Ms Wings got a certificate from Carter Blood Care for an event at TMS on Saturday afternoon. There was a picnic lunch and then an opportunity for a ride-along session with the Texas Driving Experience. They had eight Z06 Corvettes grouped into two four car teams. Each participant got a three lap ride on the oval at speeds around 120 to 130 mph.
Just as we were about to go out for our ride the first group of Vettes pulled in and discharged their passengers. To maintain the normal on track spacing they waited for the second 'wave' to pull in before pulling out onto the track. The second group seemed to be delayed and when they did pull into the pit lane there were only three cars and the passengers had been let out somewhere else. Oh-oh......
We weren't given any details but they did said they had to "clean the track" before resuming the rides. 15 minutes later a Careflight helicopter landed in the infield with a second arriving a few minutes later. We saw the TDE personal hold a little prayer session on pit road. The helicopters left and we continued to wait.
After a 90 minute delay a track official came and told us the metal track 'wall' had been damaged and they were gonig to have to work through the night to make repairs. (It sounded like the 'Safer-Barrier') As I left the track I could see some nasty skid marks starting near the end of the back straight that continued up the turn three banking impacting the wall at about a 20-25 degree angle. Not good.
Understandably TDE didn't release any details but I heard tire failure and wheel bearing failure mentioned several times. No doubt the 'Vette was a right-off but hopefully the driver and passenger weren't too badly hurt, however after seeing that wall torn up I'm not so sure.
It was a bad end to what started out to be a fun day.
Paul
Today we were informed that results were not good. A 87 year old gentlemen filling out his "bucket list" passed away due the accident at TMS.
by CASEY NORTON
WFAA
Posted on May 17, 2010 at 11:12 PM
Updated yesterday at 12:59 AM
FORT WORTH — Texas Driving Experience promises a safe, educational, fun day on the track at Texas Motor Speedway.
But 87-year-old Don Krusemark died after his ride on Saturday.
A family friend said Don Krusemark's parents lived to be 100, and he planned to do the same. So he signed up for a Saturday ride-along, hoping to go 100 mph with a professional driver behind the wheel...more
My SSR: "Babe" '06 Pacific Blue/Chrome/6pd #22407, born 10/14/'05, and #21393, died 2/16/'07.
I give him credit for having the guts to live his list.
You never know when your ticket will get punched, but living in fear is not living. (I've been "almost" punched 11 times, so I guess you could say I am living proof!)
I pray that the survivors understand and celebrate his courage...
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