Racers - Safety Equipment and Gear is NO JOKE!!

I posted this in the North Eastern section since the person that crashed is local to that area, but I thought it was worth sharing with the entire racing community.

A local guy, Peter Biondo, lost his brakes and went off the end of the track at Orlando Speedway last weekend. Pete walked away without a scratch, but his car wasn't so lucky. Here's what his car looked like (http://drr.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=3476075&f=75460652&m=385108371&r=870105471#870105471) after the crash (at the top of the page). It's an 11 second car... WEAR YOUR SAFETY GEAR GUYS!!! It DOES make a difference.

;)

Yikes!

OMG!!:eek: :shock: That's a shame:(. Glad that the guy was okay, but it's true, people should be more aware and diligent with having/wearing/using safety gear, and the tracks should definitely have some type of emergency run-off in place:rolleyes:. I heard about a similar incident at a track up here a few years back where a car ran off the end of the track and there was a big grassy mound that launched the car into the air when it hit!!:irk: A sand trap would probably be the best?:confused:

Anything would have helped to slow him down - a sand trap, a pile of tires, a wall of 55 gallon drums of water, etc.

;)

:eek:

Englishtown has a great safety barrier after a little piece of sand...trees.

Gateway has a sand pit which is fine, but behind it is a concrete barrier wall, a levee and a drainage canal. A guy last year cleared the trap and the wall, hit the levee and went into the canal...no, he didn't make it either.

Peter's car looks horrible. I heard about it a day or two after it happened, but never saw pics. Ouch. :(

Thats great that is not hurt, but wouldnt you down shift to 2nd then first?

Originally posted by OBDIICamaro
Thats great that is not hurt, but wouldnt you down shift to 2nd then first?

I'm sure he has either a TH-350, TH-400 or a Powerglide in the car. Normally, a downshift in the TH transmissions won't slow you down. You can shift a Powerglide from High to Low but it won't make much of a difference.

So, no - you would just shift to 2nd then first.

;)

Stocker trannies with big stall converters don't give much engine braking. From what I've read about this on another site Peter did everything he could to scrub off speed but the bigger issue was the aftermath and the lengthy delay in safety crew response to it.
Click here for link to discussion (http://www.classracer.com/cgi-bin/netboard/netboardr.cgi?fid=102&cid=101&tid=5311&pg=1&sc=20&x=0)

hehe thats Orlando Speedworld for ya...

The end fo the track is nothing but trees, I actually gotta brake kinda hard in my car that only traps mid ot low 90s...


glad he is ok... about 2-3 months ago, a local guy(Kumar), lost his car at the topend of the same track in his mid 13s convertable ls1... he wasn't even in a shift, tail end gave out and he bounced off both walls... He was ok, but his car was pretty beat up...

Also OSW is the track Steve Grebeck died at...

But guys if you have a fast car, get the right safety equipment.

Thats why I stay in bradenton.That stinks

Originally posted by n20ta2
Thats why I stay in bradenton.That stinks

I have been thinking about going to bradenton, I hear its the fastest track in FL... Well maybe gainesville is now since they just redid the surface for Gator nationals...

BUt I cannot give up the fact I am 12 minutes in rush hour, and 8 minuts normal driving form OSW... just too damn convienent.

OSW's been a sh|tty track since day one. They don't prep, they don't have any tech check-in whatsoever, they could care less about what the hell goes on there. I raced there for years and am glad I never had to experience anything like this.

I don't know if you know this, but behind those trees is a lake. Could have been worse. Glad he walked away.

I'll never race at OSW again. This is just one more reason on top of many. :no:

*shudders*

ive been on wrecks like this but never in one. The track here all that is required is a basic seat belt and helmet...huh, I dont think so, I think i'll be adding a few more saftey features than that.

Glad he walked away

OSW's been a sh|tty track since day one. They don't prep, they don't have any tech check-in whatsoever, they could care less about what the hell goes on there. I raced there for years and am glad I never had to experience anything like this.

While I agree about OSW being a pispoor excuse for a track, I must say that they would not let me run one night because I forgot my helmet. I didn't even make it past the "tech guys."

They wouldn't even refund my money either even after I was there for no more then 10 minutes. :mad: