AC Bill
Well-known member
It is amazing and wonderful, just how far driver safety has improved so much in just the last few years. There has also been some huge crashes in NASCAR, and NHRA and other racing formats with no fatality's, and with most having the drivers climbing out and walking away.
Rally racing seems to be an area still needing driver safety improvements, as the number of deaths is quite high. In fairness, the venues where rally races are held are so diverse it's nearly impossible to allow for all the aspects that may incur in a crash. You'll never see a tree branch penetrating the windscreen at a NASCAR race for example. It may also be that the vehicle's driver safety standards are not as stringent as other racing formats. Rally events are often held by small local car clubs, or organizations, with contestants driving street cars with few if any, modifications, and many times running on public roads, so high speeds aren't a concern. Helmets and a seat belts are often the only requirements. Driving experience is not policed either. If you have the entry fee, you're good to go. Rally is also really the only racing where there is a passenger in the car, doubling the odds of an injury or death.
Crazy as it would seem, in 2017 an eight year old Australian girl testing for her racing license in the Junior Drag racing class, died after a crash during a solo run. Apparently her helmet cracked after hitting the steering wheel, and she died from head injuries. Then just this past February, a seven year old American girl also testing for a Junior Drag license, (also from head injuries), died after a crash at Orlando Speed World in Florida. The maximum speed for their age group is running the 1/8th mile, is the 330 feet in 13.9 seconds or slower, which is roughly around 30 mph.
Rally racing seems to be an area still needing driver safety improvements, as the number of deaths is quite high. In fairness, the venues where rally races are held are so diverse it's nearly impossible to allow for all the aspects that may incur in a crash. You'll never see a tree branch penetrating the windscreen at a NASCAR race for example. It may also be that the vehicle's driver safety standards are not as stringent as other racing formats. Rally events are often held by small local car clubs, or organizations, with contestants driving street cars with few if any, modifications, and many times running on public roads, so high speeds aren't a concern. Helmets and a seat belts are often the only requirements. Driving experience is not policed either. If you have the entry fee, you're good to go. Rally is also really the only racing where there is a passenger in the car, doubling the odds of an injury or death.
Crazy as it would seem, in 2017 an eight year old Australian girl testing for her racing license in the Junior Drag racing class, died after a crash during a solo run. Apparently her helmet cracked after hitting the steering wheel, and she died from head injuries. Then just this past February, a seven year old American girl also testing for a Junior Drag license, (also from head injuries), died after a crash at Orlando Speed World in Florida. The maximum speed for their age group is running the 1/8th mile, is the 330 feet in 13.9 seconds or slower, which is roughly around 30 mph.
