“THE CRASH”
The day is Sunday 9th August and I’m racing at Western Sydney Dragway for a team known as Sainty Family Racing. It’s a normal day at the track and we have had a couple minor problems with the car but all is well and the team is in high spirits. It was our 3rd pass of the day in the Funny car which is capable of running 250+mph (402kph) over the 1/4mile. For those speed demons out there it runs 0-100mph (0-160kph) in just over a second from a stand still! – On this 3rd pass the car leaves the start line and almost immediately there is a loud bang followed by a constant banging noise. This is the engine head gasket on number 7 cylinder letting go. The blast, heat and debris puncture a large hole in the fire wall, I look down to my left leg which is on fire. I’m wearing a multi-layer fire suit so it’s no real problem and I go into my shut down procedure by pulling parachutes (these are normally deployed to stop the car) and activate the on board fire suppression system. Almost instantly I’m sprayed with what I think is fuel (the car runs on Methanol) which burns clear. My brain tells me its fuel and I don’t even give it another thought – I’m getting out of this bomb! In my haste I fail to complete the processes that shut the car off, leaving fuel on and ignition on, so the race car keeps on running. By this time the car has slowed to approximately 100kpm and I have released myself from the 5 point harness and opened the roof escape hatch. This is the normal way to get out of the car after each 1/4mile pass. I simply throw myself off the roof and remember hitting the ground thinking “Shit! This is fast!!” my multi-layer boots instantly get stripped from my feet by the impact and as quickly as I’ve hit the ground another huge impact from behind takes my breath away “I’ve been hit by the crash crew” goes through my mind… but, no, the parachutes I had deployed earlier on to slow the car have actually hit me, picked me up and now I’m caught in them being dragged behind a Top Alcohol Funny Car that’s heading straight for the crash net. It’s not long before the chute tears through the canopy and I spew out onto the track. I’m now 100 meters from my boots, I’m laying on my back, my head facing down the track.
“MOMENTS AFTER IMPACT”
SO here I am…..
My first thoughts were
1: “OMG my neck is broken!”
2: “Can I wiggle my toes?”… Yes? Yes! My mind goes into overload mode thinking of paraplegics and wheel chairs…
3: “Ok…. so I can wiggle my toes?”….. Fingers on right hand working, but from the left hand, no response and tingling …. Hand now numb, arm tingling then a few minutes later numb also…..
It wasn’t long before my shoulder went numb and I can remember thinking “This is it my heart is the next thing, I’m going to die? I start thinking about my 2 beautiful children…. By now crash crew and ambulance paramedics are on the scene, I’m looking at them through my visor, something is wrong – I’m seeing two of everything (I CLOSE MY EYES) I’m completely with it and give them a running commentary on my injuries starting with my neck. I’m also calling out for someone to call my wife to let her know I’m ok (sort of….)
So here I am, laying on my back talking as calmly as possible….. I’ve broken my neck, I have double vision, I can’t feel my left arm, and where is my left arm? I can feel I’ve got bark off on my hip and toes. I’m wiggling my toes are they moving?
“HELICOPTOR ARRIVES”
In what seems a short while I hear the chopper arrive, I’ve seen this a few times before at the track before but never thought it would be me getting a ride. The medical staff advise me my Shoulder is dislocated and will need to be relocated “now” I also hear “he’s got no pulse in the left arm” (Shit! I’m alive – I’m sure I’m alive), “he’s got a pulse in the right” I hear… then the rush of the morphine as it hits my system…. I’m away, the next few hours are like something from the movie THE MATRIX. I can remember feeling totally helpless and my body being moved in what seemed up and down round and round. It was like I was locked in a dream that I couldn’t get out off. I’ve never done well on morphine or any type of drug for that matter. I prefer to be in control.
Top Photo - The Sainty Top Alcohol Funny Car.
Middle Photo - Warning up the tires before the race "the burnout"
Below Photo - A view from the drivers seat - this is before the lightweight fiberglass body is dropped over the chassis/driver.
The day is Sunday 9th August and I’m racing at Western Sydney Dragway for a team known as Sainty Family Racing. It’s a normal day at the track and we have had a couple minor problems with the car but all is well and the team is in high spirits. It was our 3rd pass of the day in the Funny car which is capable of running 250+mph (402kph) over the 1/4mile. For those speed demons out there it runs 0-100mph (0-160kph) in just over a second from a stand still! – On this 3rd pass the car leaves the start line and almost immediately there is a loud bang followed by a constant banging noise. This is the engine head gasket on number 7 cylinder letting go. The blast, heat and debris puncture a large hole in the fire wall, I look down to my left leg which is on fire. I’m wearing a multi-layer fire suit so it’s no real problem and I go into my shut down procedure by pulling parachutes (these are normally deployed to stop the car) and activate the on board fire suppression system. Almost instantly I’m sprayed with what I think is fuel (the car runs on Methanol) which burns clear. My brain tells me its fuel and I don’t even give it another thought – I’m getting out of this bomb! In my haste I fail to complete the processes that shut the car off, leaving fuel on and ignition on, so the race car keeps on running. By this time the car has slowed to approximately 100kpm and I have released myself from the 5 point harness and opened the roof escape hatch. This is the normal way to get out of the car after each 1/4mile pass. I simply throw myself off the roof and remember hitting the ground thinking “Shit! This is fast!!” my multi-layer boots instantly get stripped from my feet by the impact and as quickly as I’ve hit the ground another huge impact from behind takes my breath away “I’ve been hit by the crash crew” goes through my mind… but, no, the parachutes I had deployed earlier on to slow the car have actually hit me, picked me up and now I’m caught in them being dragged behind a Top Alcohol Funny Car that’s heading straight for the crash net. It’s not long before the chute tears through the canopy and I spew out onto the track. I’m now 100 meters from my boots, I’m laying on my back, my head facing down the track.
“MOMENTS AFTER IMPACT”
SO here I am…..
My first thoughts were
1: “OMG my neck is broken!”
2: “Can I wiggle my toes?”… Yes? Yes! My mind goes into overload mode thinking of paraplegics and wheel chairs…
3: “Ok…. so I can wiggle my toes?”….. Fingers on right hand working, but from the left hand, no response and tingling …. Hand now numb, arm tingling then a few minutes later numb also…..
It wasn’t long before my shoulder went numb and I can remember thinking “This is it my heart is the next thing, I’m going to die? I start thinking about my 2 beautiful children…. By now crash crew and ambulance paramedics are on the scene, I’m looking at them through my visor, something is wrong – I’m seeing two of everything (I CLOSE MY EYES) I’m completely with it and give them a running commentary on my injuries starting with my neck. I’m also calling out for someone to call my wife to let her know I’m ok (sort of….)
So here I am, laying on my back talking as calmly as possible….. I’ve broken my neck, I have double vision, I can’t feel my left arm, and where is my left arm? I can feel I’ve got bark off on my hip and toes. I’m wiggling my toes are they moving?
“HELICOPTOR ARRIVES”
In what seems a short while I hear the chopper arrive, I’ve seen this a few times before at the track before but never thought it would be me getting a ride. The medical staff advise me my Shoulder is dislocated and will need to be relocated “now” I also hear “he’s got no pulse in the left arm” (Shit! I’m alive – I’m sure I’m alive), “he’s got a pulse in the right” I hear… then the rush of the morphine as it hits my system…. I’m away, the next few hours are like something from the movie THE MATRIX. I can remember feeling totally helpless and my body being moved in what seemed up and down round and round. It was like I was locked in a dream that I couldn’t get out off. I’ve never done well on morphine or any type of drug for that matter. I prefer to be in control.
Top Photo - The Sainty Top Alcohol Funny Car.
Middle Photo - Warning up the tires before the race "the burnout"
Below Photo - A view from the drivers seat - this is before the lightweight fiberglass body is dropped over the chassis/driver.