Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

The stupidity of letting the kids hang out of the car just amazes me......in the insert the gentlemen with the cut off grey t I think was struck by the car, but amazingly not seriously injured other than a nasty cut above his eye. On an interesting note, the car and driver flying through the air....won the race. This was the initial green flag start when the other 2 cars in the picture got together coming out of 4 and the black car climbed one of the wheels and went over the wall into the catch fence.

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

I have never understood why they let them race without a seat that contains them in the car. We only ran Chase in a quarter midget twice but he had a regular Kirkey seat. I would not have let him do it without it. All racing is dangerous and it can happen in any form of racing. Just think if his head or neck got into that fence. If it is a rule that all cars have to have a regular seat then there is no advantage for anyone. It is no different than an arm restraint rule or helmet rule. Just my two cents glad everyone was alright.

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

Amazing picture....unfortunately I think it's going to take a serious injury before anything changes. Two thirds of that kid's body is outside the car.

Numerous track records were broken again this year at the Mini-Indy regional race. How fast do QMs need to go for heaven's sake?

Dump Vega tires and go to a good hard compound that actually teaches a driver how to hold onto a race car. No one will be breaking any track records but they'll be learning how to set up a car and how to drive it.

When we started racing QMs I put a seat in the car to keep my son from moving around. He never leaned out of the car. I had people telling me 'your son is fast, but he would be faster if you can get him to lean out of the car'. No thanks.....it's nuts that the only form of racing I know of that allows the driver to hang out of the car is the one that is supposed to be 'racing for kids'.

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

Weren't cages put on race cars (especially the open-wheel type) for a reason? :11:

Lucky someone wasn't seriously hurt... :19:

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

I've seen a kid in a mini sprint do this, without a containment seat of course. Just shows the bad habit this teaches.

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

I have a 3 year old son, and have been torn when to get him into racing if he so chooses. I can assure you this, I will not put him in a 1/4 midget, unless they change some things!

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

While I don't understand a rule that lets kids lean out of the car, one has to remember that it is brought to you by the same people that think it's a good idea to sub-divide classes again and again and again. This way every other kid can be a "feature winnner." Now the dads can brag that their kid won 90% of the Senior Novice/ Medium Light 160/ World Formula/ Honda features that they entered. Never mind that the kid very rarely ran with more than two or three other competitors on the track at the same time.:17:

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

We were in quarter midgets for 7 years. The worst accident causing an injury was a sprained thumb from the steering wheel spinning or a sprained ancle from a head on crash. These cars have been raced like this for over 20 years. If there was an issue you would think that the rules would have been changed.

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

I seem to remember an old saying, " an ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure", seems to fit a lot of things, I have also wondered why they were allowed to hang out of the car, and I'm surprised that the insurance companies don't crack down on it, looks like a perfect way to get some bad hurts! Seems even more foolish to allow seat belts, that are so loose, could get caught on a passing car, and hurt both drivers, it sometimes amazes me, what dangerous positions parents will put their kids in, for bragging rights, or a trophy. But, I guess I'm easily amazed, I managed to live thru almost 40 years of Kart racing, and 15 years of Midget racing, plus boat racing, and motorcycles, and jalopies back in the 50's, course both shoulders remind me of my foolish ways, every time I try to reach up, but what th heck, I was lucky. Bob

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

while I kinda agree with the hanging out of the car being dangerous, How many parents put their kids on Karts that often times are much faster and have less safety built in? the only flip I seen at the indoor rumble in Ft wayne was a kart and then that dude was hit by another kart at top speed.

I don't have any times but just from apearance and how quick it was to watch. Both times at the rumbles I've attended the karts seemed to be the fastest class.

Not to hijack the thread. I think there is more ways to put weight in the left side than offset seats and hanging out of the cars.
Chuck

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

Originally Posted by spankytoo:
We were in quarter midgets for 7 years. The worst accident causing an injury was a sprained thumb from the steering wheel spinning or a sprained ancle from a head on crash. These cars have been raced like this for over 20 years. If there was an issue you would think that the rules would have been changed.

The QMs are going much faster now then they were 7 years ago. Heck, they are going much faster then they were 2 to 3 years ago. The speed is getting ridiculous for young, and in some cases inexperienced drivers.

Kids are moving to faster classes much more quickly now then when we started QMs 5 years ago. It used to be that a driver had to master their current class before they moved to a faster one. That doesn't seem to be the case any longer.

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

When tyler raced QMs he always sat up in the seat, the controversy over to Lean or not to Lean will always be around until someone seriously gets hurt and then it would be hard to get the rule changed.

I remember our first year running the Columbus Indoor Winter Nationals the race director stopped the race because Tylers right elbow was resting on the right side body panel as it always did, (that was just his style) they told him that he had to get it all the way inside the car, now we were only talking about a couple inches that would hang over, After the race I remember questioning how they would allow someones entire body from chest up to hang out but they were worried about my drivers elbow.

Eric Cottongim

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

The "guy" in the picture is 2 time ARCA Champ Marvin Smith. A great guy. I'm told it took 40 stitches. Ouch.

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

there are outher forms of open wheel racing for young drivers!!! this is my sons jr sprint alot safer,alot cheaper, need more cars out there!!

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

Thanks Phil for your post. We keep Ashton Upright and run upfront just as you did with TJ. We can prove that is does not help any. We broke the track record in Jr. Honda by a tenth over Justin Pecks old record. Then our track record was broken by .0009 by Dustin Davis. My point is you can run just as fast sitting straight up. Justin was injured in the Lt. AA race and will recover, but it sure woke up alot of parents. Hopefully, one of the two sanctioning bodies will mandate a rule change. Which one does it first will win my loyalty. I do not want my kid to have to live with the guilt of running into someone who is exposed. Mini Indy is moving the handler area to prevent handler injuries.

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

Man, that .0009 is a bummer. The fourth decimal number is not real. It's a random number generated by the system. Could just as easily been 0. What happened to Justin?

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

Showtime...We are running Jr Sprints at the Speedrome this Sunday. Here are some photos from May 3...

Chuck Kidwell directs them.. Here kis a link to more photos from May 3 at the Speedrome.

http://www.maximumdirt.com/forum/vie...hp?f=1&t=13477

Quarter midgets will also be running a slightly larger than regulation flat track in the infield at the Speedrome.

This all happens before 4:00 p.m.

For those wanting to see midgets only...Racing starts at 5:00 p.m...we have a 75 lap- feature..and we should finish at 7:30 p.m.


 May 31 – Rumble Series midgets (75-lap feature), Mini Cup Cars, quarter midgets, karts, junior sprints

Tickets: Adults, $15; Kids 6-11, $5; Kids 5 and under, free
Pit passes: $30 all day or $10 for first session only



Here is an event flyer attached

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

The argument I have heard is that larger kids need to lean out to keep the car from biking over. My opinion is that if your driver is getting to a size where he can't keep a QM on 4 wheels it might be time to look for another form of racing.

It's up to the parents to make sure a kid is in the car tight. I have seen kids fake like their hands are inside the car when being checked only to later see their arm resting on the ground while waiting in the hot shoot.

How many times have you seen a driver, head outside the car watching his/her line, come out of a turn and run into a car that was dead on the track? I have seen a lot of good equipment destoyed because drivers were hanging out looking down rather than looking out of the front of the car as they should have been.

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

Justin suffered severe whiplash as a result of a violent accident in LT AA. The Lt. AA's were turning 5.50 laps. It was one of the most sickening wrecks I have witnessed at a QM race. His poor neck seemed to stretch a foot.

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

During the end of our QM run I was starting to notice kids wearing HANs devices rather than a neck brace. I don't think a HANs is a good idea for a QM. It only controls front and back neck movement, not side to side.

I would only use a HANs with a safety seat that would support the head from side to side.

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

Anything is better than nothing. I've had whiplash a couple of times and 25 years later, on a good day, my neck is stiff and crunches when I turn my head. I've talked to other drivers who have the same. The injury that keeps on giving.

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

Good capture. I wish I was able to capture more of it. I have captured several wrecks, and the first thing I notice is that in almost everyone of them I see the drivers helmet touch the ground first. In one of the it even shows the driver getting hit in the shoulder because he is leaning out so far.

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

I agree that the q.m drivers need to have their head and neck more secure..I have always wondered about the leaning out of the car. Q.M's are a great way to go ..very safe...but the leaning out of the car is a situation that could cause bad injuries.

Rule of thumb with all race car safety..head and neck MUST be secure...thats why Indy Car had a better record than NASCAR in the first part of this decade..Indy Cars had better head and neck restraint.

The leaning out of the cars is a habit seen in no other form of 4 wheel racing.

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

My two boys raced WKA Champ Karts for a few years before the Kenyon Midgets. Champ Karts are similiar to .25 midgets but have no suspension or shocks and they go a bit faster. The officials would black flag any driver that broke the plane of the roll cage during green flag racing, no exceptions.

I was really shocked to see the .25's drivers hanging halfway out of the cage at Ft. Wayne- the first time I saw the .25 drivers compete. I have no dog in this fight but sure hate to think about one of the little guys getting hurt for no reason.:14:

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

Originally Posted by Phylo82:
The QMs are going much faster now then they were 7 years ago. Heck, they are going much faster then they were 2 to 3 years ago. The speed is getting ridiculous for young, and in some cases inexperienced drivers.

Kids are moving to faster classes much more quickly now then when we started QMs 5 years ago. It used to be that a driver had to master their current class before they moved to a faster one. That doesn't seem to be the case any longer.

You misunderstood my post. I said we were in it for seven years. We have only been out of it for a couple of years. I still think that quarter midgets are the safest of race cars to put a child in. Why would anybody go to karting where you get ejected and then the Kart hits you.

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

Originally Posted by spankytoo:
We were in quarter midgets for 7 years. The worst accident causing an injury was a sprained thumb from the steering wheel spinning or a sprained ancle from a head on crash. These cars have been raced like this for over 20 years. If there was an issue you would think that the rules would have been changed.

My grandmother would have wisely said "What doesn’t happen in a year happens in a day"

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...da4d960aaa.jpg

Westfall chassis built our daughter's QM and we had them put in a Kirky seat and she took a vicious ride in Toledo went over the wall and landed in the hot shut and walked away unharmed. We thanked God that day for that Kirky seat. :8:

Dave Ryder

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

Maybe some of you people need to get your kids out of QM. :20:

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

Originally Posted by spankytoo:
You misunderstood my post. I said we were in it for seven years. We have only been out of it for a couple of years. I still think that quarter midgets are the safest of race cars to put a child in. Why would anybody go to karting where you get ejected and then the Kart hits you.

I agree with you on that one. If you follow the proper safety precautions QMs are very safe. My son took some wicked flips and some nasty runs into the wall at Mini-Indy. He was shaken up a bit a couple of times but no bad injuries.....he had harder hits when he played football.

My opinion though is that QMs are going in the wrong direction. They should run a harder spec tire (dump the Vegas!!!!). The harder tires will last longer (save $$$$) and it will put the emphasis back on car setup and driver ability.

Sure, the lap time will be off a couple of tenths from what they are running now but it will be better racing, the kids will learn how to drive and it will be safer.

---------- Post added at 09:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:44 PM ----------

Originally Posted by ryderrocket19:
Westfall chassis built our daughter's QM and we had them put in a Kirky seat and she took a vicious ride in Toledo went over the wall and landed in the hot shut and walked away unharmed. We thanked God that day for that Kirky seat. :8:

Dave Ryder

Dave, I think the smartest thing I ever did in QMs was to put a seat in my son's first car when he was a novice. He felt more comfortable and he learned how to get around the track without hanging out and looking down at it.

I don't know about you guys, but I always have a little 'lump in my throat' every time I strap my kid into a car, even back when he was running QMs. Watching him rocket around the track in L160 and then in WF could give a father some serious heartburn.

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

I thought USUK had everything under control. :13:

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

USAC hosted a .25 Midget Safety Seminar in March to look at the overall safety of the sport.

Below is the press release which details the event. A lot of positive feedback was gained from the meeting with new rules already instituted and more to follow.

Long recognized as an industry leader in auto racing safety, the United States Auto Club today hosted the inaugural .25 Midget Safety seminar, which involved safety afficionados from across the country.

Chaired by USAC President/CEO Kevin Miller, USAC VP/Race Operations Jason Smith, USAC Developmental Series Director James Spink and former USAC Competition Director and safety expert Mike Devin, the seminar involved several hours of discussion on a wide range of topics.

Following opening remarks by Miller, items on the agenda included fire suppression, safety equipment, head and neck restraints, arm restraints, seat belts, seat belt mounting, driver positioning, bicycling of .25 Midgets and an open discussion of assorted areas of interest.

Present at the meeting were Carl Olson of the SFI Foundation, Dave Brown of the Indy Racing League, Trevor Ashline of Safety Solutions, Ken Joyce of Hans (Ken Joyce Racing), Randy LaJoie of the Joie of Seating, Scott Zurawski of Butlerbuilt, Adam Batton of Hoosier Tire, plus affiliated club officials Jeremy Jameson and BJ Fleenor (Kokomo), Rick Thomason and Kevin Daugherty (Indy .25), Jeff Wren and Andy Myers (Mac-O-Chee) and Dale Hall (Buckeye), as well as Ellis and Rebecca Shell of SSS Racing Enterprises and Mike Streicher of Strei-Tech.

“It was a landmark meeting and we feel we achieved substantial progress on a number of issues,” said USAC’s Spink. “We continue to strive for the utmost in safety for all of our participant members and fans and we sincerely appreciate the cooperative effort which led to this historic conclave.”

“This is a great first step in enhancing the safety of .25 Midget racing,” added USAC’s Smith. “We will continue to build on this initial meeting with additional discussions and measures to assure the safety of all involved in the sport.”

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

Is USAC .25 enforcing a 'head inside the car' rule?

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

NO. But if they do before QMA, my allegiance will be with them.

Re: Quarter Midget Crash from Mini Indy Sunday
 

Originally Posted by Phylo82:
Is USAC .25 enforcing a 'head inside the car' rule?

They need to. It teaches bad habits. Go to T & S Photos website and look at the mini sprints. You can tell which drivers raced quarter midgets, assuming they don't have a containment seat.