Tina Pierce wreck 3/14 - safety equipment

[CobraII]

Tina Pierce's S10 is now turbocharged. This was from the IHRA Nitro Jam at State Capitol Raceway in Louisiana on Saturday.

http://www.dragzine.com/news/video-t...-in-louisiana/

I haven't heard for sure what caused the wreck, have seen thoughts about broken suspension and/or broken axle. There's a reason for all the safety equipment, for occasions like this. No matter how well you prepare your car, parts can fail.

Then there's this... 5.98 at 115 in the 1/8th, no roll bar, stock seat belt. At least he had a helmet. I'm guessing this is a Fox body Mustang, based on the cowl.

http://www.dragcoverage.com/horrific...-no-roll-cage/

Better to have the safety equipment and never need it. I hope the Mustang driver is ok, and realizes how lucky he is. Also, if you're ever on a pass and it's not right, you're losing traction, you never had traction, you're getting loose, then just lift, abort the run. You can always make another pass.

[ERR0RMACR0]

Lap belt only is pretty scary--in a car of that age, I'd definitely think at least a roll bar and proper seat with harness would be the way to go. On the flip side, I see guys with harnesses in cars without a roll bar...that is also a bad idea, in my opinion. If you don't have a roll bar, your 3 point belt could save your life if you flip--it can give so that your body/head can move down. If you're in a harness, it keeps you upright, strapped in...you can see where I'm going with this.

[bgblockelcamino]

good post, pet peeve of mine all the people who won't put the proper safety equipment in since they have "street car" some bullshit like that. end of day there is a reason lot of this stuff is mandated. Glad everyone was ok. David, Tina's husband said axle is fine and think it was fluid down on track surface. when you pour power on like that doesn't take much. I know even my mishap last year even after lifting took a while for car to finally stop once I sheared the studs off. luckily no damage or injuries to anyone.

[PaxtonShelby]

Glad they are both ok. Wow that Mustang is destroyed...

[JeffreyCole]

good post, pet peeve of mine all the people who won't put the proper safety equipment in since they have "street car" some bullshit like that. end of day there is a reason lot of this stuff is mandated. Glad everyone was ok. David, Tina's husband said axle is fine and think it was fluid down on track surface. when you pour power on like that doesn't take much. I know even my mishap last year even after lifting took a while for car to finally stop once I sheared the studs off. luckily no damage or injuries to anyone.

If my car ever gets to the level where it needs a roll bar I will gladly install one to be track safe, just in case something happens, so I will be alive for my children.

Yes, it is a big expense, but you have to pay to play, and nothing is more valuable in a car of this caliber than safety.

[Dan B.]

Glad they are both ok. Wow that Mustang is destroyed...

Needs Dent Wizard...........or..............D_ _ _ at Tw_li_h_...........

[RUTHLESS]

There are two ways to look at this. One that could happen at the track like pictured. Two I have seen what happens on the highway when some one with cage wrecks and smacks thier head without a helmet on.

I guess to each his own. My cobra will never be caged but the fox body that will be more race car has one.

[phillysrt4]

Time to reallocate some money in my go-fast budget.

[CobraII]

I've had an 8 point cage in the Cutlass since '06, when the car was in the low 13s. It's only in the 12s now. But I'm a die hard bracket racer, there every week, and will run Modified against much quicker cars, as well as going to footbrake and no box races where cars may be much faster as well. I drove it to and from the track until a few years ago, and the cage was never a concern. I very rarely got rambunctious on the street, so there wasn't much worry there. I agree to an extent with Ruthless about the possibility of hitting your head on the hoop bar, but there are ways to mitigate that, starting with SFI rated padding. Newer cars are also built to be so much more safer than my 46 year full frame GM A body. But that shouldn't take place of good sense.

[ERR0RMACR0]

Question: Without special treatment, can you legitimately get your car inspected in PA with a roll bar/cage installed? I don't have a go-to hook up place for inspections, curious as to how it would be handled normally. Thanks for any info!

[cwh19]

Question: Without special treatment, can you legitimately get your car inspected in PA with a roll bar/cage installed? I don't have a go-to hook up place for inspections, curious as to how it would be handled normally. Thanks for any info!

There is nothing in the Inspection Manual about roll bars being allowed or disallowed. However, every inspection is at the inspecting mechanics discretion. If he/she feels it isn't safe, he/she has the right to fail the vehicle, regardless of what it is.

[ERR0RMACR0]

There is nothing in the Inspection Manual about roll bars being allowed or disallowed. However, every inspection is at the inspecting mechanics discretion. If he/she feels it isn't safe, he/she has the right to fail the vehicle, regardless of what it is.

Thank you for the info--I've been thinking of getting at least a roll bar for the past year, but worried about a few different things. The padding recommendation was helpful...I'd really like to mock it up with some other material to see how it fits in the car, where it is in relation to my body, as well as passengers in the back seat.