wkmac
Well-Known Member
I speak of Scott Kalitta, son of the infamous "Bounty Hunter" Connie Kalitta of drag racing fame. Scott was killed yesterday in the 4th round of qualifying at the NHRA race in Englishtown NJ. I've seen the video onetime of the crash and it was horrific to say the least. I've seen numerous crashes over the years but this one had to be the worse and the one with the thought of "there's no chance he survived." From the comments of Jerry Toliver as he talked with Connie after the crash, sounds like Scott died instantly.
For those who have not seen the video, it looked like a good run which ironically got Scott into the show but the car exploded in the lights and sheared the backhalf of the body off. From the fire which was fed by oil from the color, I would think at first the engine kicked a rod or maybe hydraulic'd but the explosion was more like a bad blower explosion but whatever the chassis stayed in tack. At this point, the car never braked nor did Scott drop the laundry (chute deploy) so the car ran off the end of the track at speed, through the sand pit and into the trees where there was a huge explosion. The fireball was shocking to say the least. I have to believe for now that Scott was knocked out when the car blew in the lights and was just along for the tragic ride at that point,
I've been a fan of drag racing since picking up my first copies of Hot Rod, Car Craft and Super Stock and Drag Illustrated back in the 60's. It always hurts to loose anyone but after so much had been done with FC's as a result of Eric Medlen's death and then Force surviving what shoud have killed him, you have this false sense that maybe tragic events were a thing of the past. Boy was that ever wrong thinking!
Watching Gary Sclezi come apart on camera yesterday was a real reality check. I know Scott drove for the competition (DHL) but when he went to the finals at the last race, I'll admit I was very happy for him. Scott will be greatly missed in my book!
Lee Shepard, Darrel Russell, Blaine Johnson, Eric Medlen and now the Lil' Bounty Hunter. I bet the drags on Saturday night in Heaven are just awesome! Last Call to Staging Lanes!
For those who have not seen the video, it looked like a good run which ironically got Scott into the show but the car exploded in the lights and sheared the backhalf of the body off. From the fire which was fed by oil from the color, I would think at first the engine kicked a rod or maybe hydraulic'd but the explosion was more like a bad blower explosion but whatever the chassis stayed in tack. At this point, the car never braked nor did Scott drop the laundry (chute deploy) so the car ran off the end of the track at speed, through the sand pit and into the trees where there was a huge explosion. The fireball was shocking to say the least. I have to believe for now that Scott was knocked out when the car blew in the lights and was just along for the tragic ride at that point,
I've been a fan of drag racing since picking up my first copies of Hot Rod, Car Craft and Super Stock and Drag Illustrated back in the 60's. It always hurts to loose anyone but after so much had been done with FC's as a result of Eric Medlen's death and then Force surviving what shoud have killed him, you have this false sense that maybe tragic events were a thing of the past. Boy was that ever wrong thinking!
Watching Gary Sclezi come apart on camera yesterday was a real reality check. I know Scott drove for the competition (DHL) but when he went to the finals at the last race, I'll admit I was very happy for him. Scott will be greatly missed in my book!
Lee Shepard, Darrel Russell, Blaine Johnson, Eric Medlen and now the Lil' Bounty Hunter. I bet the drags on Saturday night in Heaven are just awesome! Last Call to Staging Lanes!