Another fiunny car driver killed here at Raceway Park.

[VINMAN]

This afternoon another Funny car driver was killed on the same track that Scott kalitta was killed on two years ago.
Apparently he had the same problem the Kallita had in the runoff area, and ran through the retaining net.
My stepdaughter is an investigator with the medical examiner, she was called to the scene.
It's still being investigated, so no info has been released yet.

My condlences go out to his family.

HIGH-SPEED TAFC ACCIDENT CLAIMS LIFE

Written by Bobby Bennett Friday, 11 June 2010 15:28



NHRA STATEMENT REGARDING HIGH-SPEED CRASH AT NHRA SUPERNATIONALS




Jim GarrahanTop Alcohol Funny Car racer Neal Parker, 58, from Millville, N.J., crashed today at a high rate of speed in the shutdown area during qualifying for the NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park and was pronounced dead. NHRA officials and the New Jersey State Police are investigating the accident. On behalf of everyone at NHRA and Raceway Park, we are deeply saddened and want to pass along our sincere condolences to the entire Parker family.

12:35 PM, EST. - A high-speed crash during the first session of Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying has put competition on hold at the NHRA SuperNationals in Englishtown, NJ.

The driver, whose identity hasn’t been released by the NHRA, ran through the safety net in the Old Bridge Township Raceway Park shutdown area. The New Jersey State Police have confirmed a fatality in the accident.

We’ll have details as soon as the NHRA makes an official statement

[herr_oberst]

RIP, Neal.

Vinnie - do you know? Were they using 1320 for the TAFC's?

That is such a bummer. Englishtown is just steeped in history, I'd hate to see it shut down to the floppers and the rails.

Can the track be retrofitted to modern standards, or are there land and population issues?

[crustychief]

I remember the Kalitta crash, just horrible. RIP, Neal.

[sammyg2]

It's a very dangerous job. That's why they get big bucks and why most people would never do it.
While sad, I do not see it as tragic. I see it as inevitable. I have a hard time pretending to act surprised that people who operate vehicles with that much power and speed and that are purposefully designed to be on the edge of out of control occasionally get killed doing it.
I don't want to see it happen but it does and I have accepted that fact.

THEY KNOW IT'S DANGEROUS AND THEY CHOOSE TO DO IT ANYWAY!

I've never gone 250 in a quarter mile but I've gone over 140 in a boat and also in a car in drag races (not at the same time ). I knew when I did it there was a chance I could die and I was OK with that.

The threat of danger is what makes it so enticing. if they slowed the cars down and did everything possible to take the risk out of it, no one would watch and very few would race.

There's a reason we don't see junior dragster races on the wild world of sports. It's because no one cares except the kids in the race and their rich daddies.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

RIP, Neal.

Vinnie - do you know? Were they using 1320 for the TAFC's?

That is such a bummer. Englishtown is just steeped in history, I'd hate to see it shut down to the floppers and the rails.

Can the track be retrofitted to modern standards, or are there land and population issues?

+1

I hate to see someone die...

I also hate to see them slow down the cars.

Can't they improve the runoff area at this track?

[VINMAN]

There were some improvement made to the configuration of the run off area after Kalittas crash. But guess it wasnt good enough. One of the problems is there is a main road right at the end of the runoff, after the catch net and gravel trap. So it cannot be lengthened any more. I forget the length of the deceleration and runoff, but it is pretty long.
From what I understand his chute didnt deploy.

I've raced down this track many many times, but even in a street car and bike, it does seem like the end of the track comes up pretty fast. I couldnt imagine what its like at 250mph.

[Neilk]

Sad. Have they considered arrestor hooks like on an aircraft carrier? Seems like they could put a hook of some sort on the rear of the car pretty easily.

[scottmandue]

Well, damn the history... lots of famous old tracks have been reconfigured, relocated, or shut down.

At those speeds they need more runoff space... this is not rocket science... even running into those nets looks like a pretty dangerous event.

[air-cool-me]

Are those speeds outside the envelope of modern ejection seats?

just saying...

[crustychief]

No but the altitude probably is.