Drag Racing Shots

[bstewart]

This is a sequence shot of a Drag car in serious trouble!! I know the 3rd sequence shot is blurry but it was moving pretty dang fast and at only about 10 ft from me at the rail it was kind of intimidating, last one was a "throw the arm out with camera" shot because of all the people running to the fence to see what happened. He hit the guard rail down track. Every one was ok though. Enjoy.


http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d126/bstewart71/KID%20Summer%20Nationals%202009/IMG_2380.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d126/bstewart71/KID%20Summer%20Nationals%202009/IMG_2381.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d126/bstewart71/KID%20Summer%20Nationals%202009/IMG_2382.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d126/bstewart71/KID%20Summer%20Nationals%202009/IMG_2384.jpg

[Jim M]

Wow! You really nailed Joad Donnelly's little episode. If that didn't quicken your pulse where you were, nothing would, I guess. I was too far away to get much with the 24-70.

[kelly andersen]

Looks like a scary track, just a matter of time before a spectator is killed there!!!! Those aarmco guard rails all need to be scrapped!!!

[Limpy]

Nice shots!

[jimken61]

Looks like a scary track, just a matter of time before a spectator is killed there!!!! Those aarmco guard rails all need to be scrapped!!!
I have to agree with you Kelly.
If that didn't quicken your pulse where you were, nothing would, I guess.
Have to agree with this statement to...LOL. Kind of a close, especially for the spectators.

[Jim M]

I'm no fan of the Armco guardrails and I wish they were concrete, but I have to admit, since the track opened (1964), I know of no spectator deaths nor of any cars crashing into the spectator area. I witnessed one car go over the guardrail near the finish line and one car go up on the guardrail not too far from the starting line. I've seen lots and lots of cars bounce off the guardrail, which you could probably guess from all the dents and ripples in it. I do know of two driver deaths, neither of which had the benefit of any kind of guardrail. I know of one spectator injured by an exploding motor (if I recall correctly), but more recently I saw a spectator injured worse and from much farther away as the result of an exploding clutch at Bandimere Speedway, an NHRA national event track.

[bstewart]

You are probably correct Jim. This track in all the years I have been going there (since the mid 70's) has been a really safe track. Even when I raced on it a few years back it did not seem scary. more room out there than it looks in these photos. The guard rails are pretty tough and unforgiving when the cars contact them. Jim, I believe I was there when one of the cars came over the rail at the end of the track, we were just kids hangin out in the field to the left of the shut down area, came right at us!!! Thanks for the comments though.

[medicdude]

thats insane to have spectators that close to the track on the top end. and no cement.. wow.