Drag racing tragedy

[6packCuda]

http://www.beta.cnn.com/2007/US/06/17/car.show.deaths.ap/index.html#cnnSTCVideo

[360 'CUDA]

I'm still not sure what happened but it looks like some yahoo did a burnout at a parade with crowds of people on either side?

And not some standing burnout like we do but a Supercharged flying burnout at 80mph!!

How stupid is this?

[71bigblock]

I heard about this too.  What a tradgedy. 

 

[ChallengerHK]

I'm still not sure what happened but it looks like some yahoo did a burnout at a parade with crowds of people on either side?

It's hard to get straight information from the news, but it seems like his burnout was supposed to be part of a parade.  If that's true, I think the real yahoos are the parade organizers.

[6packCuda]

  But, at the same time, I can't believe a race team would agree to doing the burnout with people standing that close with little or no barrior between the car and spectators.

[Oldschool]

Looks like a "race only" type dragster.  If that's the case, those drivers only do burnouts on prepped tracks that are very sticky.  This "stickiness" allows for burnouts with a lot more control.  A car like that doing a big burnout on street pavement would be like one of us doing a burnout on ice.  That much power on unprepped pavement is asking for trouble. That much horsepower overwhelms the traction available VERY quickly and by the time the driver realized something was amiss, it was too late.  Maybe no one thought of that before the burnout.....        Just a theory of mine....          

[Wang]

footage of the actual crash. 

What a shame...Moron was in it FAR too long for a gathering of families just to
put on a smokey burnout.. pity.

My prayers go out to the families. 

 http://www.wmcstations.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?ClipID1=1518575&h1=EXCLUSIVE%20Raw%20Amateur%20Video%3A%20Deadly%20crash%20at%20Selmer%2C%20TN%20car%20show%3B%20Part%20I

[ChallengerHK]

 
The guy looked like he was overenthusiastic or maybe just inexperienced.  I still think it was poor planning on the part of the organizers to have something like this going on a few feet from spectators, with nothing but an ordinary guard rail separating them.  Even somebdy who was in complete control of the car could have a clutch explode or a tire shred.

[Jacksboys]

I agree with Old's Cool, I cannot believe they did it without safety in mind.  I am sorry to hear about the tragedy.

[bb71challenger]

Wow, that is shocking. I was like you guys, a race car just does not do that on the street with a crowd nearby. I was convinced that the throttle stuck or something, I cannot believe he did it on purpose. Tragic for the families involved and a black eye that drag racing does not need.

[4Cruizn]

Sad  . . . very sad.      

[70_challenger]

That was not some inexperienced amateur.  It was Troy Critchley in his Pro Mod Corvette.

I cannot believe that anyone would do a burnout like that, on a city street, with people on both sides of the road.  What a horrible tragedy...And it happened at a parade for a charity.  Awful.

-Tom

[Mr. 440SixPack]

I've read about this tragedy in todays newspaper...
Sad...and stupid-doing a burnout with 2000+ horsepower drag car in the middle of the people...

[Rare_T_A]

This is just a sad day for all auto related type events. I'm sure it will effect burnout contests everywhere.

[torredcuda]

Tragedy for those injured or killed for sure.Anybody involved with planning/approving or doing the burnouts is an idiot and should all be hung!