fans hurt at daytona race

[bobby_hamill]

28 fans hurt at Daytona race 2 critical

https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nasc...ash-looked-grandstands-030141340--nascar.html

Bobby

 

[Pantherjon]

Horrific..Only word to describe it, and I am a big NASCAR fan..I have read other reports that the number of injured may be in excess of 30..Track official listed 28, 14 treated on property and 14 others transported off property to local hospitals, they didn't disclose the condition of the injuries...

Hopefully there will not be a huge round of litigation from this.Like it or not there is a release of liability on the tickets people purchase for the races..I am pretty sure most-if not all- of the related medical expenses incurred from the injured will be taken care of by NASCAR's insurance.From what I understand that is what they did after the wreck in Talladega a couple years ago..

 

[troj]

Looking at the video, it appears that the point of failure on the fence is right at the gate, which would naturally be a weak spot.

Regardless, it's very unfortunate, and hopefully none of the injuries result in life-long problems.

-Kevin

 

[Uncrichie]

I really hate to say this (maybe I shouldn't but) a small majority of fans go to races to see this very thing. Unfortunately this time they got it up close and personal!

 

[DAllen]

I really hate to say this (maybe I shouldn't but) a small majority of fans go to races to see this very thing. Unfortunately this time they got it up close and personal!

I don't understand the term "small majority." Is that like an oxymoron or something?

I've been a racing fan for most of my life. I would argue real fans do not want to see anyone wreck much less anyone get injured. Anyone who wants to see a wreck does not understand racing. They aren't a true fan and they should go away.

It's too bad the wreck happened in the first place and it clearly illustrates issues that NASCAR has to overcome IMHO but what I find tragic were fans were injured. There is risk associated with attending almost any sporting even. Even baseball games can be pretty dangerous. Still, fans go to racing for entertainment and they should be able to go knowing they and theirs will be safe.

 

[JPVegh]

Looking at the wreck I'd say that the fence did it's job pretty well, the whole car could have ended up in the stands. I'm not a big fan of NASCAR but I do watch most of the races cuz the wife is a huge fan. If you attend a race you are putting your hearing at risk, the fumes can make you sick and being in the path of a burn out your gonna breath a bunch of burning rubber, you even feel the constant drone of the engines deep in your core which can't be good for you. If your not aware that you might be the target of the occasional flying tire or other track debris then you just aren't paying attention to what happens at these races. Until Scotty beams down and gives us the formulae for transparent aluminum I'm not sure what they can do to make it much safer for the spectators. Doubling up on the up rights might help some but when it comes right down to it it's still just a chainlink fence between you and potential disaster, the fans know that or they should.

 

[belfert]

Regardless of any liability waiver there will be lawyers involved. Lawyers will have all kinds of arguments about why the liability waiver doesn't apply in this case, or why the liability waiver is invalid. They'll ask for monetary damages regardless. Heck, someone filed a lawsuit against Carnival Cruises the day they got off the ship even though it is nearly impossible to win a suit against a cruise line.

NASCAR has spent many millions on increasing safety of their race cars. They even restrict speeds of the cars at Daytona. If unrestricted the cars could exceed 230 MPH easily at Daytona. I seem to recall they make the catch fences stronger after the Talledega incident.

 

[mkadams001]

If you attend a race you are putting your hearing at risk, the fumes can make you sick and being in the path of a burn out your gonna breath a bunch of burning rubber, you even feel the constant drone of the engines deep in your core which can't be good for you.

Your saying that like it's a bad thing.

Take your wife to the US Grand Prix in Austin and compare & contrast the two types of racing.

F1 is starting next month, I can't wait.

 

[TALON]

Here we go! The talking heads are talking about safety & getting the government involved. Now do not get me wrong, there needs to be a high level of safety for the public. But really, you are 5 to 10 feet from vehicles traveling @ 200 MPH how can you make it a 100% safe? If you are that close and do not recognize the danger, than you are eligible for the DARWIN AWARD.
They are talking about baseball being one tragedy away from drastic change. In MOHO people are ignorant if they think they are safe at most sporting events, especially if you are up close & personal. Hockey already went thru this.
Maybe the league/association should do more to make people more aware of the dangers. Not just the generic disclaimer, but more specific to the location that you are sitting (this for the people that can't grasp the dangers).
You are always at risk from a freak event, even at home asleep.
A good example that chaps my butt is the Reno Air Races. Only the Press is allowed to be at the pylons. Now I was lucky to get to the pylons as a member of the press one year and let me tell you it was the biggest rush I ever experienced while being on the ground! I knew it was dangerous and accepted the risk. In fact it was the same year that some photographers almost got hit by parts of an A/C when an engine blew.
If I had a choice of the best seats at any major sports championship I would pick being at the pylons, at the Reno Air Races.
I realized that the stands at Reno was not the safest place on the course the first time I attended
the event. But how many didn't recognize that, and that being inside the course is safer.
But the FAA (Feds Against Aviation) will not allow anyone inside the course.
Being an average photographer and needing the sun behind me I usually do not go into the air
shows in my area because the viewing area is usually on the east side and I am shooting into to
sun. So I find a spot outside the airport that is on the side with the sun behind me. Yes, I also do this to get up close & personal, but I also know if something went wrong I would be vaporized/liquified in an instant. Over the last 10 years the municipalities/authorities have doubled the restricted area. But some years I sneak into that area :wink:.
I was a member of a aviation forum and put forth the idea that people should be able to sign a
waiver and pay a fee to get up close at air shows, be it for photography or just for the rush. I
was severely dressed down because of lawsuits, I am a rush junkie, etc. The day will come when there will be no spectators at a sporting event. Yes I know that with today HD/surround sound it is almost as hood, & some events it is better than attending.
I believe this will be bad for the consumer, that as Ben Franklin stated "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety".
The day will come when the government will want to put a warning inside the womb "leave through this portal could lead to death"

 

[Peter Olivola]

The talking heads have missed what will really push change for NASCAR - the insurance industry. That's where the pressure came from after Dale Earnhardt's death. The most likely outcome, at least short term, will be to embargo the lower seats. The pressure will also be on NASCAR to do something about the checkers or wreckers mentality they've actually fostered in an effort to increase fan interest.

It is highly unlikely any government entity, state or federal, will take this on. It's a low gain/high pain political risk no matter what the outcome.

Here we go! The talking heads are talking about safety & getting the government involved. Now do not get me wrong, there needs to be a high level of safety for the public. But really, you are 5 to 10 feet from vehicles traveling @ 200 MPH how can you make it a 100% safe? If you are that close and do not recognize the danger, than you are eligible for the DARWIN AWARD.
They are talking about baseball being one tragedy away from drastic change. In MOHO people are ignorant if they think they are safe at most sporting events, especially if you are up close & personal. Hockey already went thru this.
Maybe the league/association should do more to make people more aware of the dangers. Not just the generic disclaimer, but more specific to the location that you are sitting (this for the people that can't grasp the dangers).
You are always at risk from a freak event, even at home asleep.
A good example that chaps my butt is the Reno Air Races. Only the Press is allowed to be at the pylons. Now I was lucky to get to the pylons as a member of the press one year and let me tell you it was the biggest rush I ever experienced while being on the ground! I knew it was dangerous and accepted the risk. In fact it was the same year that some photographers almost got hit by parts of an A/C when an engine blew.
If I had a choice of the best seats at any major sports championship I would pick being at the pylons, at the Reno Air Races.
I realized that the stands at Reno was not the safest place on the course the first time I attended
the event. But how many didn't recognize that, and that being inside the course is safer.
But the FAA (Feds Against Aviation) will not allow anyone inside the course.
Being an average photographer and needing the sun behind me I usually do not go into the air
shows in my area because the viewing area is usually on the east side and I am shooting into to
sun. So I find a spot outside the airport that is on the side with the sun behind me. Yes, I also do this to get up close & personal, but I also know if something went wrong I would be vaporized/liquified in an instant. Over the last 10 years the municipalities/authorities have doubled the restricted area. But some years I sneak into that area :wink:.
I was a member of a aviation forum and put forth the idea that people should be able to sign a
waiver and pay a fee to get up close at air shows, be it for photography or just for the rush. I
was severely dressed down because of lawsuits, I am a rush junkie, etc. The day will come when there will be no spectators at a sporting event. Yes I know that with today HD/surround sound it is almost as hood, & some events it is better than attending.
I believe this will be bad for the consumer, that as Ben Franklin stated "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety".
The day will come when the government will want to put a warning inside the womb "leave through this portal could lead to death"

 

[belfert]

The problem for NASCAR is the majority of the fans wouldn't watch a race with drivers just going around in circles for a couple of hours with no action. Fans watch NASCAR to see drivers making dangerous moves, and yes, some of those moves cause crashes.

Some will say that "real" fans don't watch for the crashes, but NASCAR doesn't care if fans are "real" or not. NASCAR will take any fan who will watch a race.

 

[troj]

The talking heads have missed what will really push change for NASCAR - the insurance industry. That's where the pressure came from after Dale Earnhardt's death.

Yep. You can bet the insurance company has already put on the rubber gloves, and begun the proctological exam of NASCAR.

I'm not a NASCAR fan -- car races are pretty boring, to me. But, I know a lot of folks who are, and I'd hate to see something like this ruin the sport.

At the same time, I hate seeing bystanders get hurt. Hopefully they can tweak things a bit, improve safety, and everyone is happy. Well, except the insurance company, which will have some medical bills to take care of, but that's what they're there for.

-Kevin

 

[o1d_dude]

Turns out the driver was a local kid.

Said he knew there was a problem when he saw the asphalt out the side window.

Oddly, he still placed 13th out of 40.

 

[Peter Olivola]

To paraphrase an old expression; when NASCAR sneezes the rest of U.S. motorsports gets a cold. All U.S. motorsports is in a single insurance risk pool. Different organizations are rated differently due to restrictions on their form of competition or risk management programs, but this will cost all of the sport something in the way of an insurance bump.

Yep. You can bet the insurance company has already put on the rubber gloves, and begun the proctological exam of NASCAR.

I'm not a NASCAR fan -- car races are pretty boring, to me. But, I know a lot of folks who are, and I'd hate to see something like this ruin the sport.

At the same time, I hate seeing bystanders get hurt. Hopefully they can tweak things a bit, improve safety, and everyone is happy. Well, except the insurance company, which will have some medical bills to take care of, but that's what they're there for.

-Kevin

 

[Bubba02STi]

First off i hate NASCAR as much as I hate drag racing... 500 laps of turning left in high speed rush hour traffic... its really hard for me to hate a motorsport but unfortunately i cant stand NASCAR or their fans...

It really does suck that this happened but it was bound to happen sooner or later... racing is not a safe sport for either competitor or spectator... No matter what you do there is always a risk... I say take away the catch fence and let the cars run unrestriced... I wonder how many people will sit that close after wards... Now with rally you aren't supposed to sit on the outside exit of a turn... hmmm i wonder why... could it be simple physics of water in a spinning bucket... i wonder when nascar is going to get this memo... or even indy... and guess what... we don't have catch fences... we have trees boulders mountain sides and cliffs to catch us... I hope the injured recover fast and return to racing events in the future...

To paraphrase an old expression; when NASCAR sneezes the rest of U.S. motorsports gets a cold. All U.S. motorsports is in a single insurance risk pool. Different organizations are rated differently due to restrictions on their form of competition or risk management programs, but this will cost all of the sport something in the way of an insurance bump.

NASA CRS and RA try to distant themselves as far away from nascar or any of the other pavement princess racing events... fortunate for us our insurance isnt bad... and all we have for "spectator safety" is caution tape a couple of officials with first aid and fire suppression to walk the line and designated spectator and parking areas... and we don't charge spectators to come and watch... they are every bit a part of our teams as are our mechanics...

PPIHC is a bit different... we do charge spectators but its only $40 and you can sit anywhere you want on the mountain (encouraged not to sit on the outside of a turn or with your back to cliff)... we don't have caution tape... we do have designated parking areas and safety crews along the course...

what happens in nascar does not effect us...

 

[JPVegh]

Your saying that like it's a bad thing.

For me it is a bad thing and a thing that I can do without. I've been to a few NASCAR races and it was a few too many for me. It didn't take me more than a few minutes to figure out that the best seat to a NASCAR race is my easy chair in my living room. Still, if my wife asked me to go with her to another race I would do it just for her but it would be a miserable experience for me.

I actually ran SCCA solo back in the 90s with my X1/9 and that was fun. Thats about as much up close racing action as I can tolerate.

 

[Peter Olivola]

NASA can distance itself from NASCAR all you think it does. It doesn't matter. Everything that happens in U.S. motorsports affects everyone else in U.S. motorsports when it comes to insurance. It may be small on an individual incident basis but the cumulative effect of everything is part of what determines your rates. As for rallying, there have been fatalities within the past decade that have drastically changed the face of the sport. It is a very different animal than it was. Pikes Peak got frighteningly close to major problems last year. Now that the entire route is paved the speeds are higher at the higher elevations than ever before (although it's ironic that the most serious incidents occurred so close to the start.)

You may want to believe you're not affected by NASCAR. Reality, especially in the insurance area, is very different. Another area of the sport that thinks it's exempt from what happens in the rest of it is vintage racing. The formation of a nation wide sanctioning body with the purchase/merger of HSR and SVRA and establishment of a national championship is going bring additional scrutiny. The sub-segment of the insurance industry dealing with motorsports liability isn't a diverse group of separate companies. It's very small and close knit. We all pay a price for each other's tragedies.

NASA CRS and RA try to distant themselves as far away from nascar or any of the other pavement princess racing events... fortunate for us our insurance isnt bad... and all we have for "spectator safety" is caution tape a couple of officials with first aid and fire suppression to walk the line and designated spectator and parking areas... and we don't charge spectators to come and watch... they are every bit a part of our teams as are our mechanics...

PPIHC is a bit different... we do charge spectators but its only $40 and you can sit anywhere you want on the mountain (encouraged not to sit on the outside of a turn or with your back to cliff)... we don't have caution tape... we do have designated parking areas and safety crews along the course...

what happens in nascar does not effect us...

 

[belfert]

I quit watching all but a few NASCAR races simply due to lack of time to spend 3 hours a week watching a race. I didn't even watch the Daytona 500 this year.