Tuner-Imports at Lebanon-BOOM

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  • August 18, 2014 at 1:52 am #11620
    dino
    Keymaster

        this was the news article
        WEST LEBANON — A driver getting ready to race at Lebanon Valley Speedway today was injured and sent to the hospital after his car’s engine exploded.

        Around 1 p.m., New York State Police responded to the Speedway for a reported engine explosion at the raceway. Jose Santana, 34, of East Hartford, Connecticut, was conducting engine work on a 1985 Mazda RX7 while it was running in a parking area away from the track in preparation to enter it in a race later in the day.
        For unknown reasons, the engine exploded resulting in severe injuries to his right eye and right arm. He was also burned on his upper extremities.
        Santana was conscious and airlifted to Albany Medical Center by Life Net.
        Chatham Rescue, Valatie Rescue and Lebanon Valley Protective Association all assisted at the scene.
        Lebanon Valley Dragway track manager Wayne DelMonte says the driver was evacuated by helicopter after the motor exploded at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday as it was being tuned up for a race.

        More: Well I ,your humble announcer, was On The Phone to the ‘Valley” right after it, getting info off Sue Bells computer from our Race…She said the ‘Tuner-Dude” over-revved the motor big time …blowing it up in the process ..shrapnel everywhere. .Not Unknown reasons. Took part of his arm off and injured others close by…..then here comes the BCI-State Police-and tons of media .Did ol “jose” hit the nitros …?? who knows..the Tuner dudes get a “little’ out of control.

        August 18, 2014 at 1:44 pm #41029
        hvy70ss
        Participant

            First and formost…Hope all injured involved are OK. Really sad to here this regardless of class or what track this occured at. That over-revving thing is a VERY COMMON problem in the pits at ALL race tracks with these cars. Secondly..You have to wonder what quality of products are built into some of these motors. I understand the flywheel shattered from other posts. What about SFI certifications under NHRA rules? OR do we have stock 4 cylinders with twin turbos spooling up to 11000 rpm on cast internals? Kinda scary if you ask me…just my .02!

            Bobby Smith

            August 18, 2014 at 3:57 pm #41031
            babycakes
            Participant

                Bobby,you hit the nail on the head! Even back in the 70’s,I remember how ‘tight’ they used to rev them, on Lebanon’s Stock Car track! And ‘YES’,a lot of them blew back then! Also, during the mid 80’s, I remember a Mazda that had a wenkel engine at the drags. If that ‘baby’ wasn’t screaming 15 grand ( and LOUD), when it went down the 1/4. Had it decided to blow,it be like a grenade going off I thought!!! 😮 🙄 . Pete.

                August 18, 2014 at 4:05 pm #41032
                dino
                Keymaster

                    Found another report that said 3 of his crew refused medical aid.

                    August 19, 2014 at 3:07 am #41038
                    mikey

                        They should definitely abide by any and all the rules of NHRA. I also believe that they should have “specific” rules for that type of engine. I’m not a fan of them, especially when I’m at the track, in the pits, and trying to talk or work on my car. :mrgreen:

                        August 19, 2014 at 1:43 pm #41042
                        dino
                        Keymaster

                            On the phone with Wayne yesterday…setting up next year already…He said the Flywheel came apart and went right through the 1/4 in scatter shield and even took out the firewall. Kid severely injured to the point of on site decision whether to save his eye quick airlifting to Albany or saving arm airlifting to Westchester hospital. They went with Albany -eye, and he lost the arm. Added there’s really no way to inspect the flywheel, but rest of the car passed tech…..rotary engine.One piece of shrapnel went through the back door of a trailer and hit the car inside. He also had from Friday on ,other incidents like a straight on into guard rail at over 160 in the shutdown area and a T-bone at half track with two cars. One year a car wiped out the tree.

                            August 20, 2014 at 1:48 am #41075
                            kman
                            Participant

                                Driver seriously injured at Lebanon Valley Speedway
                                Posted: Aug 18, 2014 7:46 AM EST
                                LEBANON, N.Y. – An accident in the pit at a local speedway left a drag racer seriously injured.

                                Officials say the driver, 34-year-old Jose Santana was working on his car in the pit when the engine exploded. Santana suffered severe injuries to his right eye and right arm. His also suffered burns to his upper body.

                                Santana was airlifted to Albany Medical Center.

                                The general manager of the Lebanon Valley Speedway says the car had all the right equipment, but something failed. Wayne delmonte | general manager |

                                “There was no wrong doing by anyone’s part on this. They were all crew they had the proper wrist bands on. They signed the waivers. They were just having a good day Sunday racing at the race track and unfortunately this incident happened,” said Wayne DelMonte, general manager.

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