Don't Blame The Racetrack For Racing Tragedies

The knee jerk reaction was nearly automatic when word started to spread Sunday that NorthEastern Midget Association driver Shane Hammond had been killed in an accident during the season opening Icebreaker at Thompson International Speedway.

Automatically people were pointing fingers at the track.

Three lives lost in less than 4 years at Thompson.

It’s not surprising that people, almost immediately following the news of Hammond’s death, came out firing against Thompson, blaming the track, calling it an unsafe place to race. 

But was it fair?

Absolutely not.

The big picture is that three drivers, Hammond, Tom Baldwin Sr. and John Blewett III, have been killed in accidents since Aug. 2004 at Thompson.

But look beyond that very general statement for a second. All three were killed in wholly different types of accidents with each situation having its own unique set of rare circumstances surrounding it.

If you could tie those accidents together, point to a common thread between them for why they happened, then there would be a basis for an argument that there are serious problems at Thompson.

But there is no common thread between them other than the track where they happened. There is no bullseye mark to point to and say ‘That’s what’s wrong.’

And what gets lost in calling out Thompson, or calling out any track for that matter, is the fact that nobody was or is forced to race at the facility. There’s no mandate telling someone they have to get behind the wheel of a car at Thompson, or any racetrack for that matter.

It’s a chosen right by those who participate.

And surely they know the danger that lies when something goes wrong at speed.

Shane Hammond didn’t put a firesuit on Sunday because he thought he’d look good in it. He didn’t put a helmet on to keep his head warm and he didn’t wear a harness system because it made him more comfortable.

Hammond did those things because he knew the sport he was about to participate in was dangerous.

Like the other 200 or so drivers on hand at Thompson on Sunday, surely he knew the risks involved in racing.

And nobody made him, or anybody else at Thompson that day, go out on the track and race unwillingly.

The goal in racing is to take a machine solely built for speed and performance to its ultimate limit. That limit lies directly on the edge of control. The fastest one will go is at the line just before control is lost.

Racing is a constant dance with the laws of physics. Dance on the edge and stay on that edge as long as possible. Go over the edge and control is gone. When one is playing chicken with the laws of physics, the nature of control and trying to tame a machine they’ve built to ride narrowly on the edge of untamed there’s no rhyme or reason for what happens when it all goes bad. When control is gone sometimes bad things happen. Sometimes very bad things happen.

And it’s the goal of every racetrack out there to ensure that they are prepared to minimize the consequences when that dance on the edge goes bad. But there’s no way any track can be prepared for every scenario.

Is Thompson an unsafe track?

Absolutely it is.

To say its safe would be saying that there’s no chance whatsoever someone could get hurt or killed competing there.

Now, show me the list of tracks that are 100 percent safe.

Show me the list of racetracks where you know unequivocally before an event takes place there that there is no possible way someone could get hurt or killed racing there. 

To say even that it would be a short list is wrong.

There is no list because there is no such thing as a safe racetrack.

Racing at Thompson is dangerous, just like racing at Stafford Motor Speedway is dangerous, just like racing at the Waterford Speedbowl is dangerous, just like racing at Daytona International Speedway is dangerous. Racing was dangerous 50 years ago, it was dangerous 10 years ago, it was dangerous Sunday and it will be dangerous next week. That fact will never change and Thompson isn’t to be blamed for it.

Shawn Courchesne, 2:27 p.m.

Comments

[Dee]

Thank you Shawn! You are absolutely correct. I heard over and over again at the track and on the blogs about how Thompson needs to be updated. All 3 of those accidents were "freak" accidents. A safer barrier would not have kept Shane alive. He CLEARED the wall. It would not have kept John or Tom alive because they did not hit the wall. It is human nature to point your finger but all 3 of those men died doing what they loved to do!!

[Will]

Its true that the last three fatalities were freak accidents, but shouldn't we call for sfety upgrades anyway? Why wait until a fatal crash into the wall to install a safer barrier? If the track can afford that new lighting system then they can afford catch fences and soft walls.

From Shawn:
Will, how do you know that if they can afford the new lighting system that they can afford catch fences and soft walls? How do you know that they didn't get the lights second hand for a cut rate price from another facility that maybe recently closed down or some scenario like that? Do you have any idea how much soft walls cost? Show me the list of the short tracks that have soft walls, it's not too many. I'm not saying that the track shouldn't be looking for any way to make the facility safer, but at the same time, I don't see drivers standing up and saying they're not going to race there because they don't think its safe. They all have that choice you know.

[Dottie]

Well said Shawn. Racing is dangerous. Period. It doesn't matter which track you're at.

[Pete]

Very well put Shawn. Something like this happens and we hurt. Sometimes when we hurt we want to lash out and lay blame. In this case and ones before it, no one is to blame. As you said, there will always be the element of danger. That is what brings some of the thrill to this sport. Any track can make improvements for appearance and for saftey, but none can eliminate the danger short of keeping the gates locked and cars off the track. Whether it be baseball, hockey, horse racing or auto racing, there is a risk that only the individual taking that risk can control. And sometimes it's the One greater than he or she that is in total control.

[Billy]

Shawn- I agree with you when you say that no track is 100% safe and that each racer has the right to race or not to race. This is all true but 2 of the 3 deaths that have recently occured at Thompson could have easily been avoided. Shane's life chances are could have been saved if there was a catch fence. It may have torn his car apart and scattered debris, but he probably could have still been here today. Also, Tom Baldwin Sr.'s wreck could have had a different outcome if the lighting system was located differently. When i went to the track last weekend, I was blown away by the position of the new lights in turn 1 &2 and even 4. I thought that the whole idea of new lights (other than the lighting quality) was to prevent a car from hitting it. The new lights are even worse in my opinion. If you get bumped going down the frontstretch and end up in the dirt, the light is more than likely to effect your car. It is like that all through turn 1&2. In turn 4, the light is only a few inches from the pit wall. How hard would it have been to move it 1 foot to the other side on to the edge of pit road. If you were to hit the pole and it was in pit road, the outcome would be far less severe because you would only be traveling 30-50mph instead of 80-90mph that you would be traveling in the turn. With all of the money that the track spent, I was ecpecting the new layout to be much safer and I was very disappointed to see the new system in worse locations. The things that the track could have done or could have changed in there new plans didn't happen and made me disappointed and upset. The lack of thought into the new lighting system and the fact that the track doesnt have a catch fence( which every track should) has cost the track my weekly admission and support of he Thompson Int'l Speedway.

[Bill]

Shawn,
Drivers and car owners are doing what they can to ensure their safety by wearing Hans devices, firesuits and fireproof underwear, state of the art helmets, etc. Shouldn't the tracks do their part by putting up catch fences, soft walls, and other safety upgrades?
If the billboard was 20' behind the wall with a catch fence 10' behind the wall Shane might have walked away from the wreck. Oswego has big styrofoam type blocks lining the walls in the corners. They've had them for over 10yrs now and they work. I don't think there's been a fatality there since. The foam blocks around the light poles might have saved Baldwin. Mr Hoenig is a good guy and he helps the kids by letting them race quarter midgets at Little T Speedway so I'm not trying to nail him. I'm just saying that we need to look at trying to make racing as safe as we can from all angles. Thompson's a scary place to race a midget and maybe we need to think again about racing there. Sure the drivers can refuse to race at a track if they feel it's dangerous, and if enough of them do that the track goes out of business. How does that scenerio help anyone?
I just think we can do better. I don't want to go through what we went through last Sunday with any more drivers. This isn't good for anybody.

[RaceFan]

Well said, Shawn. I feel terribly sad for friends, family and fans of Shane Hammond - but it was nothing more than a tragic, tragic accident.

[Margo L]

The real bottom line is this . When 3 people are killed in the same place in a period of 4 years , then that place ( in this case Thompson Speedway ) needs to be making changes quickly and if necessary , expensively . If all three were caused by different issues , then all three issues need to be dealt with and meaningfull changes made . If the changes are made , then the number of ways a driver could be hurt or killed at Thompson would drop from 50 to 47 . And how could that possibly be a bad thing ? Calling it bad luck , or the law of averages , or just part of the danger of racing won't fly.

From Shawn:
Agreed. And when drivers stop showing up to race there I'm sure that will force all the needed changes (that you can't seem to identify) to be made. They seem to be still showing up to race there.

[Dirk Eykelhoff]

Above all, this is yet another sad day for our sport. Even more so for family and friends. That we know what we are getting into when we strap in does not really help much in their loss.
With regard to the track, while it is not their fault, it is not unreasonable (admittingly easier now) that this specific death could have been prevented with some proactive thoughts with respect to safety. It is not difficult to imagine a car getting outside of the walls. In some ways it is difficult that was not considered, or considered a creditable threat, with these type cars, light, fast, small,and open-wheeled.
Thyompson is not alone in this regard. As an example (not track bashing either), is at Waterford a couple years back with the big latemodel crash. If one of those cars in the air made it to the catch fence, I have doubts the catch fence would have help up (opinion only).
Racing is dangerous. Safety has to be always the top priority for raceteams, and the race track itself. Most industries ( not just racing) tend to make changes due as a reaction to something happening. We need to start making them before it is too late for the next guy.
With respect to drivers, there certainly are some wrecks/injuries that are due to someone's poor decision or action.
If you want a shiney car all season, yes, leave it in the garage. We go to race. And we all will make mistakes, but use your head more, and you and your car will be better off. And I know, it is a very difficult balancing act, but there is a fine line there somewhere. If a driver can ask that a track think / do more about safety, it shouldn't be unreasonable to ask a driver do the same.
Just remember, there are risks in something like racing, but along with those risks is responsiblility to do your part, whether you are a promotor or participant. We need to all have a healthy amount of respect for what can happen out there, no one doing this can hit "reset" on a playstation once a mistake happens. Its tough enough we go out there accepting that things can happen that are just freak accidents.

[f1kartracer]

come on guys he cleared the wall meaning he was at least 6' in the air. I was at stafford the night they had 2 modifieds end up in the stands a distance of almost 30'. They have since added a heavy cable catch fence. If I had my way they would put the sand banks back at thompson.

[Margo L]

Shawn, it looks as though fikartracer has most definitely identified chnges that i was not able to . And apparently Thompson officials were able to identify a problem as well . Its a good start.
When drivers stop showing up at Thompson , or any other track in protest , changes don't result , At least not in the way that was hoped for . Instead the tracks forge on and after fewer drivers and cars show up , less fans show up . And the end result is a new shopping center where the race track once stood .

[Parentofaracer]

I understand and somewhat agree with most of the things your saying, Shawn, but as the parent of a young modified driver, I feel that there isn't enough that can be done to ensure the safety of all drivers at all tracks. Maybe this accident wasn't Thompson's "fault", but it could have been prevented by updating some safety features at the track.As a parent I cannot even imagine what Shane's family went through and are continuing to go through. I agree with several of the postings including "racefans" who stated "If all three (fatalities) were caused by different issues , then all three issues need to be dealt with and meaningful changes made." I disagree with your somewhat cavalier attitude that drivers just need to stop showing up. As another poster stated, that will only add to the amount of local tracks closed and replaced by shopping centers. As Eddie Flemke Jr said, the price these drivers pay when they "fumble" is just too great. I see the comment that says these men died doing what they loved to do. That may be true, but I'm sure dying at the sport they love was not on their list of goals for racing! Safety should be the #1 priority at every track!

[Mike]

While piling on the track is easy at times like this on should step back and really adress the issues. I can't think of any short track that I heve been to that is completely surrounded by a catch fence. Nothing could have been done to prevent John Blewitt's death short of not racing. The light poles and Tom Baldwin death could be prevented. Moving the light poles outside the backstetch would not work because all you would see is shadows from the stands however heavy foam or padding around them as well as moving them as far into the infield as possible is a solution. Drivers side foam like in the C.O.T. would help also.
The major problem is track layout, you must avoid having anything that a car could hit at a 90 degree angle such as the pit gate at Stafford. Stafford saw this and put the safer walls there. With speeds generated at both Thompson and Stafford soft walls should be installed at the ends of both straits as this is the most dangerous and most likely area if a throttle sticks open. A catch fence at the end would be nioce too. In the past, the modified deaths of Corky Cookman, Tony Jankowiak, Don Pratt and CHarlie Jarzombek were all very similar. The cars would hit the wall at the end of the strait and the cars were so rigid that the driver absorbed more of the force impact that a body could stand. Nascar addressed this by requiring the cars to have give points in the chassis and fortunately the impacts have been greatly reduced.