I just found out that a colleague from another local fire protection firm we deal with regularly was killed over the weekend while racing down in Buttonwillow. His name was Dan Lawson - a real nice guy. I would post this in the racing forum but I think more people will actually see it here.
I’m just wondering if anyone was down there and saw what happened.
It's left a real pall over the office here. He was a direct competitor of ours but extremely well-liked by many many people in our industry. Good reminder, Ry.
he seemed to be a real good guy.. helpful to the whole race community.. another sad loss.
i know competitive juices can take over.. and every once in a while a 'shit happens' thing takes place that no one can control.. but just remember, that little $3 trophy isnt worth any of our lives... i find, it isnt even worth my front bumper.
i see more silly shit go on at open track days as i do on the freeway nowadays.
We found out this morning through Bob Evans, a close friend of Dan's and a fellow racer who was not at Buttonwillow this weekend only due to an obligation elsewhere. I'm sure you can imagine what's going through his troubled mind today. Just talking to him on the phone this morning brought me real down.
they may not look as cool with a full jungle-gym coming out of the car.. but i could imagine racing it otherwise.
a few years back we almost lost another friend at BW in the same car.
Back when I had my Austin Healey we discussed pulling the full bar and putting a hoop in and decided against it for the very same reason. You absolutely need all the protection you can get. Style over safety is a silly argument.
Running on a roadrace track is dangerous, usually by the people who know the least and know the most. I would not go 10/10ths on a track again without all the proper safety equipment, at least a full cage, 5/6 point belts, hans or similar device and full race suit. I've seen too much shit happen, you never know, my condolences.
Running on a roadrace track is dangerous, usually by the people who know the least and know the most. I would not go 10/10ths on a track again without all the proper safety equipment, at least a full cage, 5/6 point belts, hans or similar device and full race suit. I've seen too much shit happen, you never know, my condolences.
My neighbor was running there when it happened. One car dropped two wheels off the track, came back on and hit the car, which rolled many times. It looked like a go cart afterwards, with the body gone, and the only straight piece of metal was the roll bar.
Guess its time to step up from roll bar to roll cage in the Viper.
I'm in the same boat. When I get back onto the track, its gonna be in a full prepped track car with all the safety gear. Nothin ever happened but I sure saw enough happen that made me appreciate the right way to be on the track.
