Here is a quote from a fellow who's friend ran off the end at Norwalk, the next race on the schedule.

"I can tell you what is there because my friend drove his 158 mph car off the end at Norwalk a few years ago.There is two rather deep drainage ditches before the airstrip. My friend didn't deploy his chute because of a tremendous crosswind & after trying to make the turnoff at about 80MPH & getting the car on two wheels cranked the wheel back straight & took his chances with the ditches. He hit the first one & completely cleared the second one because the first one got him airborne & then ended up on the airstrip which by the way was active. None of the track officials nor I noticed that he had drove off the end & I finally went looking for him after he hadn't returned to the trailer. When I got to him airport personal were towing him back on to the racetrack property after berating him for ending up on the runway.He was chain smoking like a fiend & rather pissed off but otherwise ok.The car had minimal damage which we fixed & he continued racing.We later went back to the scene & you could clearly see his tire tracks to the first ditch & then no tire tracks again until about 20 feet on the other side of the second ditch. He was only going 80 when he went off the end so what do you think is going to happen if someone gets off the end going 2-300MPH +,probably way worse outcome than my friend had.

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"We'll just put another engine in it. That's the way this game is played if you have to." Big Daddy Indy '86/ONFIRE '03

So he would feel better going through E-Town's WOODS???????????????????

I'm not Implying norwalk is safe by any means, but I would rather have more of anything to get stopped than less.

REX

Rex....I was just trying to point out, when someone said Norwalk has this empty pasture at the end of the track, that you don't always know "what" is in the so-called empty pasture. Nothing more, nothing less.

Late........Mitch

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"We'll just put another engine in it. That's the way this game is played if you have to." Big Daddy Indy '86/ONFIRE '03

Gotcha'...............

REX

Drive-by Opinions huh T-Rex? I've been to over 150 races, don't tell what I know and don't know *****! Had Scott's Chute deployed we wouldn't be discussing this would we???

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Shift for Brains!!!!

In the end, more then likely the short tracks are just something that is part of racing, much as we'd like to see it addressed. I run a top fuel harley and shutting down is a HUGE issue with no chute and not much in the way of tire contact with the track. On many tracks, Firebird and Pomona for example, you just have to be on the brakes right now, and if you don't, you pay the price. Seattle is nice and long, but the end is a nightmare. I went off the end up in Fort St. John BC two years ago and still have the scars, limp and medical bills to remind me. Unfortunately, no matter how we try, this sport will find new ways to damage people. Doesn't mean we shouldn't have the discussion, but I just don't think we'll ever avoid the occasional tragedy.

Why not have a driver released hook on the back of the car or wheelie bars. Like aircrafts on an aircraft carrier.

Have 3 cables across the track to give more chances of "catching".

If it can stop a jet that weighs many tons it can stop a car that weighs 1 ton.

The outcome would not be worse than Saturday.

Someone like Jim Head could design this and make it work.

Leave the sand trap and net as last resort.

Also it seems like a short track like Englishtown could have had ten rows of those water filled barrels to cushion the impact.

Anything better than a concrete barrier.

Mike

HOLY CRAP?????????

Really?!?!?!

Over 150 races attended!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !
WOW

I'm impressed.

bet ya' got plenty of diecasts, autographs, and drank plenty of beer too

Scotts chute deployed.

The fire kept it from blossoming.

I've DRIVEN alky cars kid.

Ever DO that?? As in action not words??????????

Have another Budweiser on me and stop stealing your employers time.

It's theft.

Criminy

REX

I agree Toni, but come to the East side and see what I mean...........

REX

Come on guys, lets not make this personal.

Maybe this is a reaction to what happened but I think a lot of problems can be solved economically and for safety if they shorten the tracks to 1000 feet.

I have all the respect for Jim Head, his innovations and knowledge are beyond reproach, and, his interview had a lot of emotion and that can affect one's judgment.

Looking at video, it looks like the chutes didn't fail, they got wrapped around the wheelie-bar.

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Paul,
www.ConceptsEngineering.com,
Check out altered construction and latest video

I just replayed the incident.

you may be correct.

however I've wittnessed chutes doing the same thing over and over again in cases of extreme heat and fire.

they may have deployed as the body left though and were then tangled.

I can tell you though that compared to what I have been around, and I have seen some horrific boomers, this was about the worst. EVER.

Just a bad deal all 'round.

REX

God your such an *******!

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Shift for Brains!!!!

Thank you........coming from you I have been complemented in the highest fashion.

I'm outta' here.

Keep your heads in the sand.....................

REX