[windowlicker]

Bob Osiecki took up Bill France' wager of $10,000 to anyone who could post a speed in excess of 180 mph on a closed course speedway and installed a super charged Dodge 413 cubic-inch engine in an Indy roadster, creating the Mad Dog IV. Vertical stabilizers and a pair of inverted airfoils were attached to the chassis to stabilize the vehicle at high speed.

On August 28th 1961 Art Malone drove the Mad Dog to a world record speed of 181.561 mph at Daytona International Speedway.

[windowlicker]

On 16th September 1979 at Zandvoort, Rob Slotemaker was killed when he crashed his Chevrolet Camaro during the 'Trophy of the Dunes' touring car race. His car spun off at low speed on a patch of oil and collided with a course car parked alongside the track. Rob suffered a broken neck and died instantly.

[windowlicker]

The extreme 'Iron Mistress', a drag racing creation by Neil Leffler and Bill Coburn. Fitted with two fuel-burning Hemis and a tiny Messerschmitt car body it had six wheels and ran during the early sixties.

[windowlicker]

Marco Magaña's wrecked F2 car after his fatal crash at the Autódromo Monterrey racetrack in Apodaca, Nuevo León 1993. A rock reportedly hit Marco on his helmet and he lost control clearing barriers and also killing a spectator.

[windowlicker]

Jean-Hugues Hazard flips over and badly damages his BMW during the Ronde des Vosges rally 1973.

[windowlicker]

The rear engined Javelin 1 dragster driven by Bob Hightower flips over at Irwindale Raceway in June 1969.

[windowlicker]

James Riley's fatal crash at Indianapolis 1966. His dragster spun off into the guardrail which gave way and the driver was ejected from the car.

[txutopian]

This thread has been enormously instructive and insightful...many thanks to all contributors. As a former SCCA racer, this has clearly explained why I am so deeply appreciative of those who have paid a dear price for the lessons learned that led to the equipment and improvements that kept me safe in my own various shunts. From armco barriers to 6-point harnesses to Nomex to Snell-rated helmets, the innovations spawned by these heroes have saved countless future lives. The process continues even today, be thankful...

As to why racers continue to drive in this face of this kind of danger, I think Jackie Oliver put it best in an interview once. Something along the lines of, "When you approach a high speed corner, and get it right...it's exhilarating." He's absolutely right...the first time you nail a bend, a sweeper, a set of esses flat out and feel the tug of Gs planting you in your seat as slide through on the racing line, you become addicted for life. When I had to quit racing, I bought a BMW M3 because it was the only stock car I could find out there that gave me the same feel and response as my purpose-built race car.

These guys, all of them, are my ultimate heroes...

[windowlicker]

Gary Gabelich's awesome Camaro bodied drag racer.

Gary set the land speed record with his rocket-powered 'Blue Flame' on October 23rd 1970 at 602.447 mph. In 1969 he set a drag-boat record of 200.44 miles per hour. He sadly lost his life in 1984 in a motorcycle accident.

[windowlicker]

Danny Drinan crashes his 1991 Lola Buick at turn one during practice for the Indy 500 in 1996 sustaining concussion, a broken left hip and foot and a bruised lung. Danny attempted three times to qualify for the 500 but never quite made it.

Danny was a successful USAC midget car racer.