So...think the rain in Fontana was the worst news for motorsport over the weekend?
I'll give you something else to compare it to then (and I haven't even seen it mentioned on here); Ashley Cooper.
He's a driver in the development series for the V8 Supercars in Australia and they had their opening round for the 2008 season in Adelaide. That was about the high point of the weekend for the 27 year-old really.
No need for me to add anything to it so this is straight from The Daily Telegraph paper article;
On Sunday afternoon fans at the V8 Supercar event were asked to stand in silence as chaplain Garry Coleman led a prayer dedicated to Cooper, who was given an emergency tracheotomy at the crash scene.
Sporting chiefs were yesterday left to defend their safety record and the Adelaide street circuit as they paid tribute to him.
Cooper was competing in the Fujitsu Series, a V8 Supercar support category, when he slammed his VZ Commodore into a concrete barrier as he exited the street circuit's fastest turn at more than 200km/h.
V8 Supercars chief executive Wayne Cattach said a preliminary look at crash footage suggested Cooper's car might have clipped the guard rail on entry to the corner.
There was nothing to indicate failure of the seat, his roll cage, seat belt or other safety systems.
"Our sport over-complies with the highest FIA (Federation Internationale De L'Automobile) rules for closed cockpit racing and most of our teams extend even beyond our own high standards with their own safety measures," Mr Cattach said.
"Certainly there have been accidents when drivers have walked away unscathed that would appear far more severe than was the case here.
"This one didn't look all that bad to me (but) at the end of the day, motorsport is a dangerous pursuit and we try and make it as safe as possible.
"But when you've got a 1350kg car travelling at say 260 km/h top speed, it's a risky combination."
According to Cooper's personal website, he started racing in 1998 and his career highlights included being crowned the 2006 V8 Utes Rookie of the Year.
In an interview published just six days ago he said he was looking forward to racing and had high hopes for his trip to Adelaide.
"I hope to be able to finish the race well, but myself and the team are focused on working out the potential of the car and working out any kinks in performance," Cooper said.
"Having strong support from the local community is something that is important to us all (so) we hope people tune in and watch the Clipsal 500 and give me some support. In turn I hope to do the region proud."
Cooper is the second driver to die in a V8 Supercar accident in the past 12 years.
New Zealand driver Mark Porter was killed in the Fujitsu Series race at Bathurst in 2006.
He leaves behind a wife and two kids...still reckon it was the rain now?
Sorry for another racing loss. This is a loveing and hateing sport. Everytime the men and women put that helmet on to do what they love there is that chance. Yet they are still there and we still watch. I am always a fan. I will always crindge at a wreck. I will always cheer. I will always pray. I am thankfull for are drivers. My prayers go out to Ashley Coopers family and friends. Thankyou Tez for sharing your grief...
SAD NEWS AS ALWAYS WHEN A YOUNG PERSON DIES. Prayers to the Cooper family and friends.
Tez I was going to ask you and forgot after my post on the V8's due to one of the crash picks i used was. Do they have safer walls like NASCAR uses now ? I know after following them alittle this last year they are on a road courses but at times they have plenty of room to open them wide open on some of the long straight aways. Thanks
tez,
No sport seems to give participants and fans higher highs or lower lows than racing. As much as driver safety equipment, cars, tracks, and procedures have improved since the days guys drove at the Indy 500 in t-shirts without even a safety belt, racing is and always will be dangerous. Having lost a 19-year old son to a racing accident, I still say the prayer I always said when he was racing before every race I watch or run, "May the drivers all race to the best of their ability, may they all have fun, and may they all finish safely" and that is why I always love best the races that are run completely under green flag conditions. Heartfelt sympathy and condolences to Ashley Cooper and his family.
Last edited by HoosierRacer13 on February 28th at 9:03 AM.
Tez
That's about as mind numbing an incident as I've heard about happening within the realms of autosports in a while. It's just tragic when something like this happens. It just shows us how dangerous the sport can be for these guys.
Tez, I had not heard about this tragic accident. Motorsports is so dangerous, yet we take it for granted all the time. Thanks for bringing us perspective...
No worries everyone....just thought I'd put it up since I hadn't read it on here yet, not the most pleasant way to have spent my weekend (special thanks to a friend off another forum who told me about the accident in the first place).
And yeah, we don't really appreciate exactly how fast and dangerous these things are until something like this happens....and I totally agree, Hoosier, that last bit is the one I think before the green waves too; may they all finish safely.
(edit) Forensic; not sure if the V8's use the safer barriers for their road courses but this was a street track so they just had the temporary concrete blocks up like they always do.
Last edited by Tezgm99 on February 28th at 10:58 AM.
Tez - Sorry to hear about the fatal accident in the V8's. Cant imagine how hard this must be for the family. Yet racing drivers truly love the sport, to be so willing to put their lives on the line to do what they love. God bless the Cooper family.
YeeMum - Thats why I ask Tez about the walls. cause like he said the street races used them temporary concrete blocks and I would think it will come down to the How,why,what,etc did this and can we fix it.
Last edited by Forensic2 on February 28th at 4:20 PM.
YeeMum; I don't think this will have too much affect on street courses...there's only a couple used in the series and it provides the little bit of difference that Watkins and Sonoma provide in NASCAR.
JJD; driver sits on the RHS of the car while the V8's do cut a bit of the old F1 track off -
I haven't seen any footage of the crash but I guess it was one of those freakish ones if you say the hit was mainly on the left....mind you, that sweeper was the one that tipped Brad Jones' car on its roof a few years ago and has had its fair share of hits anyway.
Last edited by Tezgm99 on February 28th at 9:39 PM.
If you search for "Ashley Cooper" on Youtube you can see the crash, but in tribute videos with music instead of the commentary. The crash was very reminiscent of Dale Earnhardt's - hit the wall, very little energy dissipated by the car. I wonder if the guy had a HANS device.
JJD - in the pic F2 posted, Ashley's helmet has a HANS device so he probably did but, as we all know, when the good Lord is ready to call one of His children home, no earthly device will change the outcome. May he rest in peace in God's eternal care.
On the video his car dose come in quick to view, but on one slow motion section the brakes are not locked and no smoke from tires till they are forced to slide from left to wall, facing camera and then hits the wall hard enought to lift the hole car.
I have a feeling he had no brakes. due to no smoke from trying to stop the car coming into the turn.
JJ, In another video they have a still pick close up of Ashley sitting in his car and you see how the roll cage is done. The seats they use dose not close around the head like NASCAR. Maybe thats something for them to look into to stop this from happening.
Such a tragic loss. No matter what procedures are put forth to save lives in racing, it will always happen.
I would think the street barriers are not designed to give way and absorb the energy like the NASCAR walls, thus I think it is time for the Super V8 series to address this incident and find a way to prevent this from happening in the future.
Tez is a rare creature; an Australian who was living in New Zealand before moving to Canada. He's also a Civil Engineer who is hoping to spend his Monday to Friday sitting in front of a computer surfing the inter...uh, working hard for an Engineering Consultant or Contractor when he finds a job. His heart is torn between his two loves; F1 and NASCAR.
Due to his high interest in those, his blogs will likely focus on them with the occasional foray into sports that don't get much (if any) mention on this website. All blogs and/or comments will more than likely have his usual dollop of sarcasm and general Aussie spin on them.
Amazingly, he also managed to score 2 MiB nominations on consecutive days (August 5 & 6, 2007) after announcing he had been keeping track of them...he's considering hiding under his bed as a result.
