another driver killed at e-town
I'm going to keep this short. Since I ran the race track for 7 years and worked their for 15, I would say I know a little more then most.
E-Town shut down is in no way unsafe. Since the updates 2 years ago their has been many cars I have seen get stopped without issue. Their are in some cases no matter where you are what I would like to call the perfect storm. It suck to have lost a racer and you all must keep in mind that fact before you go and bash something you know nothing about.
I will leave all the facts to the State Police.
Also going up hill in any case of a run away car will not do anything.
As for moveing the road. You really can't without knocking atlease 2 houses down to do it. I don't think the state will cover that or want to help the track do it in any way. In the two cases that a death has happened in the crashes a longer track wouldn't have helped any bit.
Take care. Ed
E-Town shut down is in no way unsafe. Since the updates 2 years ago their has been many cars I have seen get stopped without issue. Their are in some cases no matter where you are what I would like to call the perfect storm. It suck to have lost a racer and you all must keep in mind that fact before you go and bash something you know nothing about.
I will leave all the facts to the State Police.
Also going up hill in any case of a run away car will not do anything.
As for moveing the road. You really can't without knocking atlease 2 houses down to do it. I don't think the state will cover that or want to help the track do it in any way. In the two cases that a death has happened in the crashes a longer track wouldn't have helped any bit.
Take care. Ed
This was a tragic loss, I've been to etown on several occasions with both my car and others, and having made a good # of runs there over the years, I can say the track is overall, prety safe.
The runoff area, is adequate, the problem is that when the chutes on a 260 mph car don't open... it's not going to stop, at any track I've ever been to, and I've been to 30 different tracks over the years. That's why the chutes are required on anything that's gonig over 150, and as soon as you touch 200 they require 2.
NHRA needs to come up with something that will automaticially deploy all chutes at the finish line period, I don't know exactly how this can be done, something electronic I'm sure... but something along these lines needs to be done. That, and the chutes need to be made of a more fireproof material. If these 2 things can be done, I think the safety will dramaticially improve, for all tracks.
I don't know what the cost would be to a racer, but if I have to have the device in my car, so be it.. I'd rather have that and be safer, then not.
My prayers go out to Neal and his family, it's a disaster to have this type of thing happen, but it's part of our sport, it's a risk we all take when we strap into the car.... doesn't make it right or easier for anyone that suffers a loss, but it is the unfortunate reality.
The runoff area, is adequate, the problem is that when the chutes on a 260 mph car don't open... it's not going to stop, at any track I've ever been to, and I've been to 30 different tracks over the years. That's why the chutes are required on anything that's gonig over 150, and as soon as you touch 200 they require 2.
NHRA needs to come up with something that will automaticially deploy all chutes at the finish line period, I don't know exactly how this can be done, something electronic I'm sure... but something along these lines needs to be done. That, and the chutes need to be made of a more fireproof material. If these 2 things can be done, I think the safety will dramaticially improve, for all tracks.
I don't know what the cost would be to a racer, but if I have to have the device in my car, so be it.. I'd rather have that and be safer, then not.
My prayers go out to Neal and his family, it's a disaster to have this type of thing happen, but it's part of our sport, it's a risk we all take when we strap into the car.... doesn't make it right or easier for anyone that suffers a loss, but it is the unfortunate reality.
