Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

You may have seen footage already of Donny Olivers crash and fire from Hanford back in 1997. Recently a show called "Shockwave" on The History Channel did a piece on it. They went a little further than most crash shows do as they took the time to interview a representative of Nomex as well as interviewing Donny himself. It still makes me shiver watching it. What they didn't mention was the heroics of the USAC officials that pulled Donny from the flames. Pretty scary, but thankfully a good out come.

Jeff Kristensen

i don't want to rag on safety crews but at times some of them just don't think when it comes to fire. they worry too much on putting the fire out than they do about how to keep the driver from burning. they could have just tipped that car back on it's wheels and rolled it out of the fire. that would have helped the driver more than trying to put out the fire on the ground. then they could have concentrated on the driver and let the fuel on the track burn out. also when will these small tracks learn that a good supply of water will do more than a little fire extinguisher. a couple of 5 gal buckets of water on a cart that could be rolled to the crash just as east as carrying a fire extinuisher would help to dilute the methanol. a truck with a couple hundred gallons of water with a good gas powered pump would also help more than a few extinguishers with little hoses. a good supply of water is usually the best way to put out a fire involving methanol. as i said i am not ragging on safety crews, just noting what i have seen in the past and what i have seen work.

to indy and beyond!!

I respectfully disagree with Buzz Rightrear ,these safety crew people and the USAC officials acted admirably in this case...to turn that car on it's wheels would have taken at least two super men willing to stand in a fireball........Usac tech regularly checks fuel cap seals and require a tip over vent....anyone buying a containment seat should check to see if it might restrict their ability to get out fast in case of a fire and make a conscious decision....If I ever catch fire I hope these guys are there..

they worry too much on putting the fire out than they do about how to keep the driver from burning

huh?

Jeff Kristensen

I was at that event in 97 and that scared the living crap out of me! Donny was one lucky man that night.

again as i said i am not ragging on the crew. one guy could have grabbed that car by the right side nerf and more than likely pulled it back on it's wheels with out going to the side of the car that the fire was on. midgets don't weigh that much. that would have gotten the driver off the ground and he would not have been lying in the fire. also he would have been able to get out easier. i know things happen fast. my point is some times people see fire and think they have to put it out to save the driver. every situation is different and can call for a different tactic. what is wrong with analysing the thing and seeing what might be done different?

to indy and beyond!!

ever seen a fire crew spend time on putting out the fire on the ground instead of putting out the driver?

to indy and beyond!!