John Force
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From: IL
John Force
Excerpt from SI.CNN.com;
"...The 58-year-old Force was alert and conscious Sunday after sustaining serious injuries in a wreck with Kenny Bernstein during the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals.
Team spokesman Elon Werner said Force broke his left ankle and his left wrist and suffered a severe abrasion to his right knee. Force, a 14-time champion, was airlifted to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, where Werner said doctors planned surgery Sunday night to clean up the abrasions and possibly set the broken bones.
The wreck occurred just after the two cars crossed the finish line in the second round of eliminations."
"...The 58-year-old Force was alert and conscious Sunday after sustaining serious injuries in a wreck with Kenny Bernstein during the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals.
Team spokesman Elon Werner said Force broke his left ankle and his left wrist and suffered a severe abrasion to his right knee. Force, a 14-time champion, was airlifted to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, where Werner said doctors planned surgery Sunday night to clean up the abrasions and possibly set the broken bones.
The wreck occurred just after the two cars crossed the finish line in the second round of eliminations."
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From: Spartanburg, SC
Don Garlits designed the rear engine double A dragster while lying in a hospital bed after half his foot was blown off in a clutch explosion.
But like Rebocardo said, it's one of the safest types of racing there is.
But like Rebocardo said, it's one of the safest types of racing there is.
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It is? Really? I wouldn't have guessed it given the speeds involved. I would think something like those listed here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2195847.stm
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Frequently frozen MN
It is pretty safe. The Force team had someone die in practice this year, and they went into intense development mode to try and prevent similar injuries.
From the constant reference to this death, I gather that it's a pretty rare thing.
In this crash, Force actually hit the other car ( after the other car kicked a track marker into his car). Bernstein, the other driver, credits the new head cushions with keeping him from being injured.
I've only been watching since we got cable last year, but I've seen some nasty accidents ( including Ashley Force), and they usually walk away. It's pretty amazing.
Force, however, is probably screwed another way. He's currently 4th in the 'countdown' -- and they only let the top 4 drivers compete for the top prize. I don't think that he'll be able to get back in time to get in the race
ford2go
From the constant reference to this death, I gather that it's a pretty rare thing.
In this crash, Force actually hit the other car ( after the other car kicked a track marker into his car). Bernstein, the other driver, credits the new head cushions with keeping him from being injured.
I've only been watching since we got cable last year, but I've seen some nasty accidents ( including Ashley Force), and they usually walk away. It's pretty amazing.
Force, however, is probably screwed another way. He's currently 4th in the 'countdown' -- and they only let the top 4 drivers compete for the top prize. I don't think that he'll be able to get back in time to get in the race
ford2go
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ORGANIZED drag racing has been around since the early '50s. How many drivers have been killed in all those years. I rest my case!
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From: Central Texas
Eric Medlen's injuries were head/brain in nature. In a sick twist of irony, it is the development in head retraints/padding the Force team developed that saved Bernstein's bacon. You can bet there will be much effort in engineering the "capsule" area to prevent what happened to John.
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From: Leamington, Ontario
I don't really follow drag racing much, so I know nothing about it. From the way I see it that was a horrific crash, one that happens very rarely, good to hear he's ok. Are the drivers required to wear the HANS device?
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Originally Posted by PROSTOCK
Eric Medlen's injuries were head/brain in nature. In a sick twist of irony, it is the development in head retraints/padding the Force team developed that saved Bernstein's bacon. You can bet there will be much effort in engineering the "capsule" area to prevent what happened to John.
They had ( Fox News ) shown Force's new 50,000 sq.f safety development building appriopratley named after Medlen.
Was it Kenny Bernstein he was racing? Wasn't he retired?
I take it this "countdown" is much like the "Chase for the NEXTEL Cup?
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From: Las Vegas, NV
Drag racing is a safe way to earn a living? Humm. I have worked in construction for 35 years. I cut my hand once, and have never saw anyone killed on the job. I have worked in single story homes to high rise casinos in Vegas.
Yet, even in this tread, we have examples of deaths in drag racing. Don't get me wrong, I love drag racing. I go everytime here in Las Vegas. I used to go everytime in Boise, when I lived there.
No one can tell me it is very safe. Yes it has been made safer over the years. But when traveling in a rocket at 300 MPH and it expolodes, that might be a bit more dangerous than working on a 2 story family home!
Yet, even in this tread, we have examples of deaths in drag racing. Don't get me wrong, I love drag racing. I go everytime here in Las Vegas. I used to go everytime in Boise, when I lived there.
No one can tell me it is very safe. Yes it has been made safer over the years. But when traveling in a rocket at 300 MPH and it expolodes, that might be a bit more dangerous than working on a 2 story family home!
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Originally Posted by smokestone52
Drag racing is a safe way to earn a living? Humm. I have worked in construction for 35 years. I cut my hand once, and have never saw anyone killed on the job. I have worked in single story homes to high rise casinos in Vegas.
Yet, even in this tread, we have examples of deaths in drag racing. Don't get me wrong, I love drag racing. I go everytime here in Las Vegas. I used to go everytime in Boise, when I lived there.
No one can tell me it is very safe. Yes it has been made safer over the years. But when traveling in a rocket at 300 MPH and it expolodes, that might be a bit more dangerous than working on a 2 story family home!
Yet, even in this tread, we have examples of deaths in drag racing. Don't get me wrong, I love drag racing. I go everytime here in Las Vegas. I used to go everytime in Boise, when I lived there.
No one can tell me it is very safe. Yes it has been made safer over the years. But when traveling in a rocket at 300 MPH and it expolodes, that might be a bit more dangerous than working on a 2 story family home!
I would say for the speeds they are achieving, and to have the low numbers of causulties, I would say it's safe.
Then again, I sit at a desk everyday and could get run over crossing the parking lot to my car......
