The Risks of Our Sport

[CMcAllister]

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]

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]

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."

[Greg Reimer 7376]

Michael Beard, Adger Smith, and Juie Jordan were spot on with all their comments. You just never know what might happen. It's the thing you didn't think about or even know about that could get you. Safety equiment is there for a reason. Build your car with the General Regulations pages of the rule book right on top of your toolbox. Go by the book. Tech people can see when a racer builds something with every effort directed toward compliance.They like that. Adger hit on the concept of living right. Good idea. Getting out of bed can test that concept as well. Julie was right on about the tow to the track being more scary than the actual racing. The way these screaming third world maniacs drive down here is enough to scare a Blue Angels pilot. Not fun when towing. Make sure your trailer brakes work, your lights work, your tires are all good, your hitch is installed right and works, and all is well.
Sunday, at Irwindale, I got to the finish line and a front tire blew out right in the lights. The car stayed straight, I got off the track, even drove it to my pit space on a flat front tire. I knew it was junk anyway, so I didn't worry about it. I put a spare stock tire and wheel on the car and just made it for the next round. The tread on both front tires was worn thin in the middle of the tire,but this tire had a flat spot I never really noticed, and that's where it blew out. Some front tires are only two ply nylon, and not too strong, and prior to the race I aired it up to 35 PSI. That was a contributing factor,as well. Believe me, good front tires are as important as good rears. They get a good thrashing at the end of the track as well. Keeping an eye on maintenance items is essential,as well.
It's always sad to lose good racer friends due to natural causes, after all,nobody gets out of this planet alive, but preventing fatal accidents is a good way to increase the odds of being able to come back and race again.Isn't that all our goals, anyway?

[Ed Fernandez]

Nobody mentioned a very important point. You can have all the safety equipment available and still be at great risk. That risk is your health. Some racers are out there with health problems that can affect their ability to control their cars. Whether it's being on medications or the lack of being on or taking them it doesn't take much to not be in control of their car. Before safety equipment it's every bodies responsibility to be in the best physical and mental condition. Not only are you in danger but the person in the other lane is at risk.
Just some observations from an old retired coot.

[Rick Bailey]

Maybe its time to reconsider "required physicals " .... Not saying this was the case in Tommy"s deal sunday but who knows. It was also suggested that maybe he suffered heat exhaustion and passed out, we all know that this past weekend the temps across the nation was terrible . Hence Div 3 calling the div race at St.Louis .

May Tommy Rest In Peace !