Bad Accident in Tulsa last weekend

[shmoov69]

Just an FYI, bad things can happen even in very unsuspecting places!



On Saturday, April 2, 2005 Shelly Howard, and her son Brian Howard, were
killed in a racing accident at Tulsa Raceway Park. The accident occurred
while making a test run of Shelly’s new dragster during the bracket racing
program. At 10:12 p.m., Shelly made her third pass of the evening in the
tower lane. The car left the starting line in what appeared to be a
problem-free run. After passing the 1/8 mile mark at 201 miles per hour,
the dragster began what is referred to as a blow-over. A blow-over occurs
when too much air goes under the front wing of the dragster causing the
front end to lift. At this point, Shelly lifted off the accelerator. As
the dragster became vertical, it rotated 180 degrees on its axis and then
touched down on all four wheels and against the wall with the car now facing
the starting line. The impact of the dragster to the pavement could have
been severe enough to cause Shelly Howard to lose consciousness. This
theory is supported by the fact that she did not hit the kill switch, deploy
the chutes or turn the fuel supply off to the motor. At that point, either
the throttle stuck wide open, or, Shelly’s foot jammed the throttle down.
Extensive damage to the dragster and the onboard “black box” made it
impossible to determine which occurred. The car continued down the track
backwards making almost continuous contact with the tower lane wall, while
the tires were spinning in the opposite direction. The dragster passed the
¼ mile stripe in 6.633 seconds at 115 miles an hour. The car continued down
the track backwards until approximately 1,500 feet from the starting line
when it ceased its rearward momentum and began to travel forward towards the
starting line, under full acceleration. After traveling several hundred
feet uptrack towards the starting line, the car swerved into the spectator
lane and then back into the tower lane at the 660’ foot line. The car made
hard contact with the wall in the tower lane at the 320’ foot mark and light
contact with the tower lane wall at the starting line while traveling an
estimated 250 miles per hour. At 125’ past the starting line, the dragster
struck the crew’s chase car. The chase car’s occupant, Brian Howard, was
sitting in the rear seat, and along with Shelly, was killed instantly. The
force of the collision hurled both the dragster and the chase car 225’
through a rear burn-out wall and into an open field and stream. An
investigation by the Tulsa Police Department ruled their deaths an accident.
No other injuries were reported.

[bnickel]

holy ****, that had to be scary as all hell for anyone at the event

[Bill Howell]

Sounds like a miracle no one else was killed. I can not imagine a 250mph impact. That had to be one horrible scene to watch and be unable to do anything. Probably her husband or other family members were there too. God bless them all.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Yeah, seen that. Sounds inconceivable!

[trapin]

The dragster passed the ¼ mile stripe in 6.633 seconds at 115 miles an hour.

It completed the 1/4 mile stretch in under 7 seconds even amidst all the chaos that was going on??!! I'm guessing this is a Top Fuel Dragster and not some 'mom and pop' Alchohol rail. What a terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to their families.

With that kind of horsepower and speeds you've got to know that you are taking a substantial calculated risk of losing your life getting behind the wheel. Nascar drivers understand this, John Force understands this, even the people in Indy racing understand this as well. I'm sure she did and even though I am saddened for their loss...this is something you have to be prepared for in that kind of sport.

This is why I no longer race my car. Being there to see my kids grow up and watch my Grandchildren and possibly Great Grandchildren enter the world is a whole hell of a lot important too me.

[WS6]

thats insane. man that is a horrible accident

[Travis B]

A buddy of mine was in the staging lane he was the next group to pull in he said it was the most horrible thing you can imagine! I am only 1hr1/2 away from there seems like there is bad one at least once a year! LAst year a guy on a bike killed himself at the mid night drags when he turned around at the end of track and rode a wheelie all the way back up the track he didn't get it shut down and ran into wall where you turn in the starting line! I hate to hear of anything like this happening!

[MuscleRodz]

I heard about it earlier this week from a friend of mine. It is almost unbelievable. I bet you will see remote kill switches in the future like what is used in monster trucks.

Mike

[MrQuick]

scared me Jimmy, I thought it was you again...

Man that is a bad one. But not uncommon. I watched a girl in her licensing run hit the wall then go down the track unconsense at full thottle then hit a divider wall at 250+ mph and burst into flames, she didn't make it either. Heart goes out to the familly.

[shmoov69]

What, me wreck my car Vince?!!?! AGAIN!??!?!?! ;)
I was not there, but heard about it. Supposidly her son that died was either mentally or physically handicapped and they could not get him out of the truck in time. I have heard all kinds of stories about what "happened" but this is what actually happened according to the website. People have been saying, "well I would have done this...." but if you think about it, it all probably lasted only 20 seconds max!
It was supposidly a top alchocol digger also, hence the insane speeds. Hard to believe it did not puke the engine on the way back.
I thought the exact same thing about the kill switches also, prolly a good idea, or at least on the big dogs!