Ken Etter injured in an accident at Fontana

[kingsransomracing]

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]

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]

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!