Sad news from Heathcote

[LS1 DAY]

Just read some sad news on another forum that someone died a at Heathcote raceway today. This was on news.com.au

The 37-year-old man's car caught fire after the crash and he was dead when paramedics reached him about 3pm (AEST), a Rural Ambulance Service spokesman said.
Comment was not immediately available from the raceway, which was due to stage a "test and tune" event today.

[ratter]

I hope it's just a bad rumor, but all the happenings in the last few weeks are really showing how dangerous racing can be.

[strife]

I had read something similar as well, not a good time for jets, two deaths in a month with Kendall Hebert a 17 year old died on 1 Oct and also the serious crash with Hammond last month as well.

Whilst any death and injury is sad hopefully this wont set Victoria back in achieving a championship drag racing venue

[ratter]

a link to the news article

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20545053-1702,00.html

[RIDE:42]

some one we know?

Driver dies at Victorian raceway
October 08, 2006 04:25pm
Article from: AAPFont size: + -
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A DRIVER at Heathcote Park Raceway in central Victoria died today when his car crashed into a wall.

The 37-year-old man's car caught fire after the crash and he was dead when paramedics reached him about 3pm (AEST), a Rural Ambulance Service spokesman said.
Comment was not immediately available from the raceway, which was due to stage a "test and tune" event today.

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[FatBoy]

Rumour has it the man killed was a Japanese fella who had come over to purchase it and was testing it at the time of the accident...

As i said at this stage rumour only, although i got it from a pretty good source...

Sad times in motorsport lately... :(

[Wayne@GM Motorsport]

A JAPANESE man died when his jet-powered car slammed into a wall and "disintegrated" at a Victorian raceway, police said.
The car was travelling at about 300kph when it crashed into a railing during a weekly "test and tune" event at the raceway in central Victoria about 2.15pm (AEST) today.
A small crowd watching from the trackside at the Heathcote Park Raceway saw the car's wreckage catch fire moments after the crash.
The 38-year-old driver was dead before paramedics could reach him.
"He has crashed into a retaining wall, the car has disintegrated, caught fire, he has been killed," Senior Constable Wayne Wilson said.
"We now have the local police on scene and they will be preparing a report for the coroner."
Const Wilson said the man, along with some others, had bought the car about six weeks ago and it was the car's fourth run at the raceway.
He said the man had been test driving and was not racing against anybody.
Const Wilson said the Japanese consulate had been contacted to alert them of the man's death, and his name had not been publicly released.
Comment was being sought from the raceway.

[MrMaad]

The car had been built in Vic over the last few years, it was a twin of a friend of mines jet car. He was there watching as the Japanese man was testing the car on the basis he would buy it and take it to japan. How terrible is this. Hope it doesn't affect any future raceway plans for Melbourne, maybe this will encourage the government to build a bigger, better and safer facility.

[vy storm]

The car had been built in Vic over the last few years, it was a twin of a friend of mines jet car. He was there watching as the Japanese man was testing the car on the basis he would buy it and take it to japan. How terrible is this. Hope it doesn't affect any future raceway plans for Melbourne, maybe this will encourage the government to build a bigger, better and safer facility.

Whats to make safer? What safety precautions can be put in place to stop what happened? Its motorsport, its dangerous we all know the risks involved.

[ls1ozstyle]

Another death is not good but I really DO NOT consider strapping a jet engine to a car Motorsport.


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[MrMaad]

Whats to make safer? What safety precautions can be put in place to stop what happened? Its motorsport, its dangerous we all know the risks involved.

Have you been to WSID, then been to Calder. Thats my point, i know its never safe driving fast anywere, but the facilities and layout and seating for spectators is remarkable.

[Wayne@GM Motorsport]

Whats to make safer? What safety precautions can be put in place to stop what happened? Its motorsport, its dangerous we all know the risks involved.

C,mon timmy, im a big fan of what Russell and Joanne do for the drag racing public at Heathcote but you could hardly call Heathcote or Calder safe tracks.

A safe track would be a good flat surface with concrete fencing the length of the track both side continuing all the way to the end of the run off road, then a sand trap and sprung saftey barried just incase anyone is not about to stopa and full medics and fire crew with all that is needed to save some blokes life if he got into a tangle.

You only have to watch a bit of the US racing on foxtel and see the safety features they have in place.

But in saying all that, ill still go out and risk my nuts at both venues :yup:

[joffa]

Geez imagine what Calder would charge for that.

[vy storm]

C,mon timmy, im a big fan of what Russell and Joanne do for the drag racing public at Heathcote but you could hardly call Heathcote or Calder safe tracks.

A safe track would be a good flat surface with concrete fencing the length of the track both side continuing all the way to the end of the run off road, then a sand trap and sprung saftey barried just incase anyone is not about to stopa and full medics and fire crew with all that is needed to save some blokes life if he got into a tangle.

You only have to watch a bit of the US racing on foxtel and see the safety features they have in place.

But in saying all that, ill still go out and risk my nuts at both venues :yup:


Yeah but what your watching is all top fueller stuff where theres unlimited money. If calder and heathcote put that stuff in place then the prices would go up and there would be another thread on hear with people sooking about the prices, so either way they are stuffed.