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The crash happened during an "exhibition burnout" -- when a drag racer spins his tires fast enough to make them smoke. Drivers of other dragsters in the parade had been spinning their tires and then accelerating quickly, but everyone else put on the brakes before going past the guard rails, said Garett Moore, 19, who said he was about 15 feet away when the car wrecked.

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quote:

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Six people died, all in their teens and early 20s, Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesman Mike Browning said. Saturday's wreck injured at least 18 others, including a 5-year-old boy, who were taken to hospitals in Tennessee and Mississippi.

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More later, now I'm just going to say this.

[ June 18, 2007, 10:30 PM: Message edited by: Flaming Toad on a Stick ]
 

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Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
 
I saw that briefly on the news last night. Very sad.

I also wondered why they had everyone lined up so close to either side of the track. I have been to many drag races, and never seen an area where spectators were allowed that close.

FG

oh -- I see on further reading of other articles, this was not an actual race, but a burnout at the end of a PARADE.
 

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Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
 
Either way, there should be more redundant safety features, especially with people being so close, and especially especially where there are children around.
 

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Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
 
They just shouldn't have been so close.

This is terribly sad, and it shouldn't have happened if propper percautions were taken. But drag races, other racing events, and even promotional events including racecars are much safer than they were fifty years ago. Every time a fan dies or a driver dies we say how terribly unsafe racing is. Fifty years ago it was rather standard to have a driver die in each racing circuit (Indy, stock, sprint, midget, drag) each year, often much more than that. A driver hasn't died at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1996, before that 1992, before that 82.


Edit: sorry that was going from memory and looking at a history of the 500 (knowing no Nascar or F1 drivers had died at the track). In Oct 2003 Tony Renna died at the speedway in off season testing, he became airborne, smashed into the catch fence and died instantly.
 

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Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
 
"The charity was formed in 1990...after founder Larry Price's son...suffered a severe head injury... Price promised...he would spend the rest of his life raising funds for disabled children...
...Cars for Kids...raises close to $200,000 annually..."

18years times <$200thousand per year = less than the funeral bills for the 6 dead and hospitalization costs for the 20 injured
 

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Posted by BlueWizard (Member # 9389) on :
 
I hate to sound cold and callous, but life is a calculated risk. Regardless of what you do, go out or stay home, there is an element of risk involved. In this case, many people took many unnecessary risks including those who were killed, but all who were mentally competent, knew there was an absolute real element of risk. That is what makes it exiting, that is what makes it a thrill to watch.

To quote an old saying that illustrates my point -

"Better to die living than to live dying".

I think, to a limited extent, this was a case of the situation not being controlled and supervised sufficiently. Yet, again, those watching could not have reasonably thought there was NO danger.

I have to wonder if this was an organized or a spontaneous event. If spontaneous then the organizers, I feel, have very limited responsibility. Those who participated, have a degree of responsibility for not engaging in the act with a consideration and concern for the gathered crowds.

I suspect it got out of control when each driver tried to out do the other with a more outrageous burn out. No ca,r even with a substantial burn out, should have ever reach a speed that would prevent the drive from stopping in a reasonable distance. Clearly one drive when beyond that limit of reason, but did not do so with calculated intent.

For what it's worth.

Steve/BlueWizard
 

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Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
 
It wasn't a drag race event. It was a parade where the drivers did a burnout (spun their wheels) at the end for about 50 feet or so and then stopped. It was never intended that they get up to speed, just peel some tire. The driver just took it too far (he went much farther than the other drivers) and lost control. That's why the crowd was so close.
 

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Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :
 

quote:

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(Watch car go out of control; hear crowd react)

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