Really bad news at HyperFest
06-08-2014, 12:39 AM
#1
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Really bad news at HyperFest
An instructor died in a crash during a DE at Summit Point's Hyperfest. This is all that's known so far. Really bad news.
http://www.your4state.com/story/d/st...t0W3CDbMCgcDbA
JEFFERSON COUNTY, W.Va. - A driving instructor died Saturday after an accident at the HyperFest at the Summit Point Raceway in Jefferson County, West Virginia.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office says the crash happened just after 5:15 p.m. The male driver made a sharp left turn, lost control, and crashed into a tree.
The passenger, who was the instructor, died from blunt-force trauma, according to Sgt. Robert Sell, with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. The victim's name will not be released until his family is notified.
The driver was taken by ambulance to Winchester Medical Center.
A separate crash happened around 2:30 p.m. at the raceway when two vehicles crashed into each other, according to Sell. One person had to be flown to the hospital. This was for the Lightning Road Race.
http://www.your4state.com/story/d/st...t0W3CDbMCgcDbA
JEFFERSON COUNTY, W.Va. - A driving instructor died Saturday after an accident at the HyperFest at the Summit Point Raceway in Jefferson County, West Virginia.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office says the crash happened just after 5:15 p.m. The male driver made a sharp left turn, lost control, and crashed into a tree.
The passenger, who was the instructor, died from blunt-force trauma, according to Sgt. Robert Sell, with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. The victim's name will not be released until his family is notified.
The driver was taken by ambulance to Winchester Medical Center.
A separate crash happened around 2:30 p.m. at the raceway when two vehicles crashed into each other, according to Sell. One person had to be flown to the hospital. This was for the Lightning Road Race.
Last edited by TurboCup87; 06-08-2014 at 03:48 PM.
06-08-2014, 06:13 AM
#4
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Oh my - condolences! So sad on many levels.
Curious to find out how it happened.
Curious to find out how it happened.
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06-08-2014, 09:40 AM
#8
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RIP.
As much as we all try to make it safe, this is a high risk hobby, need to go in to it with that understanding. Rare, but not rare enough. Continue to appreciate all who pay it forward by volunteer instructing at DEs.
The event looks a little more of a party atmosphere then a typical DE. http://hyper-fest.com/
As much as we all try to make it safe, this is a high risk hobby, need to go in to it with that understanding. Rare, but not rare enough. Continue to appreciate all who pay it forward by volunteer instructing at DEs.
The event looks a little more of a party atmosphere then a typical DE. http://hyper-fest.com/
06-08-2014, 10:23 AM
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Very sad. No reason why a car should be able to impact a tree on a modern race course.
Encourage everyone to get involved with Motorsport Safety Foundation: http://motorsport-safety.org
It's our sport and it's up to us to make it safer.
Encourage everyone to get involved with Motorsport Safety Foundation: http://motorsport-safety.org
It's our sport and it's up to us to make it safer.
06-08-2014, 10:58 AM
#11
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There is no excuse for hitting a tree !Last year an Instructor was maimed at Summit Point!
In my opinion the management needs to react positively to this and other clear signs that the place is too dangerous as it is structured now.
I won't be instructing there until the Management gets the safety improved.
If you are a regular there I urge you to contact the folks you know and demand real safety measures.
Somebody in the thread said it was the first time they heard of an Instructor dying .
For me it's not and the cause of death, of the other Instructor, was blunt trauma from hitting a tree!
This is simple Armco is the cure!
In my opinion the management needs to react positively to this and other clear signs that the place is too dangerous as it is structured now.
I won't be instructing there until the Management gets the safety improved.
If you are a regular there I urge you to contact the folks you know and demand real safety measures.
Somebody in the thread said it was the first time they heard of an Instructor dying .
For me it's not and the cause of death, of the other Instructor, was blunt trauma from hitting a tree!
This is simple Armco is the cure!
06-08-2014, 12:44 PM
#12
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Thread Starter
10 or 12 years ago, a DE friend from my little burg got killed at Summit Point when a front suspension arm on his supercharged Mustang failed at the end of the main straight. Went over the guardrail. He was alive when they got him out of the car, but died in the chopper on the way to a DC hospital.
I've never been to SP and don't plan to go there. It's actually pretty far from me, even tho in WV. The Hyperfest event includes DE, drifting, NASA DE and races. A couple of years ago there was a video of an STI totally airborne at a HF event.
I've only heard of some second and third hand comments about the safety of that track. Sounds like it could be improved.
I've done DEs since 87 and have instructed since 89. That's a whole lot of miles in the right seat. Most instructing time is with C&D students, so it's largely pretty safe, I hope. There have been a few instructor deaths, but I'll bet that there are more that go unreported like my friend above. Last fall, a racer, whose name escapes me died in a right seat DE crash. I've only hit anything while in the right seat once. It was a fairly low speed hit on a wall at Mid Ohio on a really cold day. Felt like someone hit my helmet with a baseball bat when my helmet hit the cage. That wall has been moved back 30 or 40' from where it used to be, thank God.
Safety truly needs to be the biggest priority in our hobby. For the last 4 years I now use a neck support in my car and any student cars that have cage and race harnesses.
I've never been to SP and don't plan to go there. It's actually pretty far from me, even tho in WV. The Hyperfest event includes DE, drifting, NASA DE and races. A couple of years ago there was a video of an STI totally airborne at a HF event.
I've only heard of some second and third hand comments about the safety of that track. Sounds like it could be improved.
I've done DEs since 87 and have instructed since 89. That's a whole lot of miles in the right seat. Most instructing time is with C&D students, so it's largely pretty safe, I hope. There have been a few instructor deaths, but I'll bet that there are more that go unreported like my friend above. Last fall, a racer, whose name escapes me died in a right seat DE crash. I've only hit anything while in the right seat once. It was a fairly low speed hit on a wall at Mid Ohio on a really cold day. Felt like someone hit my helmet with a baseball bat when my helmet hit the cage. That wall has been moved back 30 or 40' from where it used to be, thank God.
Safety truly needs to be the biggest priority in our hobby. For the last 4 years I now use a neck support in my car and any student cars that have cage and race harnesses.
06-08-2014, 06:35 PM
#13
06-08-2014, 07:05 PM
#14
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Good lord. R.I.P.
