No details were released thus far, but there was apparently a death from a collision into a guardrail at the SCCA regional event today @ Lime Rock on the 13th lap. RIP.

 

man... that sucks. sorry to hear that.

 

Thats not good at all I saw all the trailers going up there today.

 

That does suck, makes me think twice about my time trial there on the 26th.

 

Was this a race or the SCCA School event?

 

I am really sorry to hear about it. I dearly love club racing and it has been part of my life since I was a little kid so it is easy totake it for granted. Sometimes you have to take a step back and remember that this fun activity has the potential to hurt or kill you even if it is a very small percentage chance if you do it right and use good sense and the best safety measures are taken.

I didn't used to think about my own mortality much, but it is actually the thought that my 3 year old son might have to grow up without a dad and that I would miss seeing him grow up gives me pause to reflect on many things in life. On the other hand, there always seem to be a couple fatalities each year and medical problems like heart attacks are a high percentage of causes rather than mechanical, driver error or other causes. Hopefully the investigation will sort out the cause.

Did anyone see that SCCA has suspended all Performance Rallies (essentially their amateur levels of Pro-Rally) until investigations are complete on the recent death of two spectators? Only the prudent thing to do to make sure all and enough proper safety measures are in place. Life is a balance of many factors and we have chosen a hobby that can have strong consequences for sure.

 

simpathy and prayer goes out for the family and friends of this fellow racing brothern!

it is a dangerous sport we choose to participate in...

 

Here's more details:

http://www.ctnow.com/sports/hc...ports
http://www.registercitizen.com...rfi=6
http://foxsports.lycos.com/con...69296

Group 7, according to the NER site says SM, SSB, and SSC...but George Smith of Troy, NY drives a GT1 Camaro, which shoulda been group 5...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by stealthx32 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Here's more details:

http://www.ctnow.com/sports/hc...ports
http://www.registercitizen.com...rfi=6
http://foxsports.lycos.com/con...69296

Group 7, according to the NER site says SM, SSB, and SSC...but George Smith of Troy, NY drives a GT1 Camaro, which shoulda been group 5...</TD></TR></TABLE>

The first two links mention the previous death in 1998 at Lime Rock was a guy named Monk at a PCA event. I remember that situation as the guy had spun and backed into a wall or solid object reportedly not really that hard. His seat mount and seat back brace were not properly installed and the seat mount broke pushing the small surface area of the seat back brace into him and killing him.

A lot of people got smarter about seat mounts after that and made their seat back braces spread their load over a much larger area. It is a shame when it it takes something like that to make us review our own equipment.

 

Been reading where it may have been a medical condition that prompted the accident and the driver may have already been unconscious when he left the track. If this is the case, it would be similar to an incident that occured at Road America last year where long time GT-1 competitor lost his life.

 

The driver suffered a heart attack traveling down no-name which lead to the incident. It was in GT-1.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">simpathy and prayer goes out for the family and friends of this fellow racing brothern!

it is a dangerous sport we choose to participate in...</TD></TR></TABLE>


sorry to hear such a sdy story..........

 

I am very sorry for his family and their loss.

The only positive in this situation is that he died doing something that apparently he loved. Imagine being 68 and still racing cars! That is amazing. Since we all have to go sometime, it is "nice" (I use this word loosely) that he died in a race car, having fun. But, still very, very, very sad.

 

Everytime i hear of someone passing away from a Motorsport event makes me look at myself also, i remember my first autocross (last year) a passanger had a heart attack while on the course.... it made me stop to think before i got more into racing if it was worth all the risks... and i just keep answering to myself with the same answer..... You only Live Once... live to your fullest.

 

SCCA only suspended standalone clubrallies. Pro rallies, and Club events associated with pro rallies are still running...

It is total BS

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CRX Lee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I remember that situation as the guy had spun and backed into a wall or solid object reportedly not really that hard. His seat mount and seat back brace were not properly installed and the seat mount broke pushing the small surface area of the seat back brace into him and killing him.</TD></TR></TABLE>

This occured in the rain. The driver was coming down the front straight, and was attempting to cross from one side of the track to the other to set up for turn 1. He hydroplaned on the pooled water at the center of the track, lost control, and went backwards into the base of the footbridge and high speed. The seat broke, and he went back into the cage, breaking his neck.

Personally, I find it incredibly aggravating that his widow is suing the track. We know the risks when we go out on the track, and if we wreck, it is our own burden. Nobody goes out on a racetrack without knowing they are doing something risky, and people like this could mean the end of our sport.

My best wishes go out to the family of the fallen driver this weekend. If you have to go, that is the way to do it.


Matt