:( Bad day for a friend
 

So I never really start many threads, usually just post up in threads. Some of you guys know I have a customer with a starlet, he is older, I wanna say 53. Tiny little PR who is quiet, polite, and funny. He's a never talk trash to anybody unless they talk shit to him kinda person. Has very little money and just loves to go to the track and have a good time. Over the past few years we've done what we could with what is arguably no budget and a seriously outdated chassis. Again no money and just wants to have fun. We brought him from 11's all the way down to a 8.4 The car has the power to go faster as we dynoed over 800whp but the chassis is far from adequate. Anyway long story short, a good guy with nothing but a solid personality had a pretty bad accident. He was running next to our other starlet with a tiny pushrod motor and hit some oil at the end of the track. Hit the wall at over 150mph caught on fire and caused the other starlet to hit the opposite wall. That driver leaped out and ran over to pull him out of the burning car. He has pretty bad cuts, burns and smashed pelvis. I'm not sure what all I can do to help, and feel pretty low about it. I'm pretty sure he has no health insurance and short of them putting some bandages on him the hospital kinda pushed him out of the door. So for those who always laughed with us at the little shitbox and had fun it's gone. No more starlet. :( not sure if he will be getting back into a car any time soon , and that's too bad because few people who go to the track are as open hearted and honest as onyx. It was never about being the fastest with him, just having fun.


Painful to watch...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAZYJx5A_7U

Oh No ! That was you guys !

My friend raced that weekend too ! Dave Corbitt in a little white golf, he said you guys raced in front of him and had a really bad wreck ! Wow, terrible

Yep it was our car, not a very good day is about the only way to put it. You can hear him hit the oil in the vid just before the car loses it.

I am very sorry to hear that. :( I hope he turns out ok. It breaks my heart when good people get sheit on like that.

I do have to ask ... it sounded like they knew there was oil on the track by how the person in the video said "looked like he hit the oil again" ... why didn't they clean it up before they let the 800 hp beasts out there?

Wow, that really sucks :(

Horrible thing to happen.......

That blows men!!!! Hope your friend recovers fully and gets back into the seat asap
If the spectator knew about the oil, then its obvious the track officials had to know about it also...just sad

Sorry to hear about the accident, hopefully he bounces back soon.

Very sorry to here about your friend i hope he recovers soon!
If you start a fund i would ge glad to donate what i can.

I also herd the announcer admit they knew oil was down i would seek the advice of an attorney.

Best wishes and its not your fault helping him achieve is dreams.

Holy shit! Thats terrible! I hope Onyx recovers fully. He is as Sean described him, a really cool guy & fun to have around. Man, that wreck is hard to watch. Having sat in that car I can only imagine how scary such an accident must be. I'm so glad he is alive.

You can totally hear him hit the oil 25 seconds in. I can't believe they knew there was oil down there and let cars run.

Busted7 where did the announcer say there was oil? I only heard the spectator mention it.

You are correct sorry for the mistake! Still there were witnesses that state there was oil again didnt they?
Either way if the oil was not from his car i would think the track shares some liability and should have insurance!
Just trying to offer a solution to his expenses if its not his fault!

Sorry to hear. It sucks to hear shit like this happen to good people. At least he is not seriously hurt. Hope he makes a quick recovery and gets back out there.

That Sucks!!
 

Dude im sorry to see hear that I sure hope your friend gets better soon. Remind him that when you are in this type of motorsport things that occur to us have to be taken just as if they happened to our cars. We work on perfecting them trying to squeeze every last bit of performance out of them and in the process we break parts.... we don't stop and give up; instead we learn from our mistakes and improve on our original idea with a better stronger part. He has had a horrible accident and while im sure it will take some time to heal you can play a big part in keeping his morale up and giving him the extra support that he will need in the coming months. My regards go out to you guys and wishes of a speedy recovery :icon_tup:

man that really sucks. I hate to see guys who spend so much time and heart in something they love go up in smoke. Especially this guys as Sean described him. I wish him a speedy recovery..

damn I hope he is alright, we sometime complain over here at our own drag strip when the stop the racing to clean up little spots of fluid or rain on the strip, but Im glad they do it to make sure the surface is completely dry and safe.

Seems the track owners should do something for your friend if they knew oil was on the track and didnt stop the racing.

That sucks, I hope he recovers without any complications.

I would also chip in on the funds!

Thanks, for the support it means much. I'm not sure about excepting funds as it almost seems like handouts and neither him nor I are too comfortable with it. Nor did I start the thread with that intention. I let him know about the thread and he said before he excepts anything from anybody he wants to see what the track owner is willing to do to help. They should be putting in something if anything before anybody else. I will try and get you some pics of the mess car, him, etc. and keep you guys updated. It is very frustrating that it happened. After talking to him more he wants to get back on the track for sure. How long that will take is a whole different issue.

~S~

I wont try to speak for any one else but i dont consider trying to help someone that shares the same passion as i do a hand out! Your friend sounds like the kind of friend i would like to have and spend good times with at the track and the garage. The offer still stands and best of wishes for a speedy recovery.

Totally agree!

Even though we don't see eye to eye politically I gotta say I hate to see a cool person shit on by life. I hope you guys can build another 8 second monstrosity together and enjoy the greater things in life. Much respect to both of you...

Thats horrible Sean. I hope he gets well soon.

Wow...thats terrible. I don't even know the guy and it hurts to watch. He'll bounce back for sure!!!

best of wishes to onyx with a full recovery.....

Thanks everyone for the words, after a few days rest he has said he has no intentions of giving up racing.


Pics of whats left of the car, had too many to post up but it gives you a idea of the mess.

Damn, he hit hard. Dangerous ass steering wheel :(