Scott Kallita's death, have a question?

Question

Is it true that in many racingi series they have rows of tires stacked up and sand pits to slow and protect drivers if they go of course? What was a big cement wall doing at the end of the dragstrip that killed Scott Kallita?

Answer 1

I just saw the wreck. I agree what was that wall doing there. At least he died doing what he loved. If we could all get that lucky. Thanks for the memories Scott your a drivers driver and a hero to all. We will miss you !!!!

Answer 2

no sand pit is going to stop a car going 250+ his shoot never opened + the sand pits are not long enough for the speed they run today.all in all a lot of factors play into his death. NHRA needs to reevaluate all the tracks!

Answer 3

Ironically, the NHRA made the track owners install the sand/gravel end as a safety precaution. Unfortunately Scott struck the concrete & metal pole that held up the safety netting.

A feakishly one in a million thing to happen. Raceway park is within a 1/2 hr from me.

This was the article in the local paper.

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...

Answer 4

i commented on this as well...

first, there is a sand pit.  it's to stop cars cruising at much lower speeds than 200-300 mph.  the wall is there because not 100 yards past the wall there is a road and a parking lot.  they can't chance an incident such as exactly this where if there was not wall, it would have gone straight through to the street.  they would have MUCH bigger liability issues at that point, seeing as a lot of people in the area want the track done away with for noise issues.  they would just jump on the opportunity to sue the pants of englishtown, nhra, etc.  so that's the sacrifice that englishtown and the drivers who drive there must make.  all-in-all it was a freak accident and one that doesn't occur often (obviously).  it was a whole series of events that can be blamed for the ultimate outcome....not just the wall.  mostly the chutes not opening correctly could be the first and main cause since they would have slowed him down from 300+ mph and impact might not have been so devastating.  still that's just speculation...anything could have happened.  and in this particular case i don't feel that any longer track would have cause a different outcome.  they can't make it a mile long, that's just not realistic.

i have the philosophy of when it's you're time to go...you'll go.

Answer 5

There are alot of safety precautions and regulations to help protect racers, but in the end there will always be an element of danger.

You cannot take away the element of risk in a sport like this one. He was one truly great racer, and he will be missed.

Answer 6

There is a sand pit.  He went right through it.  They are too small to stop a car going 250+ mph.  He also had the freakishly bad luck to hit a cement pillar that holds up the safety net at the end of the sand pit.

The sand pits should be larger to deal with todays higher speeds.  I'm not sure the size has changed in decades.  At his speed I don't think tires would help.

Answer 7

if you noticed in the replay of this unfoutante death his parachute never fully opened up. the sand pit is there to stop the cars that get that far and most of the time the back wall is the back side of the tracks property it is to keep animals and other of the track

Answer 8

Yeah!  My thoughts exactly!  Dunno it makes No sense at all!