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The Dangers Of Racing Forced Back To The Forefront
(Arcadia, WI) -- Stock car racing has always been a dangerous sport - always
will be. Long before 'Generation-X' had coined the term 'Extreme Sport' -
there were automobile racers around the world pushing their machines to the
absolute limit . . . and sometimes beyond.
Quite frankly, that's part of the lure of this sport; watching a dirt-track
driver man-handle a high-powered machine around a high-banked track at
incredibly high speeds is extremely entertaining. Pack anywhere from 15 to 30
additional race cars around that dirt-track driver and now you've crossed over
into the realm of 'edge-of-your-seat excitement' that draws the fans into the
stands and the daredevils into the driver's seat!
But, just like football or skydiving or even something like free-style
skateboarding, there are dangers inherent with the sport of stock-car racing.
And these dangers have been made all too clear through the first half of this
2005 season.
Opening night at FOX RIDGE SPEEDWAY in Arcadia, saw not one but two violent
roll-overs that launched the involved car high into the air before dropping it
back down to mother earth like a crumpled wad of discarded printer paper.
Luckily, in both of those incidents, the drivers popped out of the car
unscathed - protected by the myriad of safety features surrounding them, and
mandated by rules.
Helmets, safety harnesses, fire protection suits, a cocoon like safety cage of
roll-bars, racing seats, amongst other safety features, are all required
BECAUSE of the fact that racing is a dangerous sport.
But sometimes, even the immense amount of proactive planning and stringent
requirements for safety features can not protect the driver from every
possible scenario that might bring about an injury. The past two weeks have
reminded the racing community of this fact with two scary on-track incidents.
The first incident was an incredibly horrifying accident at Deer Creek
Speedway that sent five Modified drivers, including Cochrane, WI driver Lonnie
Earney, to Rochester hospitals. Hearing Lonnie's son Eric explain to me
Tuesday evening some of the details of that multi-car accident would send
shivers down that spine of anyone, "We're not really sure what it was,
but something entered his cockpit and pierced his helmet - that's what gave
him the head injury; actually bruised his brain on the left side of his head.
The hole in his helmet is so big I can stick a couple fingers through
it!"
Right now, Earney remains in Rochester's St. Mary's Hospital with the head
injury along with a fractured vertebra, fractured ribs, a sprained shoulder,
and heavy bruising over his arms and legs. Thankfully though, Eric was able to
report that his father's condition is improving and he's getting better day by
day. Almost two weeks after the May 28th accident, "The swelling is down
on his brain. He's not bleeding anymore. He has been up and walking with the
help of a walker and a nurse, and his personality is still 100% Lonnie Earney."
Eric says with a courageous attempt at humor and an audible expression of
relief in his voice, "and the doctors tell us that we can realistically
expect a full recovery - but it's going to take a lot of work and a lot of
healing over a lot of time. He's already involved in some intense physical
therapy for day to day motor skills and mental rehab for short term memory
loss.
"We're hoping to move him to a La Crosse hospital yet this week so that
he's closer to home and easier for us to visit." Continues Eric,
referring to himself and his mother Rita, "Doctors are already saying
that he could be coming home in a month - but the therapy and rehab will
continue for a year or more."
"He's been racing forever, it seems," said Eric, "and he's
always tried to be as safe as possible, but this was just a vicious accident,
his seat was knocked loose, the roll cage was just bent all the way in where
he'd normally be strapped into the seat. I've never seen damage like that
before."
And when the safety features couldn't protect him any further, Earney's own
body helped out, "He's always been in pretty good shape, and the doctors
told us that helped him out a LOT." Eric explained, "They said that
if he wasn't as physically fit as he was, he wouldn't be doing so well right
now."
With the memory of Earney's accident still fresh in peoples minds, another
incident was added to the already taut atmosphere.
This past Friday evening, the WISSOTA Midwest Modified feature at FOX RIDGE
SPEEDWAY was red-flagged for almost half an hour after an accident involving
Mondovi, WI's Matt Steffen. While not nearly as horrifying in appearance as
the accident involving Earney, when the speedway safety officials called for
further assistance from local EMS, the fans feared the worst.
"I've got a badly sprained wrist - but it's doing fine," commented
Steffen Wednesday, "But my head seems to not want to shake the head-aches
from the concussion I received. The impact was so hard that I bent the
steering wheel straight up with my hand or my head!"
Steffen went on to comment on another aspect of the 'safety zone' that is so
deeply entrenched in racing, "I believe the FOX RIDGE safety crew did a
great job. They were there checking up on me before I really knew exactly what
was going on. They took their time and were super slow getting me out of the
car for safety's sake; but, they did a great job!"
Our thoughts for a solid recovery go out to Lonnie Earney and his family, and
a sigh of relief is shared for racers around the area like Matt Steffen who
narrowly escape a potentially more harmful incident.
The whole racing community takes an emotional blow when a racer is injured;
the impact on the immediate families is even harder. But as long as humans are
on this planet, the competitive spirit that drives us will be there; and much
of that spirit, I'm sure, will be found at a race track of some form or
another. Doesn't matter if its cars, horses, chariots, or bikes . . . the
competitive nature of mankind will find a way to create a sport around it to
see who can do it faster than everyone else.
The intent of this article is not to glorify the dangers of or injuries within
Stock Car racing, but, rather, to discuss these aspects of the sport
objectively just as I might discuss a racer's successes or different fan
friendly areas of a speedway's facilities.
Stock Car racing is a dangerous sport, but with the safety features
implemented within the cars, around the drivers and throughout the many
racetracks that dot the landscape, every attempt is made to insure that as
much of the danger is removed as possible so that even in extreme situations
such as those of Earney or Steffen the driver is still with us to enjoy the
sport on another day. Another day upon which we can enjoy the fun aspects of
the sport: side by side battles, changes for position, driving skills
unequaled by many - you know, good ol' fashioned edge-of-your-seat excitement!
To get a taste of some of this racing excitement, visit FOX RIDGE SPEEDWAY
this Friday night for FASTENAL COMPANY night at 'The Ridge'. Hot laps begin at
7:00 pm with the first green flag waving at 7:30!
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