| OCR Text |
a Danger at the Track Potential hazards abound at motor speedway and dragstrips. Every track is different, but the oval shown here — a composite a major spoeceeny and small dirt and asphalt tracks — showsto} trouble spots for drivers, workers and spectators. . 2ti- P om & 260 racing deaths since 1990 Vehicles with bodies : of mass-produced = passenger cars and Open-wheel cars with short bodies; drivers enciosedin : Different types of : Open-wheel cars speed down vehicles with an eighth- or trucks roll cages Note: Does not inctude three deaths each in kart and Figure 8 races. stock car-style + = 18 deaths 16 deaths Sedans and open- Open-wheel wheel cars race on tracks with No barrier long, narrow numerousturns bodies breaking through fence ) ( of safety barriers 8 deaths Problem with emergency response Sedans and open- wheelvehicles race on unpaved Safety tips for fans Rescue response capabilities are inconsistent; some trackslackfiretrucks, and others lack ambulances ‘Punting’ deaths courses Of 16 spectator deaths in grandstands since 1990,five happened whencars hit loose parts on the track, “punting” George Knight, an Oklahoma insurer who has covered small U.S. tracks for three decades,offers these safety them into the Flagman DaveInnes — oneof at least 14 track workers killed at races since 1990 — washit by an airborne race car while standing on a 5-foot stand at New Jersey's Wall Stadium in 1994 Cars penetrating fence —cebies keep car from ‘Since 1990, at least 16 pave bon Wild niltear Flag stands Some hazards m4 cars with Safety fence construction Fences range from 9 to 22 feet tall, depending on the track tips for fans attending a race: @ Don'tsit in bleachers located at a turn, where crashes are common In July, Virginia Whyel was killed Charles Wehrien died in when two cars sailed over a 2000 after their wheels locked and their cars flew guardrail, through a fence and into the grandstands at Ohio's Lorain off the track at Bronson 100s ‘Oc saquiaaoyy ‘Aepson, QNIOVH OLAV oUunquy aye]ses oul . > = Trouble spot at front of stands should not “Wedon''t allow peopie to sit in a tum” at the approximately 250 tracks his companyhasinsured, he says Speedway @ Watchto see how the night's program is being run Florida, which has since Pit entrance problems “if it's sloppy,if the races don't run on time and the promoter doesn't contro! the races, | wouldn't go,” he says Drivers sometimes hit the ends of guardrails or walls atthepit entrance or other spotson the track; those areas need to be cushioned, experts say Collisions with walls More than60 drivers died Drag strip hazards Mostexperts advocate Oil, grease or water on the quarter-mile track can cause cars to go outof control and crash at more than 300 mph after slamminginto walls head restraints and the development of energyabsorbing materials for walls and cars line Drivers’ health goes unmonitored Fiuts or holes in dirt tracks can cause axies to break Most small tracks don't require any proof of good health Most tracksallow spectators into the pit areas of heart attacks during or immediately after races ‘Smalltracks often charge an eventhoughsince 1990, more than 30 drivers have died and cars to crash; dirt can build up in the comers, creating mounds that make it possible for to vault over track barriers extra fee, and people who there usually sign liabili 2 eee waivers 29 «4 Who was killed Drivers aren't the only people who die in track 4 ind iad Drivers Spectators Track Crew Joumalists staft 19 F 13 2 es of puaniatthen 8 Figures show gradual > increase in deaths as . time passes 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 - Risk peaks in middle-ageyears; Jan.-Oct. elderly victims 2001 few very young or In 1996, Vickie Lynn Foster waskilled and 5 > her 5-year-old son wascritically injured : Off ond of track Atleast nine drag racers and onefan have died since 1990 when cars ranoff tracks 3 ea 0-9 Starting line ©2001 KRT when a dragster tumbled over a guardrail and chain-link fence and into the bleachers at Sumerduck Dragwayin Virginia typeottrack 8 Big ovals are those more than a mile around; small ovals are 1 mile or less in circumference ea Figure Off 8 road Road Big oval Drag Small. oval |
