Re: Gremlin rollover & NHRA's Darrell Russell

["amc74hornet" <AMC74HORNET@xxxx>]

--- In BaadAssGremlins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Eddie Stakes" <eddiestakes@xxxx> wrote:
> You are lucky to have walked away from that Gremlin crash. That is a
> testimonial as to how well the cage was built. Screw the car, any lifeless
> piece of metal can be replaced, you can't. But it is a risk one takes when
> they put on a helmet too. I'm happy you are even able to post with your
> fingers telling us about the experience as opposed to not having hands, or
> laid up in hospital or even worse, like this local NHRA boy from Hockley,
> which is about 40 miles from me. He died. So good to hear you are fine!
> ===================================
> Darrell Russell dies in Top Fuel crash
> 
> 
> From Star news services
> June 28, 2004
> 
> 
> NHRA drag racer Darrell Russell died Sunday night from injuries suffered in
> a violent crash during the Sears Craftsman Nationals at Gateway
> International Raceway in Madison, Ill.
> 
> Russell, a 35-year-old native of Hockley, Texas, had just lost to Scott
> Kalitta in the second round of eliminations when his Top Fuel dragster
> crashed while running about 300 mph at the end of the quarter-mile strip at
> Gateway International Raceway.
> 
> Russell is the first participant to be killed in competition at an NHRA
> national event since Blaine Johnson died in a crash during a qualifying run
> at the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1996.
> 
> Sunday's event continued after about a 45-minute delay. NHRA officials
> informed the media of Russell's death about two hours after the crash. No
> announcement was made to crowd of about 25,000.
> 
> "The event continues," said Graham Light, NHRA vice president of racing
> operations. "I think Darrell would have wanted that. We're not going to
> announce it to the crowd at this point. I don't think there's anything to be
> gained by doing that."
> 
> Russell's car went out of control just past the finish line. It appeared to
> shred a tire after Russell activated his parachute to slow his 2,200-pound
> car.
> 
> The car went sideways as it lost control and wound up going back against the
> concrete wall to the left of the lane in which Russell had been racing. The
> NHRA safety crew was rolling toward it immediately and quickly extinguished
> a small fire that erupted around the remains of the car.
> 
> Dan Brickey, director of emergency medical services for the NHRA, said the
> driver's compartment was intact when the rescue team arrived. The workers
> cut away the roll cage, immobilized Russell's spine and then took off his
> helmet and the required head-and-neck restraint device before loading him
> onto a backboard and taking him to the ambulance.
> 
> Brickey said Russell was unconscious but breathing when he was taken by
> helicopter to St. Louis University Medical Center, where he was pronounced
> dead about two hours later.
> 
> Category winners were Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Gary Scelzi (Funny Car), Greg
> Anderson (Pro Stock) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Bike).
> 
> Eddie Stakes
> www.planethoustonamx.com
> *Note volume of email is
> extremely heavy, expect
> 5-12 day responses

I just heard about Russel On the show Wind Tunnel on the Speed Channel. A very sad thing, very sad.
"Doc"