A bad day at the race track many years ago

Charrlie_S said
Reminds me of Pocono Drag Lodge.
My close call was at Island Dragway in 1969. Kid driving his fathers brand new GTO Judge lost it at about the 300 ft mark, and didn't lift. Vaulted over the guardrail, over the chain link fence, and landed on top of my 60 Chevy "stocker". I had the hood up and was working on the engine, but heard the noise, dropped my tools and ran. My car was repairable, GTO was a total. Only injury was the GTO driver, had a cut on his arm, and a girl in the pits, got a minor injury from a piece of debris. From that day, I no longer pit near the fence.

Charlie.. do you remember the late great Jimmy Harrington driving Angelos Econoline at Island.. losing control off the line in the right lane.. taking out the tree and ending up in the fence in front of the refreshment stand? Racing at Island for close to forty years I have seen some bizarre things including a few months ago when the entire rear end assembly ripped itself out from under a Camaro upon launch , springs and all... many years ago a motorcycle racer falling off his bike top end at full speed .. he had to be air lifted out but recovered and I don't believe he ever raced again.