video by Nathan Whitehead
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| Photo by Chris Priestley |
UPDATE: The rumor now is that Chris did not buckle his belts...
UPDATE #2: "...the belts were on and tight and the pics clearly show belts on." - Chris Priestley via Facebook
UPDATE #3: Photo Sequence now added below - click "read more"
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WOW - glad he was OK!
ReplyDeleteMiracles Happen!!
ReplyDeleteBROKE HIS BELTS????
ReplyDeleteWho The F*** was the scrutineer???
Belts dont just break in a flip like that....
The rumor now is that Chris forgot to do up his belts before he went out... but your question is quite valid. When I raced, NO ONE left the pits without passing a visual check by an official.
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of crap that they broke.He was out of the car after the first roll before it hit the ground. Think he should have a good look at himself!!
ReplyDeleteHe only placed the belts over his body and were not tightened by either himself or crew.
ReplyDeleteThe Officials at Sydney Speedway cannot ensure everyone has there belts tightened on every competitor.
The onus on safety belongs primariliary with the driver and pitcrew as a matter of common sense for personal safety.
He should be thankful the Sydney Speedway Crash Crew are as professional as they are.
Shame a few competitors dont even try to be professional.
I think he should be banned for a year to give him time to heal and think about how stupid his actions are.
His belts broke it's only rumors that he didn't have his belts done up
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you that personal safety is the RACER'S responsibility and yes, the safety crew at Sydney is outstanding! Regardless of whether the belts were unbuckled or if they broke, he is damn lucky escape with minor injuries... just ask Brad Doty, Shane Hmiel or Travis Rutz.
ReplyDeletedid not see any breaks in his belts
ReplyDeleteUPDATE #2: "...the belts were on and tight and the pics clearly show belts on." - Chris Priestly via Facebook
ReplyDeleteI find it very strange a driver didn't do is belts up or pull them tight...As I have been racing for over 15 years & never had loose belts. As mentioned before that it comes back to the driver to do his belts up....
ReplyDeleteIf the belts broken then this is very strange as I have had some big crashs in a sprintcar & never seen or heard of belts breaking.
I would suspect improper installation or a faulty fastener/frame bolt before I would believe the fabric of the belt would fail. You can tow a semi truck with a lap belt...
ReplyDeletei broke my neck in a midget race at hamilton victoria last year, i was unconscious in the car i came to when someone in the crash crew tryed to take my helmet off with out un doing the strap. the drivers at sydney speedway are very lucky to have professional crash crew
ReplyDeleteit is unreal so lucky to be alive but 4 the belts to break is un real i race f500 and have always made sure my belts are tight but 1 race i thought i had do them up clipped it all in and came to the pits and realised i didnt clip it onto the last belt but they still pulled tight anything like this could off happen u dont know if his arm restraint undid the blt but no 1 will every know
ReplyDeletelucky indeed Craig! they are clearly professionals at Sydney. Just read your story on http://www.speedcarworld.com.au/default.asp?Page=Release&Id=39108
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you are healing well!
May it have been possible that his arm restraint strap was fastened under the latch shackle? Therefore while crashing its pulled and unlatched the lap belt?
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of crap! Those belts were at full extension while the car was still on the track. I bet he had them sitting in his lap. I also bet the hans wasn't connected to the helment. He's lucky the crash wasn't bigger like Jay Halls later in the night! Shouldn't be allowed back to race. Maybe he should have worried more about safety 5 mins before the race rather than facebooking how excited he was to race! Common sense people.
ReplyDeleteeven if his belts were done up and accidentally came undone, the hans device should have still been tethered to the helmet! period! It should be looked at closer.
ReplyDeleteI think all the belts are still on. They just slipped through the buckles where they wrap around the frame. Looked like the lap belt pulled up that is what keeps you down in the car. In none of the video or pictures are there any belts flopping. If the shoulder belts came off you would see them fopping above the roll cage. The Hans was not tethered to the helmet at all. The way they lock on they can't come apart from a flip like that.
ReplyDeleteVery Valid point about the arm restraints!!!!! I race 600's and I have had my Right arm restraint catch on the release lever of the lap belt. Since then I have a certain order on which belt on at a time! 1. left lap belt 2. left shoulder belt 3. left arm restraint 4. crotch belt 5. right shoulder belt 6. right arm restraint 7. right lap belt. 8. sternum latch. Then pull until breathing is difficult lol! I used to put the right arm restraint on then the right shoulder then lock it in but I found the angle of the right arm restraint was so far over it gave it the perfect angle to go under the belt release lever!!
ReplyDeleteMidget driver killed at Western Springs Speedway, New Zealand some years ago, under similar situation. Believe his arm restraint caused the belt latch to be opened. This guy is super lucky regardless of what the cause was.
ReplyDeleteIn my first race in like 1971 It was cold and I left my wind breaker on and was leading the race when the jacket sleeve popped the belt lock and just sitting in a open bucket seat one can not hang in there and drive made changes and the next week crashed hard with the belts on but the seat was to soft so went to a hard seat . Now this was in a 63 Ford super stock when all one wore for a fire suit was Jeans and a t shirt and leather gloves !
ReplyDeleteMaybe it should become mandatory that all seat belt latches have the extra velcro tab on the end which attaches to the belt.
ReplyDeleteThis ensures nothing like an arm restraint strap or anything can slide under the latch while racing.