[Sprinter56]

First off I did not attend funfest and know Arin's accident had nothing to do with what I'm saying. I was thinking last week the new track is pretty wicked for a bunch of hungover racers partying for three days to try to get serious and race for 10 minutes a day. Sure the majority of the drivers are not going to overdue it and just want to race one more time, but the last time I attended a couple years ago it had gotten pretty out of control. I just wonder if anyone else has had this cross their minds this year. No disrespect to Dave Rudisell as i commend the awesome facility he has created for everyone, but maybe it's time to decide if it's a race or a party before someone in any class that competes gets seriously injured underestimating how serious it can get there now.

[cecil98]

I usually reward myself and drive our car at FunFest. I'm 55 now and haven't driven regularly since 1989. I also put my youngest son in a sprinter for the first time at Funfest a couple of years ago. I can honestly say that the size, wall and speeds made my decision not to run and put Dickie Gaines in the car so much easier. Even if Dickie wouldn't have been available, I can't say I would've driven this year. It's a different ballgame down there now. On the old track, you would be lucky to get going more than 50mph on that black ice. You also had a place to go if you messed up. Now, nowhere to go but the wall. I think you have a valid question, sprinter56, but it was still a good time and I hope it continues. It used to be a great event for an oldtimer like me to have a little fun on the track or reward a friend or sponsor with his/her first ride in a sprinter. I don't know if that would be a wise choice now. Arin's accident, obviously, had no bearing on my decision, however, I think it validates my apprehension.

Didn't she break or have a issue that put her into the wall? I know it's easy to start pointing fingers and panicking but all is well at The Burg and The Fun Fest.

I seen no problems this year and thought the Chevette's and other under powered cars were surprisingly competitive on the big track. I thought it might be scary but the racing wasn't bad and there wasn't too much in the way of carnage all weekend. I go to the World 100 and I am sure the King Royal are not much different in the fact people are up all night partying. Go to the Wagon Wheel bar down the road and it's a whose who from the Dirt Racing Scene. Should we cancel those races too? I am a little tired after me and the old lady have a little fun, perhaps we should make these drivers sign chastity vowels on race weekends so their full attention is on the track. Curfews, hair follicle testing, and mandatory calisthenic exercises should be considered as well.

The only thing I wish they would do is give the track some attention over the course of the weekend. For all the time we are under yellow or red cleaning up some accident caused by the lack of traction on the track, they could easily dump some water and maybe even groom it.

All in all the weekend lived up to it's billing and I had lots of fun.

[cecil98]

Arin had a mechanical failure of some sort. I don't know if a tire went down, or what actually happened but, from the video, it was definitely not driver error in this case.

[767]

I think I am correct in saying this is not a burg event. It is a Terry Eagland motorsports event. I.E. why the track does not get redun each night. I did not attend this year 1 because the event I competed in was dropped and 2 because I really didn't think most of the divisions would be very entertaining

[D.O.]

Casey Shuman had the same thing happen a week ago. Something broke on the #57 Hazen car going into turn 3 and he didn't turn and whamo hit the wall.

It's easy to ask questions and point faults afterwards.
Arin is a good racer and even good racers crash.

Start with a drivers safety and work out. Belts, seat, personal safety gear, helmet, what's the tag dates?, Headnets, sissy bars, nerfs, and then look at the mechanical's of speed and angles, what broke?

When a part of the driver makes contact with the wall, no wall is perfect or any safety device. It becomes & god's choice.


:redflag:



1. Foam cap that fits the cage?
2. Tires around the top of concrete walls?
3. Age limit ? Local
4. Track Prep.
5. Driver Safety


Lets expand on these ideas.

#1 good idea! But how do you form it fit all cages? Maybe like indy car seats?

#2 Place tires on top of concrete wall edge. Up and down so more tire compression and chusioning. Tires laid flat would have less compress area.

#3 Tough call. Kids with dads money? kids that can drive but no $, .25 upgraders.

#4 Scrach the track when it slicks over. Claw it up maybe 1 inch deep. Add a little rough ness for tires to grab on? spend 10 minutes scratching the track before the main and toss a little water.

#5 Maybe Impact would help with testing various neck systems for open wheel cars? They all help but what one is the best for open wheel.

[racephoto1]

As I said in a different thread, I was there Saturday and Sunday. No the track isn't to big for Funfest. It actually went smoother then the other times I was there.Yes it was hard and slick, but that prevented it from being scary fast.It was rather enjoyable to see actually.Even bombers, and I ain't no taxicab fan.

[Charles Nungester]

I have no stake in it. The wall is a issue in some accidents and not in others. I've seen the wall cause or be part of the accident many times I've also seen many accidents avoided due to the tracks size and room to move. Theres no mistaking the wall is there. It wasn't a issue in Boespflugs accident or Colemans a couple weeks back. Still very hard hits

Cecil, Great POV coments, I must say that Brad looked more comfortable to me on the new track than the old. I could be totally wrong but you guys seemed to do very well this year for what was deemed a HP track. Job Well DONE! :thumb

Chuck, who's only racing was at Florence and that wall in three/four there looks like a monster that saying Im gonna eat you for lunch.