TRY ‘SOFT’ BARRICADES
I sometimes disagree with Jeff, but in this issue's column, I agree with him completely. In the wake of Eric Medlen's tragic death, there will be a huge knee-jerk reaction calling for NHRA to do something. About the only thing they could do is, as Jeff mentions, perhaps go to the "soft" barricade that the roundy-rounds use vs the steel and/or concrete guardrails found at most drag strips. However, as he pointed out, many of NHRA's cars are running over 50% faster at the end of the quarter mile than those other guys run on their super speedways. The effectiveness of those soft barriers might be questionable at fuel car speeds. Even some of the so-called "amateur" classes run well over 200 mph. So, would those barriers be effective? Maybe not for the really fast cars, but they could certainly help a slower car.
I don't know what caused Medlen's crash, but I'm certain that there will be some analysis as to what caused it in the first place. But this is a dangerous business and Eric Medlen knew it was dangerous, yet he chose to do it anyway. Anybody who straps on a race car, be it a fueler or a footbrake racer, knows that anything can happen at any time.
What I'm trying to say is, before the call goes out for heads to roll because of Medlen's unfortunate crash, let's all take a good look at the crash itself and then maybe at how effective another barrier system might have been. The cost to replace it must be factored in as well. It may be years before another crash such as this one occurs. The cost may simply not be justified.
Steve Graham
Raleigh, NC
CHECK THE CHASSIS
I hope the terrible accident that killed Medlen had nothing to do with the heat treated 4130 (brittle) fiasco that NHRA and SFI perpetrated on the racers. Murph has a chassis design problem and Cory and a few others can attest to what happens when the chassis breaks. NHRA and SFI have tried to cover up what any engineer knows. If you want to heat treat 4130 it must be done after the welding not before.
Rob Daniel
Wyoming
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MAKE ERIC’S LEGACY COUNT
The loss of Eric Medlen is difficult to accept. It stuns us that an excellent driver with the finest team, equipment, training, and professional skill ever assembled, had such a tragic accident. While we mourn deeply for Eric's family, we also begin to look for answers to his passing. Perhaps they're not readily evident, but it’s important to look as it’s an integral part of the healing process for us and our sport. The answers we seek are not about blame. Rather, given the same circumstances, they are about what can be done to avoid a similar outcome? When one of the best driver's in the world has an accident, there is something to learn; something to share.
In Eric's life, he met his commitments and tremendously enhanced our sport. Now, we need to meet our commitment to ensure that his passing results in enhancement to our sport. Were the outcome different, I feel certain that Eric would be leading the effort. Godspeed, Eric.
Ken
Virginia
SAFETY BACKUP
Three hundred-mph cars should never be allowed to tune and test without a 100 percent full compliment of Safety Safari trucks (at least 2 w/ 4 people each) medical, and security on site. Although there was 1 Safety Safari truck on site at this testing however that is not always the rule. NASCAR and IRL mandate this for a reason and yes it could be enforced (say a 1 year suspension if caught). Everyone says safety is first; it’s time to start practicing it.
Randy
Texas
SHORTEN TRACK AND IMPROVE GUARDRAILS
After attending my first 1/8-mile drag race (not intentionally) I have seen the solution. I was at first expecting a boring race in San Antonio after they announced the track problems. I left after they closed Saturday's racing well satisfied and as deaf as I would have been at a full 1/4-mile event. Both sanctioning bodies need to look at the results and CHANGE all future races to 1/8 mile.
Safer barriers, YES. 1/8 mile, YES.
RD Jones
Dale, Texas