Tragedy at Thunderhill

[.RJ]

Be safe out there guys. RIP to the drivers, and we should all think of their families. Word spreads around fast with the 'net, and if there is anyone taking collection for their families, maybe we can chip in some as a group.

From NASA Pro-Racing mailing list:

Fatal accident at Thunderhill this past Friday..a test
day. A GTA car...driven by George Smeltzer
(sp?)...somehow had some kind of altercation with an
RX7 during braking..or right before the braking zone
of turn #14...George ended up missing turn #14..missed
the tire walls..and ended up going across the dirt
into turn #8 when it was occupied by an another RX7
driver (unknown name). Both drivers didn't make it
despite the valiant efforts of Spec Miata drivers
Craig Evans and Tony Silva (and three others). Tony
is a medic..and Craig a sheriff's deputy..so they are
accustomed to handling accidents first hand. They
were the first two people to assist the crashed
drivers. Many of us at the track were pretty shaken
up. Myself..I was back at turn #4 when all of this
happened...and ended up watching the events develop
during a red flag stop right before turn #6.
Definitely an occurrence to make you think twice about
your safety equipment..and how much that Hans device
really costs.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to family and friends.

And

re-post of a re-post. I don't know who the original author is:

"2 drivers died today at Thill (unfortunately, I was one of only a handful of people to see it--2 other PDC'ers saw it as well) when Robert Smeltzer driving a GTA and another gentleman in a new generation RX7 collided just before reaching the braking zone in T14--the RX7 driver crashed, but was fine. I am not posting this as news, but because 2 good people died doing what we love and because there are things to be learned from this.

Robert was pushed onto the dirt on the left side of the track and shot across T14 to T8 at unabated speed (no slowing down on dirt and gravel). At what I would guess was close to 100mph, the GTA passed directly in front of a gentleman in another, but older generation RX7--the RX7 driver was also at full speed preparing to turn into T8. Robert shot directly in front on the RX7, and the Mazda driver died instantly. Robert's passenger side cage was pushed all the way into the middle of the cockpit.

The RX7 driver had nothing to do with the outcome of the accident--he found a huge and heavy V8 GTA car directly in front of him in T8. Robert was unable to stop a car careening across dirt and gravel at full speed, without scrubbing much if any of it off between T14 and T8.

According to the SM drivers, both broke their necks and smashed their helmets against their steering wheels. Both helmets were smashed in at their chins. Neither was wearing HANS devices.

The Thill EMT response was one of the worst I have ever seen, and proper medical attention was provided by 2 extraordinary SM drivers--Craig Evans and Tony Silva. The track safety response was extremely slow, and the corner workers had to be asked by the drivers to radio for help and an additional ambulance.

As this was a test day prior to an SCCA event, the track support and safety team was not the normal SCCA affair. With the SCCA crew in place, I have no doubt the response time would have been markedly improved.

I doubt that any EMT or safety crew could have done much if anything to save Robert--our SM drivers said that he had a faint pulse when the arrived. What worries me is that if any of were to have an accident on a test day at Thill, and our survival depended on a rapid response--well, the crew in general supporting the track today just scares me, and I'll leave it at that."

More info here - <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.specmiata.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=26;t=000103;p=0">http://www.specmiata.com/cgi-bin/ultima ... 000103;p=0</a><!-- m -->

And here - <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://p081.ezboard.com/fdsrforumgeneraldiscussion.showMessage?topicID=1090.topic">http://p081.ezboard.com/fdsrforumgenera ... 1090.topic</a><!-- m -->

And here - <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1011804">http://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1011804</a><!-- m -->

[damnit458]

god bless em
hate to hear of that happening to anyone

[Ryan T]

Their families are in my prayers.

Hate to hear that.

[Evan]

[Dave]

Things like this really hit home and make you think how dangerous our sport really can be.
The families of these drivers and all of those fallen in pursuit of this pastime remain in my thoughts.

[ScottyB]

i hope those families can be consoled knowing their loved ones died doing what they loved to do

[bassmangrammy]

In my thoughts and prayers.

[Chris]

[JackoliciousLegs]

that poor rx7...

wow.. that was totally a heartless joke. That really is terrible.

[Dragon]

Damn dude I've had some jokes in bad taste before, but I think that one tops the cake.