There’s an old racing adage that goes something like, “You can’t win a race on the first lap but you can certainly lose one.” This video stands as 100% factual backup to that statement because you are going to see a Formula Vee racer suffer the repercussions of another racer’s aggression on the first lap of a national championship race, no less! The film was taken at the 2013 SCCA Runoffs which is their national championship event. The Formula Vee class is one of the most hotly contested classes in SCCA competition. While it was designed as an “entry level” style of racing category for those looking to compete in open wheelers, there are amazing levels of talent and experience in those ranks. Don’t get us wrong, we’re not totally throwing the guy in the while car under the bus because he could have gotten punted there but the first lap of the race is generally not the time to try to be a hero, right?
We have seen guys lose it on the warmup lap over the years. There have been wrecks on the first lap of the Indy 500 and numerous stock car wrecks seem to happen for dumb reasons. Racing is racing and anything can happen. All that being said, it still had to bite the big one for the guy who’s car we ride on in this video. All the way to the runoffs, all the way through qualifying and into the race and only to have it all end on lap one? That’s like something out of a racing horror movie or nightmare. Here’s to hoping that he was back at it for the 2014 season and beyond.
The only thing to expect in racing is the unexpected…and that’s why we love it.
I never understood why in forms of racing with cars like this there isn’t any sort of roll protection to prevent the drivers head from hitting the ground. Seems careless and antiquated.
Formula Vee cars do have a roll bar, it’s just hard to see in the video… As far as hitting his head, there are two ways he could’ve hit, one as you’re implying on the track surface on the rollover which is not surprising as race harnesses do stretch, that’s why it’s of paramount importance in any race car to make your belts are as uncomfortably tight as possible, tightened by a crew member. Belt technology always improves, with the old 5-point harness being replaced by 7 point harnesses fairly recently, but even then, there will be belt stretch depending on the severity of the crash. The other way he may have hit his head, is banging his helmet on the roll bar, which is where roll bar padding comes in. No idea what his particular setup was, but he looks well prepared as you can see his HANS head and neck restraint as he got out of the car, something every racer should spend money on… the kid was smart. Also, he may never have hit his head at all, one doesn’t need to physically come in contact with anything to get a concussion, as the brain is not held down by anything and could’ve just slammed against the inside of his skull during the G-deceleration. Even with the best safety technology, racing is still high risk.