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Post by dutchy 72t on Dec 7, 2008 4:46:47 GMT 12
Major crash last night. didn't look like much was left of the car. Ben got out ok, which really suprised me! Was very relieved when I saw him move... Couldn't believe that the crowd didn't even move! He snapped a railway iron clean in half. I think 1 meter to the right or left and he would have been in the crowd! Not too sure about cause, but from where I was sitting it must have been a jammed accellerator.
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Post by craig on Dec 7, 2008 8:34:29 GMT 12
Never before since moving the railway irons back approx 1.5 meters from the concrete wall did we think a railway iron or 2 would get hit. (Especially by a Super Saloon). Don't forget about the wire ropes that held up so there was no way he would have ended up in the crowd. Even though Ben broke a railway iron and bent another the safety fence did its job.
Ben's car will be back!!
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Post by damo1018 on Dec 7, 2008 9:17:26 GMT 12
that was a massive crash.
maybe woodfordglen will get a new safety fence.
it must be the lowest one in new zealand.
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Post by bigredcorvette on Dec 7, 2008 9:23:47 GMT 12
Ben was in such a shock after the massive crash he went home with his mum straight after being checked by st john. Yes Dutchy his accelarator jammed and by crickey did it make a mess. Had to stop racing for 15mins to fix the fence and then about half an hour later the control tower lights didnt work so the had to use the old school flags.
HOPE YOU ARE OK BEN GOOD LUCK!!!!
Cheers
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Post by Visacard on Dec 7, 2008 9:40:36 GMT 12
Car is not that bad. Could be alot worse. Ben still sore but otherwise its just his pride that has gone. He will be back before long better than ever  |
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Post by chevute on Dec 7, 2008 10:04:10 GMT 12
glad to hear young ben is ok, was simply a freck accident that could have happend to any one, an as far as the safety fence is concerned its there for a reason an did its job extremley well, no need to change something that works so well,
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Post by Greg M.. on Dec 7, 2008 11:16:51 GMT 12
The only good thing to come out if the incident was to see Ben get out of the car unaided. If Id won lotto mate Id flick ya a few hundy grand to get ya back on the clay, Sorry I picked the wrong numbers again.   |
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Post by super16c on Dec 7, 2008 12:21:23 GMT 12
Hi guys,
thanks for all the concern! pretty sore today but could have been heaps worse. all i can remember is going hard into turn 3 and getting off the gas and tapping the brake but the engine kept going, by the time the thought of getting my foot under the gas pedal to release it came into my mind it was curtains! all i remember after that is going to the ambo?! no idea what happened in between!!
and by the way it was my partner that took me home NOT my mum bigred!!! ;D
gotta milk the cows this arvo then going out to the old mans to have a look at the car, talked to dad on the phone before and he reckons alot of the damage is bumpers and other minors, chassis still looks ok apparently! crunched headers, bent rims, cut tyres, broken control arms etc etc! not looking too good having her repaired before nz title but like GregM said im keen at anyone who has recently won lotto!!! interesting pics too, had no idea car ended up facing that way!
thanks again, i will be back sometime!
Ben
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Post by Mav, back bein a pit biarch on Dec 7, 2008 12:32:15 GMT 12
Hi guys, thanks for all the concern! pretty sore today but could have been heaps worse. all i can remember is going hard into turn 3 and getting off the gas and tapping the brake but the engine kept going, by the time the thought of getting my foot under the gas pedal to release it came into my mind it was curtains! all i remember after that is going to the ambo?! no idea what happened in between!! and by the way it was my partner that took me home NOT my mum bigred!!! ;D gotta milk the cows this arvo then going out to the old mans to have a look at the car, talked to dad on the phone before and he reckons alot of the damage is bumpers and other minors, chassis still looks ok apparently! crunched headers, bent rims, cut tyres, broken control arms etc etc! not looking too good having her repaired before nz title but like GregM said im keen at anyone who has recently won lotto!!! interesting pics too, had no idea car ended up facing that way! thanks again, i will be back sometime! Ben hey Ben, good to hear your OK, missed the whole thing myself, arriving at the pits fence in time to see a red corvette facing the wrong way, then getting a run down by those that saw it unfold. Car wasn't looking the best, but main thing was you were able to get out by yourself ok. Maybe need to throw a cortina together and head back to Oxford aye lol ;D You sure it wasn't your mum that took you home?  Bottom line, your Ok which is the main thing. Mike |
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Post by Abb0 on Dec 7, 2008 14:01:03 GMT 12
Good to hear that you're ok. At least one thing is for certain... You drove it like you stole it!!! ;D ;D so no-one can accuse you of not living up to your tag line  |
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Post by Steve on Dec 7, 2008 15:35:20 GMT 12
that was a massive crash. maybe woodfordglen will get a new safety fence. it must be the lowest one in new zealand. As Craig mentioned, the safety fence did its' job - in this case, the rail way irons & the wire rope stopped the car, nothing to do with the height of the safety fence. Not much point having the highest safety fence if there is nothing there to stop a car going through it.  |
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Post by speedwaylover on Dec 7, 2008 16:03:16 GMT 12
Well said Steve that fence done exactly what is was suppose to do. I would like to congratulate Management and committee on the professionlism they showed during the trying events that happened at the track last night , a credit to all concerned. Glad to hear all is well with Ben you have been awesome to watch for such a young fella. Good luck for the rest of your career
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Post by AllCrossedup on Dec 7, 2008 17:53:24 GMT 12
gidday all, For those of you who missed it, it was scary. I was watching Ben from exit of t2 and it all happened within 3-4 seconds. To see a saloon accelerating into a turn like that just chills my soul. To us speedway is family and to see one in such a predicament is heart stopping.It was most impressive to type the least lol! but Ben is the last racer on earth that you would believe this could happen to. As Ben posted, He is still smiling and good to hear that the car is not twisted. I must say that the crowd was awesome about it too, as we had to close off a safety area around the pole,Punters had to move away from their seats, but they understood and we could get back to racing asap ,so BIG THANKS to you guys! Also if you were seated near the scene you would of got one hell of a view too! |
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rhino
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Post by rhino on Dec 7, 2008 18:27:44 GMT 12
Yeah the wire fence did its job, but its something that needs looking at! its a dinosaur! and its to low, any debris could fly over easy. maybe they should look at nelsons new fence, its awesome!
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Post by deno Tank 9c on Dec 7, 2008 18:39:22 GMT 12
Once the consultaion process with the engineers and SNZ has been gone thru then you should see a new catch fence . In the mean time why replace a fence that is doin exactly what it is ment to do  ? |
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rhino
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Post by rhino on Dec 7, 2008 19:09:39 GMT 12
theres nothing like thinking ahead deno, hindsight is all well in good after some one gets hurt if something did go through or over!
there has been some problems in the past at other SNZ tracks and they proberbly thought like you until some one got hurt!
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jo
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Post by jo on Dec 7, 2008 19:20:27 GMT 12
::)Benjamin Bunny.................what did you think you were doing??? Holy moly! I dont think that I would have liked to have watched you do that. (I was in Auckland watching the lovely luscious David Beckham. Tough job....but someone had to do it!!) Anyway, great to hear that you escaped pretty much unscathed (even if you cant remember who took you home!! LOL)
Will look forward to seeing you and the car back on the track.
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Post by deno Tank 9c on Dec 7, 2008 19:29:43 GMT 12
rhino as i said the club are going thru the process of sorting out the best fence option at the moment so that makes the club pro active not re active as you suggest . NO one within the club would ever want to see sum one hurt but it is a very pointless and expensive exercise if we put up a new fence that wont do the job as well or better than what we have now .
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Post by speedwayfan2 on Dec 7, 2008 20:40:20 GMT 12
I too think that the Glens safety fence is to low-may have stopped the car going through it but wouldn't take much for a car to go over it!!!
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Post by rebel1 on Dec 7, 2008 20:59:42 GMT 12
I questioned the height of the WG safety fence last xmas when I was there but was told that it was the approved height. It may well be but I have seen cars hanging off that fence and I have been to a number of big profile events where the speed of these cars can be plain scary.
While you cant bullet proof any speedway track you can improve on the standards that are currently in place. Huntly did so last season and the new fence is a big improvement on what was there before it.
I am sure that SNZ and WG will work together to ensure that safety is top of the list in reviewing this incident.
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