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Topic: Susky/Hodnett Email this topic to a friend | Subscribe to this TopicReport this Topic to Moderator
Page 1 of 1   of  10 replies
wooranger
September 26, 2018 at 06:06:16 PM
Joined: 04/29/2008
Posts: 32
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Racing is and always will be dangerous, but just can't believe Greg Hodnett is gone. I googled a few pics from Susky and the entrance to the pits, and l just cant fathom that they couldn't find a better place to exit the racing surface. I've been to each sprint car race at Mansfield since it was re-opened, for example, and the place is ultra high-speed with the fast lane right on the fence, but yet there hasn't been an ambulance needed, at least that l can recall. There's an opening and closing pitgate that's on the backstretch toward the third-turn that is manned by a pair of fellows, and at the conclusion of each event, whether it's hotlaps or a heat race or feature, it's opened and closed with no open barriers whatsoever on the race track. Adding extra bars and so forth is great, but geez, just a few added simple improvements could make an incredible difference in those types of freakish accidents. Just my observation on a day that one of the greatest ambassodores of all time was laid to rest.




19 Posse
September 26, 2018 at 09:09:32 PM
Joined: 12/24/2012
Posts: 364
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Mansfield was a former nascar paved track and is possibly the safest dirt track in the world. 

Equpped with safer barriers as well. 



wooranger
September 27, 2018 at 01:36:09 AM
Joined: 04/29/2008
Posts: 32
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I realize that, but i'm not talking about safer barriers, a closing and opening gate is all. The new Sharon and Eldora are two just name a few.




larsonfan
September 27, 2018 at 02:32:04 AM
Joined: 03/24/2013
Posts: 1445
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Reply to:
Posted By: wooranger on September 26 2018 at 06:06:16 PM

Racing is and always will be dangerous, but just can't believe Greg Hodnett is gone. I googled a few pics from Susky and the entrance to the pits, and l just cant fathom that they couldn't find a better place to exit the racing surface. I've been to each sprint car race at Mansfield since it was re-opened, for example, and the place is ultra high-speed with the fast lane right on the fence, but yet there hasn't been an ambulance needed, at least that l can recall. There's an opening and closing pitgate that's on the backstretch toward the third-turn that is manned by a pair of fellows, and at the conclusion of each event, whether it's hotlaps or a heat race or feature, it's opened and closed with no open barriers whatsoever on the race track. Adding extra bars and so forth is great, but geez, just a few added simple improvements could make an incredible difference in those types of freakish accidents. Just my observation on a day that one of the greatest ambassodores of all time was laid to rest.



An asphalt sprint car driver was killed at Mansfield in 2006.



SAF92
September 27, 2018 at 07:05:11 AM
Joined: 01/24/2018
Posts: 386
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Reply to:
Posted By: larsonfan on September 27 2018 at 02:32:04 AM

An asphalt sprint car driver was killed at Mansfield in 2006.



What does that have to do with the current state of Mansfield? I believe this would've been before the safer barriers and I also believe the driver that was killed was driving homemade chassis if we are thinking of the same incident. Other than the infield wall which could hinder safety crew response time to a wreck in turns 3 & 4.... I would have the agree mansfield is one of the safest dirt tracks in the country even with the high speeds.



Nickules
September 27, 2018 at 08:09:32 AM
Joined: 08/05/2015
Posts: 1133
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Reply to:
Posted By: SAF92 on September 27 2018 at 07:05:11 AM

What does that have to do with the current state of Mansfield? I believe this would've been before the safer barriers and I also believe the driver that was killed was driving homemade chassis if we are thinking of the same incident. Other than the infield wall which could hinder safety crew response time to a wreck in turns 3 & 4.... I would have the agree mansfield is one of the safest dirt tracks in the country even with the high speeds.



I'm not disagreeing with you regarding the safety of Mansfield but the smaple size is very, very miniscule at this juncture.  The safer barriers are an enormously positive safety feature that is unparalleled there's no doubt there.  But with only a handful of races in the books it's kind of hard to make a real life statement that its the safest dirt track in the country.  On paper with the physical things they have in place, yes.  But real life the sample size is so small. I do know some complained about the lack of response time for the safety crew, especially in 3 and 4.  I also know they have cannonballs (yes hyperbole) for rocks, so while not directly related to this as we're talking track physical aspects, thats certainly a surface safety issue.  Again, not disagreeing just saying it might be a bit early to crown Mansfield the safety king.  That said, a lot of tracks can probably learn from some of the safety aspects present there, but then again Mansfield had the benefit of being an ex-Nascar track so the safer barriers were there and did not incur an upfront capital expense as it would for retro fitting to existing dirt tracks. 




larsonfan
September 27, 2018 at 09:51:27 AM
Joined: 03/24/2013
Posts: 1445
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: SAF92 on September 27 2018 at 07:05:11 AM

What does that have to do with the current state of Mansfield? I believe this would've been before the safer barriers and I also believe the driver that was killed was driving homemade chassis if we are thinking of the same incident. Other than the infield wall which could hinder safety crew response time to a wreck in turns 3 & 4.... I would have the agree mansfield is one of the safest dirt tracks in the country even with the high speeds.



Just pointing out that no track is 100% safe. At last year's Great Lakes Nationals, there were some vicious winged and nw crashes. 



singlefile
September 27, 2018 at 12:27:58 PM
Joined: 04/24/2005
Posts: 1341
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: SAF92 on September 27 2018 at 07:05:11 AM

What does that have to do with the current state of Mansfield? I believe this would've been before the safer barriers and I also believe the driver that was killed was driving homemade chassis if we are thinking of the same incident. Other than the infield wall which could hinder safety crew response time to a wreck in turns 3 & 4.... I would have the agree mansfield is one of the safest dirt tracks in the country even with the high speeds.



So it is the safest track in the country -- as long as you don't count the guy who was killed there? (Scratches head).



SAF92
September 27, 2018 at 01:40:30 PM
Joined: 01/24/2018
Posts: 386
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This message was edited on September 27, 2018 at 01:42:09 PM by SAF92
Reply to:
Posted By: singlefile on September 27 2018 at 12:27:58 PM

So it is the safest track in the country -- as long as you don't count the guy who was killed there? (Scratches head).



Yes. The track was asphalt back then, no safer barriers, and the driver who was killed was driving a homemade chassis. The track has since been reconfigured back to dirt with safer barriers left from the years it hosted NASCAR trucks. Basically two completely different tracks from a safety aspect. The guy who mentioned the rocks is correct tho... its a major problem that needs figured out this offseason.




Nickules
September 27, 2018 at 02:41:09 PM
Joined: 08/05/2015
Posts: 1133
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: SAF92 on September 27 2018 at 01:40:30 PM

Yes. The track was asphalt back then, no safer barriers, and the driver who was killed was driving a homemade chassis. The track has since been reconfigured back to dirt with safer barriers left from the years it hosted NASCAR trucks. Basically two completely different tracks from a safety aspect. The guy who mentioned the rocks is correct tho... its a major problem that needs figured out this offseason.



I mentioned the rocks above and I concur it needs to be addressed, problem is i'm not sure what they can do as it seems the rocks are throughout the depth of the clay/dirt they got so tilling or rock hounding the top layer or so isn't gonna solve it.  Did you see some of the holes left in top wings, side panels, etc. from the GLC event?  Wow!  If a mudclod broke Bayston's leg I'd hate to see if one of the cannonballs came through and hit a guy in the head or arm or leg.  Ouch.  But I'm sure Cody and the team who owns the speedway will take a look this winter for solutions.  I know a lot of drivers mentioned it to him, and are appreciative of their efforts. 



HoldenCaulfield
September 28, 2018 at 05:33:09 PM
Joined: 03/22/2008
Posts: 2434
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Reply to:
Posted By: wooranger on September 26 2018 at 06:06:16 PM

Racing is and always will be dangerous, but just can't believe Greg Hodnett is gone. I googled a few pics from Susky and the entrance to the pits, and l just cant fathom that they couldn't find a better place to exit the racing surface. I've been to each sprint car race at Mansfield since it was re-opened, for example, and the place is ultra high-speed with the fast lane right on the fence, but yet there hasn't been an ambulance needed, at least that l can recall. There's an opening and closing pitgate that's on the backstretch toward the third-turn that is manned by a pair of fellows, and at the conclusion of each event, whether it's hotlaps or a heat race or feature, it's opened and closed with no open barriers whatsoever on the race track. Adding extra bars and so forth is great, but geez, just a few added simple improvements could make an incredible difference in those types of freakish accidents. Just my observation on a day that one of the greatest ambassodores of all time was laid to rest.



I know they changed the pit location there about 5 years ago, or so. I haven't been to the track since then but if my memory is correct, the pits used to be on the backstretch and the entrance was off turn 2 and the cars entered the track in turn 3 kind of like Lincoln is now. For some reason that never made any sense to me, they decided to put the pits behind the stands on the frontstretch. I don't know if any of that would have made a difference in this tragedy. Hindsight is always 20/20 and I don't like placing blame on anyone because everyone is hurting from this and everyone cares about the safety of the drivers. We can always speculate. If changes can be made to make a track or the sport as a whole safer, the drivers and track operators need to get together and make it happen. I'm still in disbelief also. You always know it can and does happen, but Greg was such a great driver that it's even more of shock when it happens to some one like that. One of the best ever in central PA who will never be replaced. It's a big loss to this area.


A



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