The Risks of Our Sport

SSDiv6 · 07-24-2017, 11:13 AM

Yesterday another racer lost his life at a bracket race.

I copied this well written Facebook posting, that says a lot and sharing it.

My Prayers and condolences for the family of the racer that lost his life.

--------------------------------------------

I hear that a racer was killed today in an unfortunate accident.

He didn't say goodbye to his family when he left for the track thinking it was the last time.

He didn't make sure his will was taken care of, and he didn't check to make sure his finances were in order. He, like the rest of us, walked out the door expecting to win. I know his name but won't reveal it.

A couple of weeks ago, a trans line burt on my car and got on the tire. I got lucky and even though it got up on 2 wheels at about 150 mph, i somehow managed to save it.

I did none of the things I mentioned because all I knew was, I was going to win.

This is a dangerous game we are all playing, especially with the speeds some of us are running today. None of us have a guarentee for tomorrow.

I'm sitting here, thinking of his family. The pain of an unexpected loss is the worst kind.

Please remember that when we jump in our land rockets, if something bad happens, it's not only us that suffers.

May God Bless his family and may he Rest in Peace. Far to many racers have left us, Don't want to hear of any more.

Julie Jordan · 07-24-2017, 11:55 AM

The risk of towing to the race track far exceeds the risk on the track.

EVERYONE should have some sort of estate and healthcare plan in place. Even those without substantial assets still have things to deal with such as guardianship for minor children and naming someone to assist with healthcare decisions if you are unable to do so.

I know of many racers with garages full of car parts. Most of their family members think it's all junk and would probably call a junk yard to pick things up. It would be wise to name a trusted racing/car friend to assist the family with sorting through these items and making sure it's not all just "junk".

Don't leave your family in the dark. In addition to having a trust/will and Durable Health Care I recommend keeping a binder to be used "in case of emergency". This binder should have a copy of your legal docs, as well as contact information for your attorney, accountant, insurance agent, etc. List your assets, along with applicable account numbers, so that your family doesn't have to search through every drawer in your desk. If you have a safe deposit box, list the bank information. If you have life insurance, include that information. Having all this in one place will assist your family immensely as they begin the arduous task of taking care of your financial affairs.

I've dealt with a lot of horrid estate issues because the decedent didn't take the time to plan. It's awful on families. Don't put your family through that, plan it all out and take the time to make things as easy as possible. The only thing we know for sure in life is that we will one day die.

HR9121 · 07-24-2017, 12:45 PM

Very good advice Mrs Jordan. We don't ever expect it to be us that this happens to but we shouldn't be so careless to put our loved ones in a bad situation if it is ever "us".

CMcAllister · 07-24-2017, 10:30 PM

Sad situation indeed. Based on the details, one would assume he had a medical issue that caused the accident. Still sorry to hear.

Adger Smith · 07-24-2017, 11:57 PM

Back in Sept of '99 on a Sat night at Cordova I had a "What If" conversation with then my Girlfriend & now wife about "What If I died racing". By Sunday at 1:30 I had died (& revived) in a racing accident and she was living the "What If" bad dream. At the end of a 9 second run my life, hers and my family's lives changed forever. Have your life right with God and every other aspect before going to races. You never know........

Michael Beard · 07-25-2017, 08:49 AM

There's a "racer's letter" everyone is sharing on Facebook, and it's a good read, but the words that Randy Biddle Jr. posted along with it is something that everyone needs to read. No amount of preparation guarantees safety, but not preparing as much as you should can be devastating to you, your family, and your literally thousands of friends in the racing community -- many of whom you may have never met in person! That's how tight the racing community is. If you're a racer, you're family. "Nothing ever happens until it does." I hope nothing ever does happen to anyone ever again. But if it does, please give yourself the best chance you can. To each and every one of you in the racing community: Take good care of yourself. We love you.

RBJ posted:
>> "This one hits home! I've done a lot of stupid **** in a race car like wore my belts too loose, raced in shorts, even wrecked my car when I knew it shouldn't have been going down the track that pass just to try and get 1 more win light and I've even said when I go out I want to go out doing what I love but after being at MIR yesterday and experiencing the sickening feeling in my stomach once they got down to the scene of the crash and didn't come over the PA saying the driver is ok that's the first time in my life I can honestly say I prolly wasn't getting back in a racecar yesterday even if they would of finished the race. I've never seen A track that quiet and the look on everyone's face as you drove through the pits is indescribable. I no longer want to go out like that and put that feeling on anyone.

We've all had close calls and just shook it off, or have seen a wreck and thought that won't happen to me but this ****s real and can happen to you. I know I'll be wearing all my safety stuff from here on out and doing better maintenance on my cars and I hope all my friends and family do too and don't just shake off what happened yesterday in the next couple weeks."

rognelson777 · 07-27-2017, 04:04 PM

Dehydration at the race track. After hearing the details of the accident, i thought it might be a possible cause for this accodent.
Think about it, extreme heat, A busy day racing , not getting hydrated, sometimes sitting in staging lanes for hours,. It was a dragster, so fire suit. I have seen the effects of bad dehydration, you can pass out and not even see it coming.
Had it happen to a friend at the vegas race, just slumped over in a chair and had to go to hospital for fluids.
Easy answer is, if you are not peeing, you are dehydrated, be careful

nickh · 07-27-2017, 04:42 PM

Great points, tomorrow here in Houston, heat index will be 117 degrees. Our training at work is if you are thirsty right now your already in 1st stages of heat stress! If you urine is dark yellow your in deep trouble.

My heart goes out to his partner and family members, only God knows what happened. We all take so many things for granted everyday.

Travis Miller · 07-27-2017, 06:42 PM

Another sign of over heating is when a normally calm individual becomes extremely irritable for no reason at all.

StickBBF · 07-27-2017, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rognelson777

Easy answer is, if you are not peeing, you are dehydrated, be careful

Agreed....and sweating is NOT the same as peeing!

I have instructed Heat Stress Management courses and I will add that 'are you peeing' means urinating at least every 3 hours you are awake.
The volume of urine isn't as important as the frequency you urinate.

Drink water or water-based electrolyte / mineral drinks. Stay away from caffeinated or drinks containing alcohol - as they will act as a diuretic and not keep you hydrated.

Be Safe out there in the Heat! - StickBBF

07-24-2017, 11:13 AM	#1
SSDiv6 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 3,044 Likes: 712 Liked 1,585 Times in 582 Posts	The Risks of Our Sport Yesterday another racer lost his life at a bracket race. I copied this well written Facebook posting, that says a lot and sharing it. My Prayers and condolences for the family of the racer that lost his life. -------------------------------------------- I hear that a racer was killed today in an unfortunate accident. He didn't say goodbye to his family when he left for the track thinking it was the last time. He didn't make sure his will was taken care of, and he didn't check to make sure his finances were in order. He, like the rest of us, walked out the door expecting to win. I know his name but won't reveal it. A couple of weeks ago, a trans line burt on my car and got on the tire. I got lucky and even though it got up on 2 wheels at about 150 mph, i somehow managed to save it. I did none of the things I mentioned because all I knew was, I was going to win. This is a dangerous game we are all playing, especially with the speeds some of us are running today. None of us have a guarentee for tomorrow. I'm sitting here, thinking of his family. The pain of an unexpected loss is the worst kind. Please remember that when we jump in our land rockets, if something bad happens, it's not only us that suffers. May God Bless his family and may he Rest in Peace. Far to many racers have left us, Don't want to hear of any more.

07-24-2017, 11:55 AM	#2
Julie Jordan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 639 Likes: 90 Liked 549 Times in 94 Posts	Re: The Risks of Our Sport The risk of towing to the race track far exceeds the risk on the track. EVERYONE should have some sort of estate and healthcare plan in place. Even those without substantial assets still have things to deal with such as guardianship for minor children and naming someone to assist with healthcare decisions if you are unable to do so. I know of many racers with garages full of car parts. Most of their family members think it's all junk and would probably call a junk yard to pick things up. It would be wise to name a trusted racing/car friend to assist the family with sorting through these items and making sure it's not all just "junk". Don't leave your family in the dark. In addition to having a trust/will and Durable Health Care I recommend keeping a binder to be used "in case of emergency". This binder should have a copy of your legal docs, as well as contact information for your attorney, accountant, insurance agent, etc. List your assets, along with applicable account numbers, so that your family doesn't have to search through every drawer in your desk. If you have a safe deposit box, list the bank information. If you have life insurance, include that information. Having all this in one place will assist your family immensely as they begin the arduous task of taking care of your financial affairs. I've dealt with a lot of horrid estate issues because the decedent didn't take the time to plan. It's awful on families. Don't put your family through that, plan it all out and take the time to make things as easy as possible. The only thing we know for sure in life is that we will one day die. __________________ Julie Jordan 7549 STK Last edited by Julie Jordan; 07-24-2017 at 02:18 PM.

07-24-2017, 12:45 PM	#3
HR9121 Live Reporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New Bern, NC Posts: 3,467 Likes: 146 Liked 3,363 Times in 731 Posts	Re: The Risks of Our Sport Very good advice Mrs Jordan. We don't ever expect it to be us that this happens to but we shouldn't be so careless to put our loved ones in a bad situation if it is ever "us". __________________ James Williamson W200 J/SA. SS/JA

07-24-2017, 10:30 PM	#4
CMcAllister Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fulton County, PA Posts: 615 Likes: 17 Liked 920 Times in 259 Posts	Re: The Risks of Our Sport Sad situation indeed. Based on the details, one would assume he had a medical issue that caused the accident. Still sorry to hear.

07-24-2017, 11:57 PM	#5
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	Re: The Risks of Our Sport Back in Sept of '99 on a Sat night at Cordova I had a "What If" conversation with then my Girlfriend & now wife about "What If I died racing". By Sunday at 1:30 I had died (& revived) in a racing accident and she was living the "What If" bad dream. At the end of a 9 second run my life, hers and my family's lives changed forever. Have your life right with God and every other aspect before going to races. You never know........ __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)

07-25-2017, 08:49 AM	#6
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: The Risks of Our Sport There's a "racer's letter" everyone is sharing on Facebook, and it's a good read, but the words that Randy Biddle Jr. posted along with it is something that everyone needs to read. No amount of preparation guarantees safety, but not preparing as much as you should can be devastating to you, your family, and your literally thousands of friends in the racing community -- many of whom you may have never met in person! That's how tight the racing community is. If you're a racer, you're family. "Nothing ever happens until it does." I hope nothing ever does happen to anyone ever again. But if it does, please give yourself the best chance you can. To each and every one of you in the racing community: Take good care of yourself. We love you. RBJ posted: >> "This one hits home! I've done a lot of stupid ** in a race car like wore my belts too loose, raced in shorts, even wrecked my car when I knew it shouldn't have been going down the track that pass just to try and get 1 more win light and I've even said when I go out I want to go out doing what I love but after being at MIR yesterday and experiencing the sickening feeling in my stomach once they got down to the scene of the crash and didn't come over the PA saying the driver is ok that's the first time in my life I can honestly say I prolly wasn't getting back in a racecar yesterday even if they would of finished the race. I've never seen A track that quiet and the look on everyone's face as you drove through the pits is indescribable. I no longer want to go out like that and put that feeling on anyone. We've all had close calls and just shook it off, or have seen a wreck and thought that won't happen to me but this **s real and can happen to you. I know I'll be wearing all my safety stuff from here on out and doing better maintenance on my cars and I hope all my friends and family do too and don't just shake off what happened yesterday in the next couple weeks." __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

07-27-2017, 04:04 PM	#7
rognelson777 Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 376 Likes: 20 Liked 135 Times in 74 Posts	Re: The Risks of Our Sport Dehydration at the race track. After hearing the details of the accident, i thought it might be a possible cause for this accodent. Think about it, extreme heat, A busy day racing , not getting hydrated, sometimes sitting in staging lanes for hours,. It was a dragster, so fire suit. I have seen the effects of bad dehydration, you can pass out and not even see it coming. Had it happen to a friend at the vegas race, just slumped over in a chair and had to go to hospital for fluids. Easy answer is, if you are not peeing, you are dehydrated, be careful

07-27-2017, 04:42 PM	#8
nickh Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 824 Likes: 3,578 Liked 648 Times in 193 Posts	Re: The Risks of Our Sport Great points, tomorrow here in Houston, heat index will be 117 degrees. Our training at work is if you are thirsty right now your already in 1st stages of heat stress! If you urine is dark yellow your in deep trouble. My heart goes out to his partner and family members, only God knows what happened. We all take so many things for granted everyday.

07-27-2017, 06:42 PM	#9
Travis Miller Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 478 Likes: 1 Liked 276 Times in 27 Posts	Re: The Risks of Our Sport Another sign of over heating is when a normally calm individual becomes extremely irritable for no reason at all.