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Other than having the Stones hire Hell's Angels for security, but during my NARC portion of a personal racing history project, I came across that night and would like to get those who were witness to the bizarre series of events to recall how they saw what went down during the Feature that Sunday, July 9th, 1978.
Thanks.
From the deal I read, this is what I got out of it...
Bruce Canepa was leading Les Blakeley and Johnny Anderson in the scheduled 25-lap Feature at the four-lap mark when all hell breaks loose. Jan Opperman was in the middle of the pack coming down the frontstretch when he climbs the right rear wheel of Tom Patton sending Opperman into a violent series of about at least a dozen end-over-end flips down the frontstretch finally coming to rest in turn 1. Phil Pedlar was attempting to swerve out of the way only to slam into the turn 1 crash wall where his own Crew and Oppermans's car owner, Ray Smith were standing. Taking about fifteen minutes to extricate Opperman from the car in wreckage that seemingly took the beating of being pounded deep into the racing surface very well. Once everyone was secured for transport, the ambulance taking Opperman and crewman, Chuck McCauley for a foot injury had just left the speedway when itself catches on fire and burned to the ground. Nobody was injured in that deal as everyone including the injured were out in time. Opperman was transported in another ambulance to Tracy Memorial Hospital for x-rays which showed he had a broken bone in his right wrist. Others that were transported in personal vehicles and treated at Tracy were Pedlar with a left shoulder injury, Smith with abrasions and broken bones in both lower legs, Paul Malliot with a shoulder injury along with Troy and Bill Rutherford both with feet injuries. Two of Pedlar's Crew Guys had ducked moments before the hit as everyone else was eyed on the Opperman wreckage. Minutes later, a California Highway Patrolman directing traffic at the scene of the ambulance fire was struck by a moving vehicle and was seriously injured. Meanwhile all this is going on, a large grass fire (not directly related to any of this) was blazing within a mile-and-a-half of the Speedway had caused a temporary closure of Interstate 580 near the track. With all this that had happened, Officials cancel the event and was rescheduled to July 30th.
I would venture to guess this kind of shit happens in California all the time, so maybe other than floods, earthquakes, a race riot or some protest, this must have just been another day...
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I would venture to guess this kind of shit happens in California all the time, so maybe other than floods, earthquakes, a race riot or some protest, this must have just been another day...
yep, sounds normal to me. can't wait for next year. that reminds me to call BF and have him save me a kaeding performance first aid kit.
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