Funny car wreck in Tn. - Page 3

Mike Mayhew · 06-22-2007, 08:55 AM

Hey Dean,
I knew what ya meant.

I think your point got across too.
Thinking about Art's post, my mind wondered to some of my street racing days as a teenager. We would launch and run on a deserted street late on a Sat. night, with dozens of people lining the road just as in this deal. Just a stroke of luck no one was killed. Half *** tires on the cars. The money went in to the motor. Nothing was really safe. Even raced a cop in his personal car one night.
So many things we do could go wrong, and ...some... we know better.
I tow 53' trailer behind a P/U and average about 75+ MPH most the time. I get passed frequently by other racers going 80+. A tire blows out at the wrong time, I crash into a carload of illegals, and the heading is.... Speeding Dragracer barreling to race kills hardworking migrant workers

On Fox news they had a several minute segment on this tragedy ( pro-mod..not the migrants ) and it was very fair. The >>experts, said drag racing is NOT an extreme sport when that was brought up. This guy said drag racing is very legitimate, and this was just an unfortunate accident. Talked about this was done for charity etc. This guy wasn't from any sanctioning body, but he did dragracing a service and I've noticed dragracing has for the most part NOT been bashed over this. I think the public is smarter than we give them credit for sometimes.

Guess I'll see ya up north in a month or so Dean.
Art.....get that bad boy ready and lets go to Mi.

Myron Piatek · 06-22-2007, 11:53 AM

Well, it was 11pm, I shut my computer down, was just about to turn the TV off and hit the sack when the local news started talking about kids "drag racing" in an Orlando, FL subdivision, hitting a van, killing 2 and injuring several others! While a few people did say "street" racing, the majority of the references was "drag" racing.

Well, that pissed me off! I doubt it will do any good, but I got back on the computer and emailed them about when are they going to learn how to accurately report news! I was restraining myself and kept it short because I work early. If nothing else, it made me feel better.

But I did have a thought! May not be practical, but a thought nonetheless:

A class action lawsuit against any media that reports "street racing" as "drag racing" because it slanders a legitimate sport, may actually encourage people to shut down local "drag" strips (which can actually reduce the "street" racing problem}, potentially costing participants and the race tracks money because the media continually associates "drag" racing with illegal activities, death and destruction, thus turning away potential sponsors because they are afraid to be associated with "that"....there's probably more, but you get the point.

Hope this wasn't too far off topic. But in the overall picture, drag racing doesn't need any more bad publicity, especially if it's inaccurate and after this Pro Mod incident.

Locomotion Racing
http://www.geocities.com/locomotionracing

Bruce Fulper · 06-22-2007, 12:26 PM

I know here in Ca. there has been an effort to enlighten the local TV reporters to the difference. It takes constant reminding and I have seen a change. The majority of the time they'll refer to street accidents as just that, street racing and I've even heard one of the guys correct himself during the braodcast. It does take someone letting these people know. Don't expect someone else to inform them. Do what Myron did at least. Be nice about it too.

Sometimes the best substitute for brains is silence.

Todd Bailey · 06-22-2007, 12:35 PM

Myron,

Here in Houston, the Chronicle would title it Drag Racing instead of Street Racing. After several e-mails to the paper, including the reference to Houston Raceway Park having a Friday session for the street racers, they printed my response in the editorial section and since then have refrained from including the term Drag Racing while writing stories about a fatal street race. Maybe someone up there got the point.

Todd

Myron Piatek · 06-22-2007, 02:51 PM

Thanks. At least there is progress somewhere. But I have emailed them (WESH Channel 2) as well as the local paper in past years and it obviously hasn't changed yet. But we have to keep trying!

Locomotion Racing
http://www.geocities.com/locomotionracing

Jack McCarthy · 06-22-2007, 02:56 PM

saw on the news that california has new approach to stop street racing... they are confiscating cars and crushing them !!! that should get a few racers off the street

... bruce dont get caught

as far as the tennessee idiot i wouldnt have done a burnout in my 14 second wagon with throngs of spectators nearby... and it has brakes !

jack

motorhead · 06-22-2007, 04:27 PM

I have been reading and formulating a reply trying not to sound ignorant and hatefull. I feel terrible for the families and The guy driving. IMHO the blame lies with the promotors and whomever allowed people to stand right on the curb on the side and infront of such a powerfull and volitile car. Something could have gone wrong with the car, throttle maybe, clutch pedal could have stuck not allowing him to get out of it. Most of us know that when you get off the throttle on these blown alcohol motors, you don't really get off of it. Maybe his foot slipped out of the pedal. Tons of things could have happend that a guardrail could have kept in check. This is not a drag racing accident it is an exhibition accident that has happend many time over the years and this is why these cars are relegated to the track.

We are all of the same opinion. Support our fellow racer in his recovery and return to the track and prayers for the families that have lost a loved one. This was a horrible day for motorsports in general.

Just gooes to show that no matter how well you know your car, or how much experience you may have that even the slowest of drag cars are unpredictable and dangerous in the wrong situation.

Sorry for the run on sentances..

Dustin Chase 470 L/AA

Tom P · 06-22-2007, 06:56 PM

I'm sure it could have been prevented but even if you took away everything fun accidents will still happen. It's a terrible blow for drag racing even though it wasn't at the track.

The media generally has a terrible time with correctly naming or describing anything to do with cars. I first heard "Parade" which made me think of my own 'tragedy'. It was 40 years and a month ago when a downtown parade included cars and banners for a new local drag strip and somebody thoughtlessly let the marching bands and trailered cars get up the block and let a dragster do a dangerous burnout (they actually launched like that back then) and pull the chute in front of an impressionable little tyke. It ruined his life. He spends all his money on cars and races and visits drag racing websites even now!

06-22-2007, 11:53 AM	#22
Myron Piatek VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 1,542 Likes: 34 Liked 138 Times in 51 Posts	Well, it was 11pm, I shut my computer down, was just about to turn the TV off and hit the sack when the local news started talking about kids "drag racing" in an Orlando, FL subdivision, hitting a van, killing 2 and injuring several others! While a few people did say "street" racing, the majority of the references was "drag" racing. Well, that pissed me off! I doubt it will do any good, but I got back on the computer and emailed them about when are they going to learn how to accurately report news! I was restraining myself and kept it short because I work early. If nothing else, it made me feel better. But I did have a thought! May not be practical, but a thought nonetheless: A class action lawsuit against any media that reports "street racing" as "drag racing" because it slanders a legitimate sport, may actually encourage people to shut down local "drag" strips (which can actually reduce the "street" racing problem}, potentially costing participants and the race tracks money because the media continually associates "drag" racing with illegal activities, death and destruction, thus turning away potential sponsors because they are afraid to be associated with "that"....there's probably more, but you get the point. Hope this wasn't too far off topic. But in the overall picture, drag racing doesn't need any more bad publicity, especially if it's inaccurate and after this Pro Mod incident. Locomotion Racing http://www.geocities.com/locomotionracing __________________ LOCOMOTION Racing

06-22-2007, 02:51 PM	#25
Myron Piatek VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 1,542 Likes: 34 Liked 138 Times in 51 Posts	Thanks. At least there is progress somewhere. But I have emailed them (WESH Channel 2) as well as the local paper in past years and it obviously hasn't changed yet. But we have to keep trying! Locomotion Racing http://www.geocities.com/locomotionracing __________________ LOCOMOTION Racing

06-22-2007, 02:56 PM	#26
Jack McCarthy VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: lyndon ky. ... louisville area Posts: 1,322 Likes: 29 Liked 476 Times in 117 Posts	saw on the news that california has new approach to stop street racing... they are confiscating cars and crushing them !!! that should get a few racers off the street ... bruce dont get caught as far as the tennessee idiot i wouldnt have done a burnout in my 14 second wagon with throngs of spectators nearby... and it has brakes ! jack __________________ Jack McCarthy 3609 STK "the Captain"

06-22-2007, 08:55 AM	#21
Mike Mayhew Banned Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Savannah Ga. Posts: 124 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hey Dean, I knew what ya meant. I think your point got across too. Thinking about Art's post, my mind wondered to some of my street racing days as a teenager. We would launch and run on a deserted street late on a Sat. night, with dozens of people lining the road just as in this deal. Just a stroke of luck no one was killed. Half *** tires on the cars. The money went in to the motor. Nothing was really safe. Even raced a cop in his personal car one night. So many things we do could go wrong, and ...some... we know better. I tow 53' trailer behind a P/U and average about 75+ MPH most the time. I get passed frequently by other racers going 80+. A tire blows out at the wrong time, I crash into a carload of illegals, and the heading is.... Speeding Dragracer barreling to race kills hardworking migrant workers On Fox news they had a several minute segment on this tragedy ( pro-mod..not the migrants ) and it was very fair. The >>experts, said drag racing is NOT an extreme sport when that was brought up. This guy said drag racing is very legitimate, and this was just an unfortunate accident. Talked about this was done for charity etc. This guy wasn't from any sanctioning body, but he did dragracing a service and I've noticed dragracing has for the most part NOT been bashed over this. I think the public is smarter than we give them credit for sometimes. Guess I'll see ya up north in a month or so Dean. Art.....get that bad boy ready and lets go to Mi.

06-22-2007, 12:26 PM	#23
Bruce Fulper Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 651 Likes: 4 Liked 54 Times in 33 Posts	I know here in Ca. there has been an effort to enlighten the local TV reporters to the difference. It takes constant reminding and I have seen a change. The majority of the time they'll refer to street accidents as just that, street racing and I've even heard one of the guys correct himself during the braodcast. It does take someone letting these people know. Don't expect someone else to inform them. Do what Myron did at least. Be nice about it too. Sometimes the best substitute for brains is silence.

06-22-2007, 12:35 PM	#24
Todd Bailey Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houston Posts: 312 Likes: 30 Liked 33 Times in 17 Posts	Myron, Here in Houston, the Chronicle would title it Drag Racing instead of Street Racing. After several e-mails to the paper, including the reference to Houston Raceway Park having a Friday session for the street racers, they printed my response in the editorial section and since then have refrained from including the term Drag Racing while writing stories about a fatal street race. Maybe someone up there got the point. Todd

06-22-2007, 04:27 PM	#27
motorhead Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pampa TX Posts: 15 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have been reading and formulating a reply trying not to sound ignorant and hatefull. I feel terrible for the families and The guy driving. IMHO the blame lies with the promotors and whomever allowed people to stand right on the curb on the side and infront of such a powerfull and volitile car. Something could have gone wrong with the car, throttle maybe, clutch pedal could have stuck not allowing him to get out of it. Most of us know that when you get off the throttle on these blown alcohol motors, you don't really get off of it. Maybe his foot slipped out of the pedal. Tons of things could have happend that a guardrail could have kept in check. This is not a drag racing accident it is an exhibition accident that has happend many time over the years and this is why these cars are relegated to the track. We are all of the same opinion. Support our fellow racer in his recovery and return to the track and prayers for the families that have lost a loved one. This was a horrible day for motorsports in general. Just gooes to show that no matter how well you know your car, or how much experience you may have that even the slowest of drag cars are unpredictable and dangerous in the wrong situation. Sorry for the run on sentances.. Dustin Chase 470 L/AA

06-22-2007, 06:56 PM	#28
Tom P Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 707 Likes: 30 Liked 239 Times in 94 Posts	I'm sure it could have been prevented but even if you took away everything fun accidents will still happen. It's a terrible blow for drag racing even though it wasn't at the track. The media generally has a terrible time with correctly naming or describing anything to do with cars. I first heard "Parade" which made me think of my own 'tragedy'. It was 40 years and a month ago when a downtown parade included cars and banners for a new local drag strip and somebody thoughtlessly let the marching bands and trailered cars get up the block and let a dragster do a dangerous burnout (they actually launched like that back then) and pull the chute in front of an impressionable little tyke. It ruined his life. He spends all his money on cars and races and visits drag racing websites even now!