Accidnt or cover up?????

[luke81]

If you ask me, the catch fence did it's job as intended - how much does a front clip assembly WITH an engine weigh? How much force does that weight have when there is an impact with the fence at about 175mph? With the exception of the tire/wheel that cleared the fence and some small debris that a fence will not catch, I was very impressed with the fencing.

I totally agree...at some point it's just the reality of "things happen". Maybe the fans do need to be moved back some. We've all seen hundreds of big crashes between nascar, indycar, local tracks, etc... and in any one of them a random bolt could have been launched into the stands and killed someone. I don't say that to devalue the injuries that happened but people are hurt at sporting events sometimes. Balls, bats, and pucks all find their way into the seats. People fall and die from stadium stairs seemingly every year. I can't villify NASCAR for the job they've done at all.

[Groundpounder]

At Indy about 1987, a fan in the top row, the last seat at the end was hit by a wheel came from Bettenhausen's car, then was punted in the air by Guererro and the fan was killed. No matter what you do, when your number is called, that's it...
The fences are fine. If you are really worried, just eliminate to first 10 rows of seating.

[bubba]

There are pictures in the bar at NSS as you walk in on the right. They are of Tom Fenn (?)'s X3 that landed in the first three rows or so after an impact with the flagstand, etc. They have improved the fencing and stands since then.

[Frasson118]

I have seen a racecar get into the grandstands on a short track (1/2 mile asphalt track). The results were devastating. 4 people lost their lives, and another 18 injured enough to be hospitalized, and un-tolled cuts and bruises.

In this case, the entire car landed in a grandstand full of people. It cleared the guardrail and 2 fences, with nothing slowing down the momentum.

It was the most tragic thing I've ever witnessed, and 42 years later, I can still picture the scene like it was yesterday.

Larsons car almost got completely through the fence, which would've killed several hundred people. As bad as this deal was, it's a miracle that it wasn't a LOT worse. There is no such thing as a 'safe' place to sit at any racetrack, and all the planning and engineering in the world cannot eliminate the possibility of injury or death to either drivers or fans.

[Racer6x]

It's racing, you hate to see anybody hurt that's for sure but it is what it is. I'm sure they'll improve on the fencing and such. I got hit in the face by a muffler clamp off a car at speed world during a race one time. Felt like Tyson punched me in the face. Then dang it if the next week I didn't get whacked by a lug nut at volusia. We all have put our own selves in danger knowingly like ...(racing in a strictly stock with a seat belt or no racing suit, walking behind a horse or roller coaster etc) I could go on and on.

[Don Nerone]

When we were at NSS last weekend my friend commented on the fact that there was just about nothing protecting the fans from the cars. What looks like exhaust tubing for poles, chicken wire for fencing, and very small diameter cable held in place by very rusty muffler clamps. Yep, muffler clamps.
I wouldn't be surprised to see some reporting on the safety aspects of local short tracks.

Before i left NSS we bought enough fence (the righ stuff) at the laneland track aucton.
I took it down and transported it to the speedway. The fence is snow fence and it the best u can buy. We also bought all the poles .
Im sure some of the fence has been instaled.

don62

[fred23]

NSS fencing is pretty stout.....and now they have actually put another fence about 5 feet from the track fence in the corners.....I saw a TBARA sprint car try and take down the fencing at the end of the front stretch a few yrs ago during a practice......the fence, surprisingly held up quite well......

Things happen.....you can't protect everyone from everything.......this philosophy is one of the reasons our government is such a disaster......I am sure it will cost DIS and NASCAR a couple of million in payoffs.....lets move on

[Winger]

Before i left NSS we bought enough fence (the righ stuff) at the laneland track aucton.
I took it down and transported it to the speedway. The fence is snow fence and it the best u can buy. We also bought all the poles .
Im sure some of the fence has been instaled.

don62

Man, I hope it wasn't snow fence. The only snow fences I know are made of wood lathe or plastic. Chain link is probably the best if it's cabled correctly. There's a strong fence that has larger openings that is pretty decent but a lot of debris can get through. I'll call it sheep fencing because it's similar in design, but it isn't made for sheeps. Again, it needs to be cabled correctly. I think Daytona's fence was really good but the crossover gate was not anywhere near adequate. That gave way and allowed the car to hit the post, tearing it apart. It's like a window in a wall. I think the best barrier is a fence like many tracks presently have, with another fence located about 4 feet or more, away from it. That prevents spectators from standing on the fence and provides an additional layer of protection. Maybe we could use Bulletproof glass all around the track, like a hockey rink. I sure wouldn't want the job of keeping it clean though. Safety fencing hasn't changed much in 30+ years at many short tracks. That's what needs addressing. Daytona and the other Nascar tracks will fix theirs on their own. BTW,I also remember watching a tire jump a high fence on a 1/4 mile track when I was young. It hit a woman in front of us. I was about 10 and I never forgot it.

[Don Nerone]

Man, I hope it wasn't snow fence. The only snow fences I know are made of wood lathe or plastic. Chain link is probably the best if it's cabled correctly. There's a strong fence that has larger openings that is pretty decent but a lot of debris can get through. I'll call it sheep fencing because it's similar in design, but it isn't made for sheeps. Again, it needs to be cabled correctly. I think Daytona's fence was really good but the crossover gate was not anywhere near adequate. That gave way and allowed the car to hit the post, tearing it apart. It's like a window in a wall. I think the best barrier is a fence like many tracks presently have, with another fence located about 4 feet or more, away from it. That prevents spectators from standing on the fence and provides an additional layer of protection. Maybe we could use Bulletproof glass all around the track, like a hockey rink. I sure wouldn't want the job of keeping it clean though. Safety fencing hasn't changed much in 30+ years at many short tracks. That's what needs addressing. Daytona and the other Nascar tracks will fix theirs on their own. BTW,I also remember watching a tire jump a high fence on a 1/4 mile track when I was young. It hit a woman in front of us. I was about 10 and I never forgot it.

Show feince that is made od 8 gage galv wire in a tyed woven tryangle that looks like chain lenk fence. Its the same thing the supper speedway use now.
this is the fence that we used at USA Speedway in lakelaand...DA WING DING!

[Don Nerone]

Man, I hope it wasn't snow fence. The only snow fences I know are made of wood lathe or plastic. Chain link is probably the best if it's cabled correctly. There's a strong fence that has larger openings that is pretty decent but a lot of debris can get through. I'll call it sheep fencing because it's similar in design, but it isn't made for sheeps. Again, it needs to be cabled correctly. I think Daytona's fence was really good but the crossover gate was not anywhere near adequate. That gave way and allowed the car to hit the post, tearing it apart. It's like a window in a wall. I think the best barrier is a fence like many tracks presently have, with another fence located about 4 feet or more, away from it. That prevents spectators from standing on the fence and provides an additional layer of protection. Maybe we could use Bulletproof glass all around the track, like a hockey rink. I sure wouldn't want the job of keeping it clean though. Safety fencing hasn't changed much in 30+ years at many short tracks. That's what needs addressing. Daytona and the other Nascar tracks will fix theirs on their own. BTW,I also remember watching a tire jump a high fence on a 1/4 mile track when I was young. It hit a woman in front of us. I was about 10 and I never forgot it.

Show feince that is made od 8 gage galv wire in a tyed woven tryangle that looks like chain lenk fence. Its the same thing the supper speedway use now.
this is the fence that we used at USA Speedway in lakelaand...DA WING DING!

[Winger]

I knew you didn't mean snow fence. I think we're talking about the same thing. I don't know the proper name either.

[UREZ2PASS]

The Lakeland fence was not triangular in shape snow fence. It was heavy gauge chain link fence.

[Boneman]

It WAS snow fence, and it worked great. I never once saw snow at Lakeland Speedway.

[UREZ2PASS]

It WAS snow fence, and it worked great. I never once saw snow at Lakeland Speedway.

I think I just peed a little, that is funny.

[Winger]

The humor is great tonight.