Pomona Starter Comp Eliminator

[herbjr]

Originally Posted by tommy d

I think the crew guys shoes sticking to the track also had something to do with the fall. What he was doing wasn't safe and a major distraction for the driver as well. Maybe the door wasn't closed tight?

Exactly it's amazing how many racers don't consider the glue as being the main problem.

[BG56]

WOW. Totally ah, "unprofessional". Whatever that's worth...... Found it at 1:57:20 of Sat. am on NHRA.TV. After watching all I can think is...everybody's right and everybody's wrong.

[Mike Gray]

It looked like the starter was touching or checking the window latch, then the crew guy tried to open the door and re-close it. Maybe the latch wasn’t working.
Starter quickly grabbed him and swung him back with enough force that he fell to the ground. (The competitor was pre staged during the commotion)
Both parties errored but the starter went over the line physically and could have seriously injured the older gentleman if he had hit his head while going down.

[Carl Juliano]

What would've happened if the crew member hit his head on the pavement and didn't get up?! Did NHRA address this incident?

[bubski]

Originally Posted by Carl Juliano

What would've happened if the crew member hit his head on the pavement and didn't get up?! Did NHRA address this incident?

Bubski thinking !! unfortunately !! the sportsman insurance " FEE" would just go up n its business as usual !!! Total BSN !! on NHRA's part

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by tommy d

I think the crew guys shoes sticking to the track also had something to do with the fall. What he was doing wasn't safe and a major distraction for the driver as well. Maybe the door wasn't closed tight?

A couple of points here, after watching the video.

The crew man went back and opened the door. He didn't just try to latch it..During this action the truck was pre-staged.

Once the tree is "armed", the stage sequence begins. If the second car doesn't stage in a pre-set amount of time, he goes red. If he does make it in, then the tree starts it's count down in a random about of time.
During this , I believe that the tower personnel are the only people who can turn on the panic lights and stop the tree , which they didn't do.
So we see the starter with two choices..
Pull the crew person back to where he might have used too much force, possibly causing the guy to to lose his balance on the glued surface.
Or two, let the guy stand there with the door open, as the truck launched on the third amber, possibly causing harm to him in that manor?
What would some of the commenters prefer?

We could see the crew guy get back up, and from what I hear, he realized he shouldn't have touched the truck at that time, and did, in fact, shake hands with the starter.

[Mike Gray]

Check again, the competitor didn’t light the 2nd stage light until the incident was over.
If they both sit in pre stage is the the tree “armed” as you say or does it take one car to go in and fully stage to start the count?
This is another good example of having no one near the starting line, even to set wheelie bars or help stage the car. Those street outlaw guys are an accident waiting to happen.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Mike Gray

Check again, the competitor didn’t light the 2nd stage light until the incident was over.
If they both sit in pre stage is the the tree “armed” as you say or does it take one car to go in and fully stage to start the count?
This is another good example of having no one near the starting line, even to set wheelie bars or help stage the car. Those street outlaw guys are an accident waiting to happen.

Yes, that's true . Nothing will happen until one is staged.
I would say the starter's attention was focused on the left lane.
He wouldn't have time to see whether the right was fully staged. He could have been, for all he knew .Then things could happen real fast.
It does look like the guy was thrown to the ground. He could have lost balance too.
Hard to say...
Still don't see many good options

[Tim H]

I guess there will be no "statement of action" against the WWE starter ...

[CMcAllister]

Originally Posted by Tim H

I guess there will be no "statement of action" against the WWE starter ...

He's an employee. Any action would be kept confidential, I assume.

People come and go there all the time, with no explanations.