Track day accident - man killed (Spokane)
05-09-2009, 11:04 AM
#1
Track day accident - man killed (Spokane)
This facility has been to hell and back over the past couple of years. This can't help.
Man killed after being hit by car at Spokane Raceway Park
SPOKANE, Wash.- An Infinity sports car spinning out of control struck and killed a 68-year-old North Idaho man early this afternoon at Spokane County Raceway.
The accident happened about 1:30 p.m. on the track’s road course, where the man, a contractor, was talking with the park’s General Manager Jay Livingston off the track.
A 46-year-old military retiree driving an Infinity G30 apparently lost control coming out of a curve and struck the contractor, said Spokane County Sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Reagan.
The man was thrown 15 feet into a tree. Efforts were made to revive him, but he apparently died from the impact, Reagan said.
The county last year purchased the property and turned it over to Austin Motor Sports Management, owned by Tacoma businessman Bucky Austin, also the owner of Bucky’s Complete Auto Repair.
The contractor was at the track working on improvements and talking with Livingston about where to paint lines on the pavement. Livingston, who was facing the track, spotted the sports car going out of control on a curve, spinning toward them, Reagan said.
Livingston attempted to pull the man away, but the vehicle struck him.
They were standing off the track behind chainlink fencing next portable toilets, the deputy said, and should have been safe.
A driver who was leaving the track said the crash was very loud.
The victim, whose body remained at the scene, was not going to be identified until after next of kin are notified and the county medical examiner allows the name to be released.
His company is based in Post Falls, Reagan said.
About 30 sports car drivers were at the track running practice laps. They were of various ages and some were from out of the area.
According to the schedule of Spokane County Raceway, the track was running an event by Scott Adare Motorsports that began at 8 a.m. Another driver who left the track after the accident confirmed that in a brief interview.
On Saturday, the park was scheduled to host its its Grand Opening 125 for Super Late Models.
County commissioners 13 months ago voted 2-1 in favor of buying the 315-acre track, a purchase that sparked controversy over spending $4.5 million for what critics called a non-essential property. Commissioner Bonnie Mager voted no, calling the decision “totally irresponsible.”
County officials have said the 25-year contract with Austin will cover the county’s payments on its debt. According to previous news accounts, Austin will pay the county $10,000 a month until 2014, when the monthly rent will increase by 2 percent annually.
Austin also has agreed to pay the county $2 for each ticket sold and has guaranteed that the county’s portion of gate proceeds will be at least $150,000 in 2009, $200,000 in 2010 and $250,000 for each of the three years after that.
The facility includes a quarter-mile drag strip, half-mile oval and 2½-mile road course, where the accident occurred.
Livingston previously said in an interview with the newspaper that portions of the track were being realigned with changes to run off areas and surface repairs. New concession stands are being installed.
Man killed after being hit by car at Spokane Raceway Park
SPOKANE, Wash.- An Infinity sports car spinning out of control struck and killed a 68-year-old North Idaho man early this afternoon at Spokane County Raceway.
The accident happened about 1:30 p.m. on the track’s road course, where the man, a contractor, was talking with the park’s General Manager Jay Livingston off the track.
A 46-year-old military retiree driving an Infinity G30 apparently lost control coming out of a curve and struck the contractor, said Spokane County Sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Reagan.
The man was thrown 15 feet into a tree. Efforts were made to revive him, but he apparently died from the impact, Reagan said.
The county last year purchased the property and turned it over to Austin Motor Sports Management, owned by Tacoma businessman Bucky Austin, also the owner of Bucky’s Complete Auto Repair.
The contractor was at the track working on improvements and talking with Livingston about where to paint lines on the pavement. Livingston, who was facing the track, spotted the sports car going out of control on a curve, spinning toward them, Reagan said.
Livingston attempted to pull the man away, but the vehicle struck him.
They were standing off the track behind chainlink fencing next portable toilets, the deputy said, and should have been safe.
A driver who was leaving the track said the crash was very loud.
The victim, whose body remained at the scene, was not going to be identified until after next of kin are notified and the county medical examiner allows the name to be released.
His company is based in Post Falls, Reagan said.
About 30 sports car drivers were at the track running practice laps. They were of various ages and some were from out of the area.
According to the schedule of Spokane County Raceway, the track was running an event by Scott Adare Motorsports that began at 8 a.m. Another driver who left the track after the accident confirmed that in a brief interview.
On Saturday, the park was scheduled to host its its Grand Opening 125 for Super Late Models.
County commissioners 13 months ago voted 2-1 in favor of buying the 315-acre track, a purchase that sparked controversy over spending $4.5 million for what critics called a non-essential property. Commissioner Bonnie Mager voted no, calling the decision “totally irresponsible.”
County officials have said the 25-year contract with Austin will cover the county’s payments on its debt. According to previous news accounts, Austin will pay the county $10,000 a month until 2014, when the monthly rent will increase by 2 percent annually.
Austin also has agreed to pay the county $2 for each ticket sold and has guaranteed that the county’s portion of gate proceeds will be at least $150,000 in 2009, $200,000 in 2010 and $250,000 for each of the three years after that.
The facility includes a quarter-mile drag strip, half-mile oval and 2½-mile road course, where the accident occurred.
Livingston previously said in an interview with the newspaper that portions of the track were being realigned with changes to run off areas and surface repairs. New concession stands are being installed.
05-09-2009, 11:28 AM
#2
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Sad story...I guess the race track needs to make some safety improvements. For instance, using something a bit more protective than a chain link fence. Some concrete barriers perhaps?
05-09-2009, 11:51 AM
#3
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From this report, it sounds like a serious deficiency in the design of the barriers around the track. Especially around turns, there should be concrete barriers to stop vehicles from leaving the track; chain link fences may catch debris but they won't stop a car.
It's always a tragedy when things like this happen, but hopefully some needed safety improvements will come out of it.
It's always a tragedy when things like this happen, but hopefully some needed safety improvements will come out of it.
05-10-2009, 12:55 PM
#4
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First of all this was a very unfortunate, freakish accident and tragic occurrance. My heart goes out to the family of the man who was killed as well as the driver.
As the article states, they were in an area where they should've been safe.
I myself have spun in this corner before running off backwards in the same general area (20 feet or so) of where this accident occurred. I have seen numerous other offs in this area (turn 10) as it is a tight corner where the track entrance from the pits area is located.
The group managing the track are doing a fantastic job. The track is undergoing a tremendous number of up grades and improvements in all areas of the facility since the county bought it last year... with safety as a primary area of focus.
In fact I had just left work early to go out to the track and arrived at the entrance a few minutes after the accident just occurred. It was at this time the entrance was being blocked off to limit access as news media and sheriff's department had already arrived.
While I wasn't there at the time of the accident, let me say this... Let's all not forget there is a significant inherent risk involved in participating in high performance driving... both as a spectator (Talladega comes to mind) or as a participant. Signed insurance wavier's are required for everyone allowed into the track area.
As the article states, they were in an area where they should've been safe.
I myself have spun in this corner before running off backwards in the same general area (20 feet or so) of where this accident occurred. I have seen numerous other offs in this area (turn 10) as it is a tight corner where the track entrance from the pits area is located.
The group managing the track are doing a fantastic job. The track is undergoing a tremendous number of up grades and improvements in all areas of the facility since the county bought it last year... with safety as a primary area of focus.
In fact I had just left work early to go out to the track and arrived at the entrance a few minutes after the accident just occurred. It was at this time the entrance was being blocked off to limit access as news media and sheriff's department had already arrived.
While I wasn't there at the time of the accident, let me say this... Let's all not forget there is a significant inherent risk involved in participating in high performance driving... both as a spectator (Talladega comes to mind) or as a participant. Signed insurance wavier's are required for everyone allowed into the track area.
05-11-2009, 05:14 PM
#7
Drifting
What a stupid track design....
Never been there, but there should be earthen or concrete walls around the entire track area that prevent vehicles from leaving the track in an uncontrolled manner wherever people may be located. Thats not to say that there should be a wall a the edge of the pavement close to it, but certainly a chain link fence isn't sufficient, unless the two people were standing in an area that would not normally have spectators in (in which case they should not have been there while cars were running on the track).
