Another Racer Killed at E-Town

Bob Emery · 06-14-2010, 08:39 PM

Possible downside to a carrier style catch wire is that it will be above the track surface at least an inch or so, which could put the racer airborne. Just a thought for consideration......

Beth Denysenko · 06-14-2010, 08:53 PM

Midway in Chicago is using the foam/concrete blocks at the end of the runway. They were installed after the plane overshot the runway, broke throug the fence, drove out onto a city street and killed a boy in a car on 55th Street which runs along the perimeter.

If they can stop a runaway airplane, and if the weight to crush equations could be worked out right (obviously a race car doesn't weigh as much as an airplane nor distributes it's weight the same way), this might be a viable solution. Obviously what some tracks are doing isn't working as planned. It's an unfortunate and costly game of trial and error.

Ed Fernandez · 06-14-2010, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Emery

Possible downside to a carrier style catch wire is that it will be above the track surface at least an inch or so, which could put the racer airborne. Just a thought for consideration......

I'm not an engineer but as an explaination of my reasoning,the cables diameter would be way smaller than the carrier cable and I think would be in a groove on the racing shutdown surface.I mentioned someone being at the top end area that could operate
some sort of devise to elevate it up to the paved height when needed.Of course every
fast car,TAD/TAFC/TFD/AAFC would need a remote activated tail hook.Sounds a bit far fetched but I wish they would come up with something.
I personally think they'll take the easy way out and just mandate a slowing down of the cars.

Mike Schwartz · 06-14-2010, 10:54 PM

You can't back up the track at Englishtown because you'll run into the overhead tower and the sound barrier concrete wall. You can't extend the trap more than 20ft without hitting Pension Rd.

What could be done, though I don't know how well it would work, would be to construct a 45-degree left turn with enough banking to guide a car that gets past everything else onto the field that runs parallel to Pension Rd. That would give a few hundred more feet stopping room.

Englishtown top end:
http://www.bing.com/maps/default.asp...shtown%2C%20NJ

06-14-2010, 08:39 PM	#1
Bob Emery Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Marysville, WA Posts: 90 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Another Racer Killed at E-Town Possible downside to a carrier style catch wire is that it will be above the track surface at least an inch or so, which could put the racer airborne. Just a thought for consideration......

06-14-2010, 08:53 PM	#2
Beth Denysenko Live Reporter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 426 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Another Racer Killed at E-Town Midway in Chicago is using the foam/concrete blocks at the end of the runway. They were installed after the plane overshot the runway, broke throug the fence, drove out onto a city street and killed a boy in a car on 55th Street which runs along the perimeter. If they can stop a runaway airplane, and if the weight to crush equations could be worked out right (obviously a race car doesn't weigh as much as an airplane nor distributes it's weight the same way), this might be a viable solution. Obviously what some tracks are doing isn't working as planned. It's an unfortunate and costly game of trial and error. __________________ Beth Denysenko P/SA 330 www.moneymakerracing.net

06-14-2010, 10:54 PM	#4
Mike Schwartz Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maryland USA Posts: 533 Likes: 129 Liked 248 Times in 89 Posts	Re: Another Racer Killed at E-Town You can't back up the track at Englishtown because you'll run into the overhead tower and the sound barrier concrete wall. You can't extend the trap more than 20ft without hitting Pension Rd. What could be done, though I don't know how well it would work, would be to construct a 45-degree left turn with enough banking to guide a car that gets past everything else onto the field that runs parallel to Pension Rd. That would give a few hundred more feet stopping room. Englishtown top end: http://www.bing.com/maps/default.asp...shtown%2C%20NJ