Mark Leach’s first race in 2011 should stand as proof to anyone who has an interest in racing why the safety equipment is required, even for the low end of the spectrum. While competing in an all-Miata race, Leach had to avoid another driver who had started to cross up in front of him. His Mazda hit the corner curbing, went onto two wheels and once the tires hit dirt, they dug in and the Miata went rolling violently. Leach walked away from this wreck with a shattered arm, a bruised lung, whiplash and other injuries that bought him about a week in the hospital. And he considers himself lucky, as he should-this crash is a big one, and with as much open space as the Miata had, things could have gone a lot worse fast.
Click play below and prepare to cringe a little, this is a wild ride!
Courtesy: Jalopnik
As a Miata owner and fan, that hurt to watch
As a right arm owner and fan, that also hurt to watch. When the door closed on it, OUCH.
Holy crap that is hard to watch three times. I really feel for the guy as I don’t think any of that was his fault. I like Miatas but don’t think I could ever race a convertible, caged or not.
I have 2 miatas he can buy along with a new air of arm restraints
Driver quote;
“Not the ending I wanted to my first race in my MX5. I was very lucky just to end up with a broken right arm, considering how bad the crash was it could have been alot wors”
Easy to see why arm restraints are required for LSR guys as in ECTA
I’m surprised arm restraints are not required on open cockpit cars.
Ouch.
Note to self: add provisions for arm restraints and a failsafe for the door latch to designs for the TBird.