Posted on 10/24/2021 5:08:05 PM PDT by SaxxonWoods
Two children were killed and several other people were seriously injured after a drag racer lost control and plowed into spectators at an event in Texas.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Wow. That is heartbreaking. :(
Prayers up for all affected by this.
I’ve never been a fan of the front row area at car races
for just this reason.
Some of the races they are going very fast, and the fences
there are not something I’d like to risk my life on them
working.
Sorry this took place. Sad...
Reports out there that crash was past the finish line, beyond the barriers
Prayers up.
Drag racers are impossible to control. They are up to 6000 horsepower with 6000 pounds of torque. They put the fuel tank up front to add weight. They burn 10 gallons a minute. The top engines burn methanol because it burns a little cooler and thus less likely to blow the engines. One loose or weak bolt anywhere in the engine mount or chassis and the engine will either tear off or turn the car over.
Reminds me of why people go to watch Hockey matches, too.
“I went to a fight once and a hockey game broke out!”
I grew up in a town where Drag Races and racing ‘Midgets’ (carts bigger than Go-Carts, but with a roll cage) were all the rage. Don’t remember any drag race fatalities, but there were many with the midget racing - those things could easily flip and MANY ended up going through the fencing and into the stands.
Not sure if ‘Midgets’ is just a Midwestern thing; I don’t remember the guys I knew from school traveling any further than MI or IL or IN to race.
i grew up in the pits of professional drag strips (we ran aa/fc; local track: NE Speedway, Epping NH) and saw plenty of accidents. VERY few ever resulted in fans getting hurt (i can’t remember one).
that being said... those were professional tracks with guard rails, a good distance from the fans, and professional fire / medical personnel were always on scene.
this looks like a flat bit of pavement with some cones and barely street legal cars racing each other.
fan involved accidents are inevitable
Hello friend.
I know a guy who builds cars specifically for drag racing. There’s this new form of racing that takes place on “unprepared tracks” and on streets. Seems extremely dangerous as opposed to merely dangerous at formal drag racing venues.
With $8000 in total prizes for the entire event, it sounds as professional as illegal street races. We have a few Freepers down there in the hill country; maybe they can fill in some local color.
Airport runway. At least they weren't endangering innocent folks on the streets.
This was an amateur class. Nothing close to what you describe. I doubt anything there went over 700 hp.
“I doubt anything there went over 700 hp.”
700hp? That is kindergarten stuff today. I have friends with 850-1000hp in street driven cars.
Hi T_S. I hope all is well with you. Always good to see you here.
“Noy sure if ‘Midgets’ is just a Midwestern thing”
Lol ! He’ll no are you kidding. Grow up in Southern California in the late fifties early sixties every weekend Ascot in Gardena. Dirt track Oval and figure 8
My uncle and aunt both raced
Midgets Jalop aanything ..and destruction Derby
they later changed over to the go carts with the double mccullock engines
Parnelli Jones got his a start out at Ascot in Gardena
And all on TV ktla with Dick Lane.. Whooo Nelly!
Thanks, digger48. People shouldn’t have been seated out there, obviously. Perhaps an overflow crowd.
Thanks, Big Heart.
Life is good. Nice to see you too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.