Ken Etter injured in an accident at Fontana - Page 8

Ed Fernandez · 08-25-2010, 07:26 PM

Maybe someone can enlighten me on this.Would I be correct believing that the rod is falling out when the drivers foot is releasing the pedal at a much faster rate than it is in normal use?It seems that it puts a lot of force on the restraining item that holds the rod in place.I think I'm going to try and install a collar around the rod and some kind of limiter to allow the pedal to go back only as far as a point that the rod has minimal clearance from the piston.I don't think it can hurt.Any thoughts?

kingsransomracing · 08-25-2010, 08:05 PM

I was there racing that weekend and didn't hear anything on the radio so we took a ride down to the end of the track and saw fire trucks and everything there. Once I saw the car...I knew who it was and was hoping that Ken was ok....it didn't look good...after seeing the k-rail he broke in half, and how the car stopped probably 50 feet past the wall..I honestly had my doubts someone could live through that. I am so happy to see Ken still here with us and with only the injuries he came out with.

After hearing about these rods coming out a few years back (I have only been racing about 7 years). I have a '69 chevelle with an emergency brake pedal that is operated with your foot. What we do when we get to the track is remove the emergency brake handle, and slide a brass tube over the shaft, then screw the handle back on....This eliminates the ratcheting in the emergency brake and allows it to work like a normal brake. I have tested this for about 1000 feet of the shut down area and it will do enough to stop my 3500 lb chevelle running 10.30s @ 128mph. Just another option for people to try that still have the emergency brake accessible.

Rich Biebel · 08-26-2010, 08:54 AM

My '97 Firebird Stocker had a brace from the M/C to the shock tower. I assumed this was to prevent the M/C from moving due to a somewhat flexible firewall and staging and racing off the footbrake. If the firewalls are moving it might be part of the problem. You have to really take a look up in there to see what could cause a problem.

I have even looked at my dragsters footbrake setup. I had to move the pedals and make a new rod. I check my rotors and calipers every race visually when I clean the car.........especially the rotors and caliper mounting bolts and they are safety wired.....

Ken Etter · 08-26-2010, 08:55 AM

I had heard the rail was moved but didnt know it broke in half! I am going to consider installing an emergency brake system in my next car. I know they have a sysytem that sits in the rotor hat and works like a drum. I know this was a one in a million thing but its not worth the risk anymore. Not for me but for the pain and suffering I caused my family and friends. I opened my bag of clothes from the wreck to find my brand new Impact pants and jacket I had replaced in Sonoma cut in half. I got to use them for one race! remarkably my helmet doesnt have a scratch,just some blood on the strap and chin area. It was an HJC motorcycle full face helmet. I think I will replace it anyways with a drag race full face helmet with better protection in the chin area. The old helmet may have unseen damage. I take my hand splint off once a day so I can get some typing in. I havent given a rundown of my injuries because im not sue anyone would be interested. Have a great day and good luck to everyone heading to the races!

Ken Etter · 08-26-2010, 09:06 AM

one more quick item before I drug up. DRAW and RFC have been two wonderful organizations. DRAW has really stepped up to support and help me alot. When I came to in the emergency room There was a chaplin named Mitch there with me. Its my understanding he baasically pushed his way into the room to be with me and help keep my family informed. If anyone knows how to get in contact with him please let me know. He went above and beyond what he had to to help me and I want to be able to thank him in person. These are two wonderful organizations so support them any time you can. Thanks Ken

et7333 · 08-26-2010, 09:40 AM

Ken if you contact Kat or Mark Dawson at the track I'm sure they have Mitch's phone number.Mitch is a great person and is almost always at the races we attend at Fontana.Take care

Steve Cox

SSGN · 08-26-2010, 10:41 AM

Their is alot of positives comeing from this thread.If you go onto strange's site you will see the master cylinder uses a rubber o-ring type grommet at the end of the rod where it enters the master to hold in place.Their is also a boot to keep dust from inside the car from entering the bore and to also help keep the rod in.I agree with Mark about taking the rubber return block off and installing a double nutted 3/8 bolt as a more positive return stop.I would imagine many of these rubber stops are cracked or missing anyways.The next thing would be a bracket coming off the firewall from the inside where the master bolts too and make some sort of a hoop similar to a driveshaft hoop to further support the rod.A brace or plate on the outside of the firewall to limit deflection would be another good idea.Just some thoughts.

Kevin

Floyd Staggs · 08-26-2010, 02:35 PM

Happy to hear you're doing better, Ken.
I'm glad to hear also that you know about Mitch. He definetly was the communicator to the friends and family that were outside waiting for you. Mitch is a good guy and he cares a lot. We are lucky to have him.
Get well soon!

Run to Rund · 08-26-2010, 07:49 PM

Here are a couple aftermarket brake pushrod retainers:

http://www.jerrybickel.com/brake-kit...-jbrc1064.html

http://www.automedia.com/Better_Brak...ht20080501gh/1

Ken Etter · 08-27-2010, 08:59 AM

That Lamb piece looks like s great idea. I guess it is why they have the best stuff. Hopefully everyone will take 5 seconds every month and give that brake pedal a tug. Ironically I had looked at the one in this car before Sonoma. I was going to put a 2step switch in. Everything appeared fine and there was a pedal limiting device in place with a hose clamp. The rod was stock with a rubber grommet on the end. My best guess is the clamp broke or loosened up. I tend to have a heavy brake foot so when I released the pedal it must have popped back hard enough to pull the grommet. I'm just thankful that I was driving and not the car owner. I have about 20 years and some size on him. Might have been a different outcome. My one hope is this has raised some awareness on these safety items and we can make these cars safer for us and the next generation drivers.

08-25-2010, 07:26 PM	#71
Ed Fernandez Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NOO JOISEY nexta NOO YAWK Posts: 5,879 Likes: 38 Liked 100 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Ken Etter injured in an accident at Fontana Maybe someone can enlighten me on this.Would I be correct believing that the rod is falling out when the drivers foot is releasing the pedal at a much faster rate than it is in normal use?It seems that it puts a lot of force on the restraining item that holds the rod in place.I think I'm going to try and install a collar around the rod and some kind of limiter to allow the pedal to go back only as far as a point that the rod has minimal clearance from the piston.I don't think it can hurt.Any thoughts? __________________ Former NHRA #1945 Former IHRA #1945 T/SA

08-25-2010, 08:05 PM	#72
kingsransomracing Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 14 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ken Etter injured in an accident at Fontana I was there racing that weekend and didn't hear anything on the radio so we took a ride down to the end of the track and saw fire trucks and everything there. Once I saw the car...I knew who it was and was hoping that Ken was ok....it didn't look good...after seeing the k-rail he broke in half, and how the car stopped probably 50 feet past the wall..I honestly had my doubts someone could live through that. I am so happy to see Ken still here with us and with only the injuries he came out with. After hearing about these rods coming out a few years back (I have only been racing about 7 years). I have a '69 chevelle with an emergency brake pedal that is operated with your foot. What we do when we get to the track is remove the emergency brake handle, and slide a brass tube over the shaft, then screw the handle back on....This eliminates the ratcheting in the emergency brake and allows it to work like a normal brake. I have tested this for about 1000 feet of the shut down area and it will do enough to stop my 3500 lb chevelle running 10.30s @ 128mph. Just another option for people to try that still have the emergency brake accessible.

08-26-2010, 08:54 AM	#73
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,314 Likes: 25 Liked 544 Times in 213 Posts	Re: Ken Etter injured in an accident at Fontana My '97 Firebird Stocker had a brace from the M/C to the shock tower. I assumed this was to prevent the M/C from moving due to a somewhat flexible firewall and staging and racing off the footbrake. If the firewalls are moving it might be part of the problem. You have to really take a look up in there to see what could cause a problem. I have even looked at my dragsters footbrake setup. I had to move the pedals and make a new rod. I check my rotors and calipers every race visually when I clean the car.........especially the rotors and caliper mounting bolts and they are safety wired..... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R

08-26-2010, 08:55 AM	#74
Ken Etter Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Riverside,Ca Posts: 112 Likes: 0 Liked 87 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Ken Etter injured in an accident at Fontana I had heard the rail was moved but didnt know it broke in half! I am going to consider installing an emergency brake system in my next car. I know they have a sysytem that sits in the rotor hat and works like a drum. I know this was a one in a million thing but its not worth the risk anymore. Not for me but for the pain and suffering I caused my family and friends. I opened my bag of clothes from the wreck to find my brand new Impact pants and jacket I had replaced in Sonoma cut in half. I got to use them for one race! remarkably my helmet doesnt have a scratch,just some blood on the strap and chin area. It was an HJC motorcycle full face helmet. I think I will replace it anyways with a drag race full face helmet with better protection in the chin area. The old helmet may have unseen damage. I take my hand splint off once a day so I can get some typing in. I havent given a rundown of my injuries because im not sue anyone would be interested. Have a great day and good luck to everyone heading to the races! __________________ Ken Etter 7375 STK/5 SS

08-26-2010, 09:06 AM	#75
Ken Etter Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Riverside,Ca Posts: 112 Likes: 0 Liked 87 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Ken Etter injured in an accident at Fontana one more quick item before I drug up. DRAW and RFC have been two wonderful organizations. DRAW has really stepped up to support and help me alot. When I came to in the emergency room There was a chaplin named Mitch there with me. Its my understanding he baasically pushed his way into the room to be with me and help keep my family informed. If anyone knows how to get in contact with him please let me know. He went above and beyond what he had to to help me and I want to be able to thank him in person. These are two wonderful organizations so support them any time you can. Thanks Ken __________________ Ken Etter 7375 STK/5 SS

08-26-2010, 09:40 AM	#76
et7333 Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 155 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Ken Etter injured in an accident at Fontana Ken if you contact Kat or Mark Dawson at the track I'm sure they have Mitch's phone number.Mitch is a great person and is almost always at the races we attend at Fontana.Take care Steve Cox

08-26-2010, 10:41 AM	#77
SSGN Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 644 Likes: 131 Liked 140 Times in 51 Posts	Re: Ken Etter injured in an accident at Fontana Their is alot of positives comeing from this thread.If you go onto strange's site you will see the master cylinder uses a rubber o-ring type grommet at the end of the rod where it enters the master to hold in place.Their is also a boot to keep dust from inside the car from entering the bore and to also help keep the rod in.I agree with Mark about taking the rubber return block off and installing a double nutted 3/8 bolt as a more positive return stop.I would imagine many of these rubber stops are cracked or missing anyways.The next thing would be a bracket coming off the firewall from the inside where the master bolts too and make some sort of a hoop similar to a driveshaft hoop to further support the rod.A brace or plate on the outside of the firewall to limit deflection would be another good idea.Just some thoughts. Kevin

08-26-2010, 02:35 PM	#78
Floyd Staggs VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cucamonga, CA Posts: 1,522 Likes: 147 Liked 229 Times in 99 Posts	Re: Ken Etter injured in an accident at Fontana Happy to hear you're doing better, Ken. I'm glad to hear also that you know about Mitch. He definetly was the communicator to the friends and family that were outside waiting for you. Mitch is a good guy and he cares a lot. We are lucky to have him. Get well soon! __________________ Floyd Staggs 787 SST

08-26-2010, 07:49 PM	#79
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 583 Likes: 8 Liked 54 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Ken Etter injured in an accident at Fontana Here are a couple aftermarket brake pushrod retainers: http://www.jerrybickel.com/brake-kit...-jbrc1064.html http://www.automedia.com/Better_Brak...ht20080501gh/1

08-27-2010, 08:59 AM	#80
Ken Etter Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Riverside,Ca Posts: 112 Likes: 0 Liked 87 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Ken Etter injured in an accident at Fontana That Lamb piece looks like s great idea. I guess it is why they have the best stuff. Hopefully everyone will take 5 seconds every month and give that brake pedal a tug. Ironically I had looked at the one in this car before Sonoma. I was going to put a 2step switch in. Everything appeared fine and there was a pedal limiting device in place with a hose clamp. The rod was stock with a rubber grommet on the end. My best guess is the clamp broke or loosened up. I tend to have a heavy brake foot so when I released the pedal it must have popped back hard enough to pull the grommet. I'm just thankful that I was driving and not the car owner. I have about 20 years and some size on him. Might have been a different outcome. My one hope is this has raised some awareness on these safety items and we can make these cars safer for us and the next generation drivers. __________________ Ken Etter 7375 STK/5 SS