think he was medivac'd out because they didnt have an EMT or ambulance at the track on duty. from what i understand Phoenix city where this wreck happen, this is pretty common to not have an EMT or ambulance
So You Want To Race Without A Roll Cage??
- Thread starter 84Ttop
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This pic is crazy... dude is still in the car. Luck was on his side.
And you have Larry Dixon's crash...
Now lets compare the two... One of them, the guy had to take a helicopter ride to the hospital, the other, was doing a press interview before he even went to the hospital.
I wish some people would get with it. It isnt worth the risk to blast a pass with no cage. The interview i saw with Dixon has me seriously contemplating a hans device, he went for a RIDE and not a scratch. I know if i used a hans device, there would be some knucklehead at the track telling me i dont need it, and the comments would be even worse if i had a chute on a car that traps 140mph instead of 150mph where it is required. I will never understand the mentality of the guys who think that being safe is somehow being a
or something.
And you have Larry Dixon's crash...
Now lets compare the two... One of them, the guy had to take a helicopter ride to the hospital, the other, was doing a press interview before he even went to the hospital.
I wish some people would get with it. It isnt worth the risk to blast a pass with no cage. The interview i saw with Dixon has me seriously contemplating a hans device, he went for a RIDE and not a scratch. I know if i used a hans device, there would be some knucklehead at the track telling me i dont need it, and the comments would be even worse if i had a chute on a car that traps 140mph instead of 150mph where it is required. I will never understand the mentality of the guys who think that being safe is somehow being a
or something.
Detroiit
Active Member
I know that when I go to my drag strip on grudge night / no et racing they will let 7 sec cars race with no chutes or sissy bars.. Or even a cage for that matter!
mikestang63
SN Certified Technician
1. I pray the guy lives and recovers
2. He is a complete idiot for not having the proper safety equipment- roll cage, safety harness, belts, etc.
3. IMO the track is liable and should be sued. I cannot see how any track would let a car that is capable of 9 second passes go down the track like that. Every track I've raced at does a thorough tech inspection- hell I was flagged once becuase my belts were 2 months expired. Unless there are huge disclaimers posted or the driver signed away his rights. They have a responsiblity to ensure the safety of the participants.
Overall a bad situation for sure.
2. He is a complete idiot for not having the proper safety equipment- roll cage, safety harness, belts, etc.
3. IMO the track is liable and should be sued. I cannot see how any track would let a car that is capable of 9 second passes go down the track like that. Every track I've raced at does a thorough tech inspection- hell I was flagged once becuase my belts were 2 months expired. Unless there are huge disclaimers posted or the driver signed away his rights. They have a responsiblity to ensure the safety of the participants.
Overall a bad situation for sure.
Detroiit
Active Member
ya and all the safety protocols go out the window on grudge nite.. at least in my town. I pay for my number and thats it.. no one climbs underneath or even looks into my car.. and my bro in law ran a 9 sec pass flat then turned up the juice and ran a 200 ft wheelie and smashed his whole passenger side and almost landed on his driver side and again the "tech" was a card filled out on grudge night with no"tech" at all.!
Detroiit
Active Member
here is the vid of my bro in law getting stupid with his "no lift" antics.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLRowU9C2lQ&list=UUxRnyF84a0v9eyo1LSzcXQA
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLRowU9C2lQ&list=UUxRnyF84a0v9eyo1LSzcXQA
Talked w/ my friend tonight that knows more about Phoenix City. They actually have a "no cage, street car" class that encourages this kind of stuff. He said that after this incident, (and after their ins carrier get's to look at the pics) there will likely be no more wadded up hotdogs in a sheet metal bun like dude above.
Shoomakan
Member
I'll only have ~300hp, but I installed the rollcage before the engine. Car was off to paint anyhow.
I'll really never understand people. Your health is infinitely more important as well as infinitely more expensive. What's a grand or two on a rollcage and some safety equipment?
I can't imagine leaving my wife all alone for the rest of her life simply because I decided that I wasn't going to install a cage on my fun car.
Hope that driver is ok, and I truly hope he looks at the sport with a different attitude now. Not everyone gets second chances.
I'll really never understand people. Your health is infinitely more important as well as infinitely more expensive. What's a grand or two on a rollcage and some safety equipment?
I can't imagine leaving my wife all alone for the rest of her life simply because I decided that I wasn't going to install a cage on my fun car.
Hope that driver is ok, and I truly hope he looks at the sport with a different attitude now. Not everyone gets second chances.
While I'm a firm believer in roll cages and chutes, I can't get down with the wheelie bar thing... The classes that we race in don't allow them at all. While my car has seen the bumper in testing, it only took a few small adjustments to get the car to 60' while leaving with just an inch or less under the front end. I say if you have a wheelie problem then fix it (and it absolutely can be fixed) but have the cage and other associated gear at the very least
From what i read the guy is OK, no major injuries.
How should a track be liable? This kind of mentality is crazy in my opinion, and the reason the cost of racing(and life in general), is so high. Every time some dumbass makes a mistake the blame is shifted to someone else that should have known better for the greater good of mankind. What is to stop a guy from going to the track and telling tech that his car runs 11's or 12's, and then going out and blasting a 8 or 9 second pass and wadding his car up... Is that the tracks fault? It is impossible to weed those guys out. Should they have an expert on hand to tell how fast the cars are or hook you up to a polygraph machine to make sure you are telling the truth?
It would be nice if people took personal responsibility for their own actions instead of calling up a blood sucking lawyer and saying "you are never going to believe what this racetrack let me do under my own free will when i knew the risks involved!"
One of the guys in the 2015 section was there when the accident happened actually. He said that the guy had two broken legs at the very least. The part that bothers me is that from what I understand now is the track had a no cage/grudge event that day and actually encouraged this type of tomfoolery. I'm a firm believer that you lay in the grave you make and this idiot is totally at fault for his own actions but if the track encouraged this type of activity they could share some fault here at least legally.
would you rather people do this stuff on street where they can hurt more than just themselves and maybe the 1 guy racing them? Cause chances are that's were he woulda been had it not been a "grudge night".
I would rather them not do this at all (That ultimately isn't up to me and has to rest on their shoulders)... I certainly don't advocate for street racing, that takes irresponsibility and foolishness to a whole new level. While I do street drive my fox, I absolutely wouldn't consider racing it on the street and frankly this isn't what my post was even about. Bottom line is the track shouldn't advocate racing cars that they know do not meet any sort of safety standard. This in my mind is no different than someone promoting a no helmet, shorts and t shirt Street Bike shoot out. Sure in that case the operator would be ultimately at fault for their own injury but the promoter would be at fault to some extent for the encouragement and reward of such ridiculous behavior
I believe this all falls under the category of Social Darwinism. Those of us with any sense will take the necessary precautions to ensure our safety. Those without will learn the hard way. I only hope that they have enough sense to blame themselves and not try and put it on someone else.
7upstang91
10 Year Member
Sad to see this post.
Agreed, cages need to be installed.
However, I have the greatest fear of getting into an accident on the street (Not wearing a helmet) and killing myself due to smacking my head against the roll cage.
My car will be getting a 6-point. However, the 10 point scares me even more. To me, it's like picking the lessor of the two evils. Really not something I want to do. I struggle going back and forth on 6 point and 10 point.
Agreed, cages need to be installed.
However, I have the greatest fear of getting into an accident on the street (Not wearing a helmet) and killing myself due to smacking my head against the roll cage.
My car will be getting a 6-point. However, the 10 point scares me even more. To me, it's like picking the lessor of the two evils. Really not something I want to do. I struggle going back and forth on 6 point and 10 point.
A properly designed/installed cage with a properly restrained driver is the key when street driving a car with a cage. If you get some universal roll cage kit you will have much different results than a custom built cage designed to fit you. While wearing my seat belt there isn't a single bar that could hit my head. My arm, sure the bar is right there but the main hoop and halo are far enough away from my head that I am less than concerned about driving on the street with it.
The exception to that would be 25.5, 25.3 etc, the funny car cage can be very dangerous on the street
7upstang91
10 Year Member
I feel that my convertible seems smaller inside than my coupe. But I will have Tigvision do the whole cage. Of course the proper seats and seat belts are a must. Glad you feel comfortable, that makes me feel a whole lot better. But still, I'm only good to 10.0s. I'd be better off buying amother coupe.
If we are playing a game of would you rather, then yes, id rather see him do it on the street where some jackass lawyer won't see it as an opportunity to attack a dragstrip and keep driving insurance costs thru the roof.
@84Ttop I agree with what you are saying about this track, it shouldn't be promoted. My comment is more directed at the people who think a lawsuit is necessary if someone lies to tech and sneaks a fast pass and wads up the car. There are at least 5 guys i see every time at the track who know the car is going to go over 135mph and have no intention of putting a cage in the car.
Yeah, but most tracks run those guys off once they run the fast time. This track, spelled P-H-E-N-I-X City, btw, doesn't. They couldn't care less, have a lackadaisical attitude toward safety in general, from my personal experience.
