Fatality at HPR Today

XA-Coupe · 08-10-2006, 08:36 PM

Looks like someone has been killed at HPR. Not a lot more known than that right now. Some links

Link To News.Com.Au

Not good, not good at all

Ryan · 08-10-2006, 08:43 PM

Not very good at all.

Condolences, to his friends and family.

ratter · 08-10-2006, 08:45 PM

Sorry I had just started another thread in this, can some one delet it thanks

I hope it was no one from here.

RG · 08-10-2006, 08:45 PM

Bugger, not good at all. But we do all accept and take the risk when we do these type of things. Still not a very nice thing to happen and my conolances to their family and friends.

egosfast · 08-10-2006, 08:59 PM

Doogstar and I were at HPR today to test Doug's new tune.
The car involved was a jet engined drag car called "Aussie Thunder".
I'm afraid I did not get the drivers name.

On his 3rd run it appeared a gust of wind caught him at about 3/4 track and
he lost control and veered across the track and through the left lane wall.
He was doing about 165-170 mph at the time. The car broke up and all we could see was a ball of flame and smoke and dust.

Melz · 08-10-2006, 08:50 PM

From initial reports, not saying that this is fact. The driver was from Japan, who took the car to HPR for a test prior to taking it back to Japan.

Condolences to his family and friends.

XA-Coupe · 08-10-2006, 08:55 PM

After so many years with no one getting more than a rough up, we have fatal crashes all over the place. A reminder to take care.

LUXO_8 · 09-10-2006, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XA-Coupe

After so many years with no one getting more than a rough up, we have fatal crashes all over the place. A reminder to take care.

i agree...its pretty crazy how all of this seems to be happening all at once...

very tragic time in australian motorsport...

Firefox7 · 09-10-2006, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XA-Coupe

After so many years with no one getting more than a rough up, we have fatal crashes all over the place. A reminder to take care.

Hmmm I'm starting to have second thoughts whether I should run in the "race to the pie" hill climb....90% of this hillclimb is over 200kph and has rock walls everywhere.

Cheers

Doogstar · 09-10-2006, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firefox7

Hmmm I'm starting to have second thoughts whether I should run in the "race to the pie" hill climb....90% of this hillclimb is over 200kph and has rock walls everywhere.

Well.. I was there today and I will still be racing again.

347_XR8 · 08-10-2006, 09:25 PM

I'm shocked
My condolences to the family and all involved

MightyXR6Turbo · 08-10-2006, 09:51 PM

Geeze, another Jet engine powered dragster accident... first "Hampster" from Top Gear, now this poor guy... it just shows that perhaps jet engines should be left on aircraft.

egosfast · 08-10-2006, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyXR6Turbo

Geeze, another Jet engine powered dragster accident... first "Hampster" from Top Gear, now this poor guy... it just shows that perhaps jet engines should be left on aircraft.

Yeah, there's just no margin for error in those things.

Doogstar · 08-10-2006, 11:01 PM

I am still in shock from today, everyone involved in drag racing know's that such accidents are a possibilty, but no-one expects it to happen.

It was really gusty out there today, I got a few gusts of cross wind when I was down near the end of the track which made the car twitch, but as I was in my Falcon which is quite heavy so it wasn't a concern. In the Jet car though, with not much weight in the front and heaps in the back, the wind was lethal.

As we watched the crash, I couldn't believe my eyes. It happened so quick that I doubt the driver knew what happened.

My sincere and heartfelt condolences go out the the family and friends of the driver.

X ORSMXR · 08-10-2006, 11:33 PM

Sorry to hear, just shows how dangerous motorsport/ Driving in any conditions weather it be on the street or track.

In the past few weeks seeing the crock hunter and the legend Peter Brock lose their lives has changed the way l drive and act on the road also life in general as l think there is more to life than driving/ racing cars hard.

My thoughts are with his family and freinds....RIP

Redrum · 09-10-2006, 12:05 AM

Terrible news, I feel for those that lost their loved one.

SpoolMan · 09-10-2006, 12:17 AM

No one likes to see this in any sport, condolences to the family .

montyv8 · 09-10-2006, 02:45 PM

an update:

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...005961,00.html

The Monty · 09-10-2006, 03:21 PM

Bloody hell, how many more deaths in motorsport are we going to have? Not good to see, and my condolences go out to his family.

blueoval · 09-10-2006, 04:43 PM

Man this is crazy.

Way too many deaths in motorsport already.

This is tragic for all motorsport fans.

RIP

Quadcams · 09-10-2006, 05:46 PM

Heavy duty!

Condolances to family and friends.

Doogstar · 09-10-2006, 07:16 PM

While searching for an update on the HPR tradegy, I found out there was a death at the Go-Karts in Port Melbourne as well:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...005961,00.html

Here is a link to a updated news article for the jet-car @ HPR;
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...32-661,00.html

This was the first fatality at HPR in it's 30 year history.

BPXR6T · 10-10-2006, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doogstar

While searching for an update on the HPR tradegy, I found out there was a death at the Go-Karts in Port Melbourne as well:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...005961,00.html

Here is a link to a updated news article for the jet-car @ HPR;
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...32-661,00.html

This was the first fatality at HPR in it's 30 year history.

I used to hang out at that place a bit. We'd shunt each over into the tyres for fun. Never really thought of a go kart center go kart as being lethal.

**russellw** · 09-10-2006, 07:15 PM

A sad day indeed. Between the Karting accident at Port Melbourne, Mark Porter at Bathurst and this one at HPR it has been a very dark weekend for Australian Motorsport.

Our thoughts with all the families involved.

Regards
Russ

UNRULY · 14-10-2006, 11:27 AM

Brings the message home that safety is a huge priority. Invest in the best safety gear you can fellas. Even if your car doesn't require a roll cage (eg ANDRA regs), why not have one for your own safety. Rolling a car at 200kph it will be game over, but why not give yourself every chance. My car that Im building has a moly cage, I race with a fire resistant race suit and gloves every run, all of this with an 11 sec car.

AFPGS · 14-10-2006, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XA-Coupe

Looks like someone has been killed at HPR. Not a lot more known than that right now. Some links

Link To News.Com.Au

Not good, not good at all

Not good at all,it's tracks like these that should be banned.

Doogstar · 14-10-2006, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFPGS

Not good at all,it's tracks like these that should be banned.

Don't agree at all, it was in NO WAY the tracks fault. The guys at Heathcote are very aware of safety and the track is in great condition.

The driver knew the risk, it was a jet powered dragster FFS.

In hindsight, he should have called it a day before that run, as it was very gusty up there that day, but that was HIS CALL not Heathcote's.

Casper · 14-10-2006, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFPGS

Not good at all,it's tracks like these that should be banned.

Tracks like what? Heathcote is well run, the track is in excellent condition and the equipment is first rate. I'd rather run there than Calder.

I dont think the track or the staff/owners can be blamed in any way, shape or form! Strapping yourself into a jetcar is hardly what I'd consider a safe sport and every now and then accidents happen. To say the track should be banned takes the logic that Bathurst should be banned (been a few deaths there now), go kart tracks should be banned and all public road tracks like the Targa Tasmania should be banned.

AFPGS · 14-10-2006, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casper

Tracks like what? Heathcote is well run, the track is in excellent condition and the equipment is first rate. I'd rather run there than Calder.

I dont think the track or the staff/owners can be blamed in any way, shape or form! Strapping yourself into a jetcar is hardly what I'd consider a safe sport and every now and then accidents happen. To say the track should be banned takes the logic that Bathurst should be banned (been a few deaths there now), go kart tracks should be banned and all public road tracks like the Targa Tasmania should be banned.

You are kidding,firstly there is no ambulance on site safety equipment isn't really up to scratch either.Bathurst and the likes have medical staff and the likes you really can't compare.
Casper look around mate V8 GT's are that much in demand they are selling for over 400k :the_finge I am glad i have a few tucked away in the shed you never know retirement may be around the corner. :hihi:

FRDGAL · 14-10-2006, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFPGS

Casper look around mate V8 GT's are that much in demand they are selling for over 400k :the_finge I am glad i have a few tucked away in the shed you never know retirement may be around the corner. :hihi:

Mate, if that shed gets full, I'll happily build a garage at my place to help ya out with space if need be :Up_to_som

As far as Heathcote. I can't comment on which track is better as I've only ever run on Heathcote (although I've heard alot of neg's about Calder) but I have to agree with the mentioned safety concerns. I don't think there are enough safety measures in place at the track but other than that, I think that the track is run very well.

As far as what happen last weekend - the track cannot be blamed for what happen last weekend. It was an accident that was NOT caused by any fault on the tracks surface or such. It was cross-wind. It was an extremely unfortunate thing but it happen. To blame the operators of Heathcote is unfair. And to say the track should be banned is a bit far I reckon.

That's my say on it...
Krissy