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To: SheLion

Dale Sr "was" wearing his belts correctly. The belt was frayed. Simpson pulled out of the business after Dale got killed.




Ma'am, with all due respect, your post is absolutely false.

First, Simpson is very much still in the business.

http://www.simpsonraceproducts.com/catalog/restraints/restraintmain.asp

Secondly, as much as I hate to say this out of my respect for the man, it is well known that Dale sr. did not install his harness according to specs. Just like he still wore an open face helmet.

Dale's death was a very tragic accident, and the truth is his refusal to adopt modern safety devices contributed to his own death.

Bill Simpson has been manufacturing racing safety equipment for forty years, and has a stellar reputation. Simpson is directly responsible for saving many lives through the use of his equipment.

I wouldn't doubt a Simpson fire suit saved jr.'s hide today.

Like those who blamed Sterling Marlin for Dale's death, it sickens me to see the man falsely impugned.



146 posted on 07/18/2004 6:05:26 PM PDT by Vigilantcitizen
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To: Vigilantcitizen; SheLion
Vigilantcitizen is absolutely correct. One reason why I wish some of the older drivers would retire when they get into their mid-40's is because they get used to doing things the way they always have. Eventually, advances in the sport pass them by. Rusty admitted as much about himself in an interview earlier this year after he won.

Whatever else Dale Sr. was, he was also a fallible human being subject, at times, to questionable judgement — just like every other human being ever born. He had his own, out-of-date approach to his personal safety. Unfortunately, many people in the garage area copied him, including his own son.

Dale Sr. was opposed to the head-and-neck restraints when they were invented. Had he not been, perhaps many more drivers would have started using them earlier, and maybe some lives — including Dale Sr's — would have been saved.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Don't get me wrong, I'm in no way blaming Dale Sr. for anything. He called it honestly, like he saw it, and hindsight is always 20-20.

Nevertheless, Vigilantcitize is right. When it came to safety equipment, Dale Sr. was his own worst enemy.

161 posted on 07/18/2004 9:30:12 PM PDT by Wolfstar (Get off your duffs and VOTE for Bush-Cheney in Nov. Your life may depend on it.)
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To: Vigilantcitizen
Ma'am, with all due respect, your post is absolutely false.

I guess you told me, huh!

Actually, I didn't follow Simpson after Senior's death.

The only thing I ever heard about Dale not following safety features is that he didn't like to wear the full face mask.

169 posted on 07/19/2004 4:48:51 AM PDT by SheLion (Please register to vote! We can't afford to remain silent!!)
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