scott kalitta

[Jim Oaks]

I can't believe it.

I was replaying it wondering if he pulled the chute before or after the explosion. I kind of hope that when the motor blew it knocked him out and he never had the chance to realize he was in trouble.

We've seen people crawl out of some very fiery (spelling?) crashes as long as they're conscious and could pull the chute. Especially if they could deploy the fire supression system. Unfortunately, there have been occassions when drivers have been knocked out and were never able deploy their chutes and fire supression systems. I don't think there has ever been a crash this dramatic.

It would be nice if there was a way to make the chute and fire supression system automatically deploy when something tragic happens and the driver may have lost the ability.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

It would be nice if there was a way to make the chute and fire supression system automatically deploy when something tragic happens and the driver may have lost the ability.

Really that is what it looks like, I would think he would have been getting on the brakes and backing off power if he was still able to pull the chute.

Making something softer than a concrete wall to stop runaways wouldn't be a bad idea either...

 

[Jim Oaks]

Really that is what it looks like, I would think he would have been getting on the brakes and backing off power if he was still able to pull the chute.

Making something softer than a concrete wall to stop runaways wouldn't be a bad idea either...

Ya, I'm a little confused by that. I thought there was a big sandtrap at the end of those tracks(?).

 

[Jim Oaks]

I just read this:

Don Prudhomme, a legendary figure in drag racing, witnessed the scene and said Kalitta's car "went into a million pieces.''

"I haven't witnessed anything like that in a number of years,'' Prudhomme said. "These cars, for the most part, are pretty damn safe. As many runs as we make down a quarter-mile, as many runs as he's made, they're pretty damn safe.

"The car didn't slow up enough, (the car) got airborne, and he happened to hit a post that's virtually impossible to do. I mean, I would've never thought that that could happen. I would've never thought that you could get airborne and hit that guardrail and hit that post.''

The concrete post, Prudhomme said, serves as support for the safety net that's designed to catch cars veering off the strip. Since Kalitta's parachute never deployed, Prudhomme said the car "never had a chance'' once it hit the post at such a rapid speed.

"I don't think it's the track's fault. I just don't,'' said Prudhomme, team owner for Top Fuel driver Larry Dixon. "If I thought it was a dangerous racetrack, if I thought it was the NHRA's fault, I wouldn't be here. It was unheard of to see that. I was just stunned.''

 

[RhainyC]

As a former bracket car driver in NHRA for many years I can honestly tell you he died doing what he loved...it gets in a person's blood. I am sorry I never had the pleasure of meeting him, he will be missed I am sure by many.

Every driver knows, when he/she gets behind the wheel and fires up that motor...it could be their last race...Godspeed Scott!

 

[Jim Oaks]

I tried to show my wife today and found that Youtube took the videos down.

 

[Danger06Ranger]

i found a new link
http://jalopnik.com/396760/the-horrifying-scott-kalitta-funny-car-crash-video-as-shown-by-espn2