Fatality at Fontana

[turbolou]

Word has it that it happened in the pits.Throttle stuck on dragster that was being worked on & shot across the parking lot for a distance. Hit a trailer & burst into flames killing the owner who was behind the wheel not strapped in .Ron Markhem was his name. Bob Lilligard knew him & that's who told me.

 

[TURBOELKY]

wow, not that is a terrible mistake. God bless that man. :frown:

we'll see how this goes with the people running the track. Accidents like this gives them reasons to close down.

 

[1986TR]

seen that on the news earlier..........may he be in a better place.gil

 

[Gary Wells]

Not good & sorry to hear, God Bless & God Speed.

 

[Pablo]

Wow, that's terrible. Kind of scary, I was just walking through the pits there with my wife a couple of weeks ago. Never crossed my mind that an accident like that could happen in the pits. I'll probably be more mindful of that possibility from now on.

 

[Boost231]

Drag Racer Killed During Test Run Saturday Morning in Fontana
AUGUST 8, 2009 - A 53-year-old man died when the custom-made dragster he was driving crashed into a parked trailer at the Auto Club Speedway, authorities said. The driver, identified as Ronald F. Marcum of La Habra, was performing a brake test when the dragster’s transmission suddenly engaged, propelling him into the parked trailer at more than 100 mph, according to the California Highway Patrol. After crashing into the trailer approximately 300 feet away, the dragster caught fire, authorities said. Emergency personnel pronounced Marcum dead at the scene. The accident occurred about 8:30 a.m. in a parking lot adjacent to the race complex’s pit area. At the time, an event called the Category Drag Races was taking place, the CHP said. Marcum was revving the engine at high RPMs during the test. At the same time, he should have been depressing a button that prevents the transmission from engaging, authorities said. According to National Hot Rod Assn. rules, a vehicle’s tires should be off the ground during such tests, but Marcum’s crew failed to follow those procedures, the CHP said. The CHP is investigating the dragster crash.

 

[Gary Wells]

Not to make light of the tragedy that occurred, but this is liable to have an effect on the Fontana strip and drag racing in general.

 

[Pablo]

That's possible. I never understood why people would suddenly have emotional reactions to things like this. It's as if they built this dragstrip never even conceiving the idea that there's risk involved.
I can just see the lightbulb going off in their head "Whoa! You mean people can get killed doing this!? We need to close this thing down ASAP!"

It reminds me of the kind of reaction that made helmets mandatory in cycling (another sport I am into). A pro rider died of head injuries in a pretty prestigious race and all of the sudden the governing body decides everyone needs to wear helmets. Like they just learned something new from the event.. (nevermind the fact that numerous cyclists have been killed in the past due to head injuries)

People need to stop letting emotions govern decisions like this.

 

[Reggie West]

That is the first thing you have to do at any drag strip they make you sign a liability waiver that goes for spectators and drivers.

 

[nordy racer]

very sad ..

 

[Nick Micale]

Drag Racer Killed During Test Run Saturday Morning in Fontana
AUGUST 8, 2009 -..... was performing a brake test when the dragster’s transmission suddenly engaged, propelling him into the parked trailer at more than 100 mph, according to the California Highway Patrol. After crashing into the trailer approximately 300 feet away........... Marcum was revving the engine at high RPMs during the test. At the same time, he should have been depressing a button that prevents the transmission from engaging, authorities said. According to National Hot Rod Assn. rules, a vehicle’s tires should be off the ground during such tests, but Marcum’s crew failed to follow those procedures, the CHP said........

To me, sounds like he was doing a stall test using the trans brake?

"Failed to follow safety procedures", sad that he died, especially because of that.