRA tracks.


The car that wreck at Harrells was a Corvette P/M car.
Also was his first time running as fast as he did.It was said on another Talk board that he ran his career best ET at that race to.