F1 MERCENARY wrote:
Herb Tarlik wrote:
I couldn't get interested in NASCAR if my life depended on it.
I WAS a huge fan of Nascar.
Me too, right up until February 18th, 2001 - the day Dale died, I have never watched another NASCAR race since and here's my reason why......
Instead of being honest with NASCAR racing fans, the powers that be in NASCAR decided to blame of all persons "Bill Simpson" and Simpson racing products - and as a result Bill Simpson retired as head of the company bearing his name.
IMHO - castigating the man that did more for safety and the protection of drivers in all forms of motor-racing than anyone to date.
Just a few facts regarding Mr. NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt, (aka "Iron-head"):
Dale made up his own rules regarding the driver's seat and safety products in his racing car, (and NASCAR let him). NOBODY BUT DALE EARNHARDT TOUCHED HIS "SEAT" OR HIS "SEAT-BELTS".
Every season NASCAR mandated "new" seat-belts be installed in the NASCAR racing car - but Dale refused to install them in "his" car until they had first been washed in a commercial washer more than 50 times - for new belts are quite stiff and they "chaffed" his shoulders and "he" didn't like that.
Every season NASCAR gave out the specs on how these new seat-belts were to be installed on and around the driver's racing seat - and every year Dale ignored them. The distance from the seat anchor point to the over-the-shoulder "belt-anchor" point was set in the rules at no more than 18", but again Dale did not like that rule, 'cus again he said it "chaffed" his shoulders....., the over-the-shoulder seat-belt anchor point in Dale's car were over 24" (28" IIRC) from the seat anchor points - and again NASCAR's unwillingness to make Dale abide by the rules (against Bill Simpson's own admonishment both to Dale personally and to NASCAR year after year), fell on deaf ears.
Every season NASCAR gave out new "seat" specs and how they must be anchored in the cars and how the "belts" were to be configured in, on and through that racing seat - and every year Dale ignored them. The rules clearly stated that the "crotch" strap was to be routed through the slot for it in the racing seat, BUT Dale didn't like the way it chaffed his testicles, so "his" crotch strap was never in the "slot" but around the front of his seat. I guess it gave his big ones more breathing room and to heck with preventing the submarining/sliding forward in the racing seat in the event of a crash.
Every season Bill Simpson, personally and on his own reconnaissance, examined all NASCAR race car drivers installation of Simpson Racing equipment and made suggestions both to drivers and NASCAR - and to Dale personally about the manner in which "he" specifically violated the rules on "seat-belt" use in the 3 car - and he was ignored by both Dale, who just laughed and NASCAR.
There is much that could be mentioned here regarding Dale's disdain of the full faced helmet and the H.A.N.S. device, but the fact of the matter is that one of Dale's over-the-shoulder, over-washed and improperly anchored seat-belts broke when he contacted the wall head-on in the 2001 Daytona 500.
I watched the race LIVE, my last NASCAR race ever knowing these 2 facts:
1. Dale intentionally wrecked Sterling Marlin in turn 4 on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 - in order to assure that either "HIS" car, driven by Michael Waltrip or "HIS" son would be the winner of that particular Daytona 500.
2. When Dale hit the wall he had the biggest $&^#-eating grin on his face knowing full well his intention #1 above was going to be successful.
.....they didn't call him "IRONHEAD" for nuthin.........., and NASCAR died for me the day they blamed a man that did more for the safety and protection of any motorsport drivers the world-over - ALL BECAUSE THE POWERS THAT BE IN NASCAR COULDN'T BEAR TO BE HONEST AND TELL FANS THE TRUTH.
....., I'm surprised Ironhead didn't come back from the dead and punch 'em all in the teeth for the "blame" that NASCAR tossed on the shoulders of Bill Simpson, who didn't deserve one iota of it and tried time and time again dauntlessly to warn Dale he was risking his life, by the choices Dale Earnhardt, himself made with the "approval" of NASCAR because of his status in the sport.......