Tragic Accident For Dragster Youth

[Dibbons]

I never knew about junior drag racing before:

 

[dadsbee]

Sad, but old news here.

 

[padam]

Unbelievable tragedy.
I used to think all the safety gear they had was over done, but I guess I didn’t know it was so dangerous.

I couldn’t fathom find out what happened, and honestly I don’t even want to know.

But some of those things are almost as fast as my car. Not toys.

 

[440 4 speed]

Our track has had a JR Dragster class probably for 16 years. We were NHRA when we started it. It is a member owned track.
They only run 1/8 mile. There are two class breaks. I think 7-9, 10-12.
Junior Street starts at 13.

 

[Budnicks]

Sad stuff read that in the recent Dragzine, newsletter
IIRC I read, it was her 1st 'full run' too IIRC,
sucks for that to happen, for any ages
my deepest condolences goes out to her family & friends

 

[RR Fan Dan]

Sad

 

[Sam69sat]

Wonder if the parents have regrets?

 

[440 4 speed]

Maybe the same as you might if you were unfortunate enough to have that happen. Heaven forbid.
Every time our son’s, granddaughter, nephew and great nephew who will be racing this year I always worry. Every time.
I have been going to the track since 1967. Pit crewed for my brother that year.

 

[Dennis H]

Story came out slow as to cause. Car lost control, hit a track worker, then a wall. Sad.

 

[440 4 speed]

Wonder if the parents have regrets?

I have to add more. Sometimes Canadians have generally been told they are too polite. So I have to forget about that.
I think your comment ranks as one of the most thoughtless, narcissistic, uncaring statements I have heard in many years.
You don’t seem to have any empathy for the bereaved family!

 

[440 4 speed]

Story came out slow as to cause. Car lost control, hit a track worker, then a wall. Sad.

Does anyone know how the track worker is?

 

[Sam69sat]

I have to add more. Sometimes Canadians have generally been told they are too polite. So I have to forget about that.
I think your comment ranks as one of the most thoughtless, narcissistic, uncaring statements I have heard in many years.
You don’t seem to have any empathy for the bereaved family!

I think it should be considered wreckless child endangerment to let a 7 YEAR OLD drag race. She should be driving bumper cars at that age not a dragster. I feel for the girl that was taken away as a result of her narcissistic parents poor decision. This should never have happened. JMO

 

[dadsbee]

Why is it any different than letting 7 year olds moto cross or go cart. Same **** with the odd sad outcome...

 

[moparedtn]

Does anyone know how the track worker is?

After some time searching, it appears there's only two reports of the incident in the MSM and all outlets either
repeated one or the other verbatim - so I failed to find anything further on that worker, sorry.
I did see where a GoFundMe was able to raise considerable funds for the families' expenses - as well as
the statements of the family, the track and NHRA as well, all saying the right things.

There will, of course, be those who feel the need to judge the parents, the track, the program or NHRA itself
for the accident; that's to be expected, of course.
This isn't the time for that, however. Out of respect for those who are mourning (and yes, injured in at least
one case), that is a subject best hashed out with time (and no doubt, in courtrooms and such).

Prayers for all affected. Condolences for the family.

 

[padam]

In the course of my searching I discovered that hers is not the only death in jr dragster.

There was a case of a girl in Australia who died on her first pass, and at least one other I found.

Like I posted earlier, I didn’t think they were that dangerous.

The sad thing is that kids die in all kinds of sports and activities. One of mine had a really bad injury from baseball. We can’t wrap them (or ourselves) in bubble wrap. One of life’s mysteries.

 

[moparedtn]

In the course of my searching I discovered that hers is not the only death in jr dragster.

There was a case of a girl in Australia who died on her first pass, and at least one other I found.

Like I posted earlier, I didn’t think they were that dangerous.

The sad thing is that kids die in all kinds of sports and activities. One of mine had a really bad injury from baseball. We can’t wrap them (or ourselves) in bubble wrap. One of life’s mysteries.

Precisely what I was saying to my wife last night on the subject. Not only can't we seal them in a room until they're of age,
we don't even know the particulars of this event so there's no way of knowing what ultimately was the cause.

I want to avoid the typical next day armchair quarterbacking that is so damn prevalent online anymore; everyone quick
to condemn and place blame....
It's not only silly to do so before knowing the facts but it's disrespectful to those so tragically affected, too.

 

[padam]

Along with the loss of a child must come the guilt of thinking you’re somehow to blame. A living hell.

 

[Nxcoupe]

I once heard this, and have taken it to heart every minute of every day since: Having a vhild is being brave enough to allow your heart to walk outside your body. Anyone who is a parent understands youhave to let them experience things to find out what they like, but you will hold your breath the entire time they're doing it. My daughter is 19, and I am still hesitant to let her drag race a 17 sec car. But she wants to do it to see what I do.

 

[Coelacanth]

A Canuck with a different opinion...My 14-year-old daughter will be learning to drive next spring, that worries me a fair amount. But drag racing at HALF that age? That's a totally different risk ballpark. I would think if you're not permitted to drive until you're 14 (here in Canada anyway), why the hell are you allowed to drag race?

 

[Dennis H]

If I had a daughter 14-19 years old, I’d have other worries than motorsports. They would have to be locked away from the boys most times….