First, I add my condolences for the families of the dead and injured in this terrible accident. What a horrible night ! I can't imagine how awful to lose family members, especially kids, on what was suppose to be a fun Saturday night.
But I'm a little dissapointed on how fast we'll throw one of our own under the bus after this. It's very, VERY easy in hinesight to say how stupid etc. this was to do. Yet had the caption read DRAGRACER THRILLS CROWD WITH BURNOUT FOR CHARITY we all would have beamed with pride.
I've seen and heard of hundreds of these types of burnouts thru the years at events like this. I've done it myself here in Savannah once at a public event. Yes, a pro-mod has tons more horsepower than my stocker, but Critchley had 20 years experience with these cars. Never in his wildest dreams would he think this would happen. I believe this was a one in a million, tragic event.
Remember first, this was for charity. He was there for all good intentions, and to be an ambassador for our sport. Second, the number I've heard is that Critchleys was about the 20th car to do a burnout on this night. This has been done for years at this event. Plus, we haven't even heard anything official yet. Is it possible that a throttle hung open ?
Anyone can say in hinesight that this was stupid to do. But had things gone as planned, the crowd would have cheered. And we would think it was cool.
It didn't go as planned. How terribly tragic !!! But other than the families of the dead, who do you think feels worse about this ? How would you feel if you had tried to do something good for the community, for a great charity, and killed 6 people ?
I hope we would come together as racers at a time like this. This racer is going to live the rest of his life knowing he killed 6 people. The sport got a black eye. So, do we abandon him as a total outcast dumbass ? Or try to absorb this, educate the public that this is not the norm, and was truly a one in a million type if thing ? ( I'm trying to remember the last time I saw a racecar of any class hit the wall on a burnout at the track, I don't remember one ).
I'm sure there will be changes if they have this event next year, as there should be. I don't know Critchley, but he's a dragracer. So I feel bad for him. I feel worse for the families of the dead. But I'm just not ready to throw him under the bus.
( sorry it got long )
Mike ( madness & ) Mayhem
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