Yeah I thought you were doing a Hell Drivers demo there a few weeks ago. Turn 4 to past the flag stand on two wheels. Put er back on all fours and no caution!
Over the years the walls have become out of position and in a state of much needed repair. ( neglect ???? ) The walls need to be replaced, moved back, along with new ashphalt and grading giving a second line for passing.
This being done very few people would have complaints and Delaware Speedway would stand out as the track to be at +
That and progressive banking and Delaware would be "the best short track in Canada" no contest! With progressive banking the place would race like Darlington.
I dont know if anything would have helped my truck, due to the angle if impact. But I can agree that the Jersey barrier does promote airborne-ness (made that one up). I havent seen any video to prove otherwise, so Im sure what happened was just a racing incident, and nothing intentional occured. I didnt see it till the 7 was already sideways aiming at the wall. Either way, it doesnt really matter much, now. On the up side, I get to watch more racing now, and continue crewing for Scott with his AVSS sprint car. I might be in an LOSC car car once or twice too, but nothing is set in stone. Good luck to everybody getting their stuff together for this weekend!
JAMR,
It depends on what angle, speed, lots of things... if the 7 truck hit it 45 deg at full power, oh wow, yeah it could have easily gone through. Not to mention the fact that the truck is a brick (steel bumper, full stock frame...) and a Sprint Cup car is designed to come apart.
When Jeff Gordon hit the inside wall at Pocono (last year???) - the only place a safer barrier wasn't in place and had scrubbed off lots of speed, he still hit that wall a TONNE ! - but he also had the best safety equipment in the business and the car, like the 7 truck, done like donuts afterwards...
I think everyone agrees that Jersey barriers are not a race track friendly element...
All I said was, I think Safer barriers are the way to go for tracks 3/8 (high banked), 1/2 mile or bigger...
McDowell hit at dam near 90 deg at 180+ mph and did not go through. 7 truck hit at about 45 or 50 deg angle going about 100 mph slower. It would have been big that's for sure but I would say he would not have "Gone through" a proper safer barrier and the risk of injury would be greatly reduced. All that said the point is that the he's allright and the Jerseys need to go. Yes it's a shit load of money, but the track itself is more then ready for a refurbish. So if your going to spend the money spend it smart. Have a good one.
I was actually very surprised that a NCaTS race came back to the track as one of the reasons I had heard (besides the BS politics) that it took so long to come back was the Jerseys.
A simple and less expensive work around, until enough funds are available to remove and dig out behind, would be to form up in front of the jerseys and pour concrete to straighten up the walls. A slight lean in at the top is also beneficial. I hate seeing guys hit those things. That would narrow the track though so it would not be ideal. Everytime someone hits those and doesn't get seriously hurt..........