Scott Kalitta R.I.P.

[funnycar]

@ bruce: no! sono aftermarket sul tipo "Hemi".

funnycar



Tony Pedregon Critical Of NHRA Facilities Following Scott Kalitta's Fatal Crash

By Shawn Courchesne on June 22, 2008 3:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

One of the NHRA's biggest stars was calling for change following the death of Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta during the running of the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals Saturday at Old Bridge Township Raceway in Englishtown, N.J.



Two-time NHRA Powerade Series Funny Car champion Tony Pedregon told ESPN that he believed the short run-off facility at Englishtown could have been at fault for the fatality.



Running at about 300 mph, Kalitta's Funny Car blew up before hitting the finish line at Englishtown then erupted into a massive fireball after hitting the end of the runoff area following the quarter-mile strip.



The 46-year old Kalitta, a 2-time Powerade Series Top Fuel champion, was pronounced dead at Old Bridge Township Hospital not long after the accident.



"Part of me is very, very sad," Pedregon said. "Part of me is very upset that over the years these cars have continued to go quicker and faster and NHRA hasn't continued to give us the real estate, whatever that formula or whatever that percentage is.



"They haven't lengthened the shutdown area of this facility. I know there are a lot of different factors, but I think that's one of the areas that probably needs to be addressed."



" . . . This is a business. It's a form of entertainment, and we take a lot of precautions. I think there's some areas that probably need to be addressed, and we'll continue to deal with them. But right now, there's probably just something tugging at our hearts and it's tough to deal with."

[nigel68]

Oggi al TG1 (che credevo serio) hanno commentato: "l'auto ha sbandato colpendo le recinzioni e schiantandosi..." mentre il video mostra chiaramente che la vettura esplode da sola, senza toccare nulla e prosegue indisturbata fino alla fine della pista...



Per? anche a me che non sono esperto la prima cosa che ha colpito ? stata la breve zona di run-off...

[funnycar]

@ Bruce

[url="http://www.nhra.com/anatomy/funnycar.html"]http://www.nhra.com/anatomy/funnycar.html[/url]



@ nigel 68

in effetti Tony Pedregon dice che la shut-off-area ? troppo corta.

Nonostante questa sia una verit?, ritengo che l'incidente sia stato innescato prima da qualcosa che non ha funzionato: continuo a nutrire sospetti sulla traiettoria troppo rettilinea, per tutta la lunghezza della strip.



funnycar

[nigel68]

Pu? essere esploso un condotto del carburante che, non innescando contraccolpi meccanici come una rottura del motore, non ha alterato la traiettoria: il pilota ha azionato il paracadute (che non si ? aperto) e cercato di condurre il veicolo nel miglior modo possibile...non me ne intendo, ripeto...ma in presenza di una pista da aeroporto (un paio di miglia) magari le conseguenze avrebbero potuto essere meno devastanti

[Guest]

[quote name='nigel68' post='137771' date='23/6/2008, 15:22']Pu? essere esploso un condotto del carburante che, non innescando contraccolpi meccanici come una rottura del motore, non ha alterato la traiettoria: il pilota ha azionato il paracadute (che non si ? aperto) e cercato di condurre il veicolo nel miglior modo possibile...non me ne intendo, ripeto...ma in presenza di una pista da aeroporto (un paio di miglia) magari le conseguenze avrebbero potuto essere meno devastanti[/quote]



Il paracadute non si aziona automaticamente ad ogni minimo problema?mi pareva di aver letto cosi...

[funnycar]

[quote name='nigel68' post='137771' date='23/6/2008, 15:22']Pu? essere esploso un condotto del carburante che, non innescando contraccolpi meccanici come una rottura del motore, non ha alterato la traiettoria: il pilota ha azionato il paracadute (che non si ? aperto) e cercato di condurre il veicolo nel miglior modo possibile...non me ne intendo, ripeto...ma in presenza di una pista da aeroporto (un paio di miglia) magari le conseguenze avrebbero potuto essere meno devastanti[/quote]





Molti video di incidenti non suscitano l'impressione che questo ha provocato in me.

Tim Wilkerson ha disputato la finale nelle F/C arrivando a toccare 329 mph. Si ? fermato ed ? tornato indietro, regolarmente, sulla retour road, come tutti gli altri concorrenti, anche nei Top Fuels che, teoricamente, sono pi? veloci.

Condotti del carburante che perdono e compressori esplosi non hanno provocato tutto questo casino: ripeto, Bartone, sull'altra lane, ha avuto un paio di correzioni nella launch zone, i primi centocinquanta metri: Kalitta sembrava viaggiare sulle rotaie.

Non solo: ? innaturale, addirittura, che una macchina mantenga la traiettoria accelerando da zero a 300 mph in quattrocento metri; che a trecento metri esploda il motore e non vi sia il minimo cenno di deviazione; ma lo straordinario ? che non sia mai, ripeto mai, uscita dalle linee di delimitazione della sua corsia dalla starting lane fino alla trap di ritenzione.

Osservando il video il paracadute si ? aperto, e come! Ma anche questo non ha provocato deviazioni snsibili e con le differenze di temperatura in presenza di itrometano incendiato ? semplicemente inspiegabile.

Il paracadute "deve" essere azionato dal pilota: c'? una leva apposita, a portata di mano, vicina al cut-off elettrico e di alimentazione.

funnycar

[bronzo]

Mio Dio....







R.I.P.

[Guest]

[quote name='funnycar' post='137777' date='23/6/2008, 15:39'][quote name='nigel68' post='137771' date='23/6/2008, 15:22']Pu? essere esploso un condotto del carburante che, non innescando contraccolpi meccanici come una rottura del motore, non ha alterato la traiettoria: il pilota ha azionato il paracadute (che non si ? aperto) e cercato di condurre il veicolo nel miglior modo possibile...non me ne intendo, ripeto...ma in presenza di una pista da aeroporto (un paio di miglia) magari le conseguenze avrebbero potuto essere meno devastanti[/quote]





Molti video di incidenti non suscitano l'impressione che questo ha provocato in me.

Tim Wilkerson ha disputato la finale nelle F/C arrivando a toccare 329 mph. Si ? fermato ed ? tornato indietro, regolarmente, sulla retour road, come tutti gli altri concorrenti, anche nei Top Fuels che, teoricamente, sono pi? veloci.

Condotti del carburante che perdono e compressori esplosi non hanno provocato tutto questo casino: ripeto, Bartone, sull'altra lane, ha avuto un paio di correzioni nella launch zone, i primi centocinquanta metri: Kalitta sembrava viaggiare sulle rotaie.

Non solo: ? innaturale, addirittura, che una macchina mantenga la traiettoria accelerando da zero a 300 mph in quattrocento metri; che a trecento metri esploda il motore e non vi sia il minimo cenno di deviazione; ma lo straordinario ? che non sia mai, ripeto mai, uscita dalle linee di delimitazione della sua corsia dalla starting lane fino alla trap di ritenzione.

Osservando il video il paracadute si ? aperto, e come! Ma anche questo non ha provocato deviazioni snsibili e con le differenze di temperatura in presenza di itrometano incendiato ? semplicemente inspiegabile.

Il paracadute "deve" essere azionato dal pilota: c'? una leva apposita, a portata di mano, vicina al cut-off elettrico e di alimentazione.

funnycar

[/quote]

Quello che rende pi? spaventosa la cosa ? che dalla tua analisi emerge che Kalitta era cosciente fino al momento dell'impatto giusto?



ps grazie per il link

[funnycar]

"Quello che rende pi? spaventosa la cosa ? che dalla tua analisi emerge che Kalitta era cosciente fino al momento dell'impatto giusto?



ps grazie per il link "



@ bruce:



sono combattuto tra due ipotesi, nessuna delle due verificabile, purtroppo: stabilito che i soccorsi (Safety Safari, immediati) lo hanno trovato ancora con un filo di vita, potrebbero essersi verificati due tipi di blocco: uno meccanico che ha impedito le corrette reazioni del pilota (sto pensando all'acceleratore ed allo sterzo, ma contemporaneamente sarebbero una fatalit? tragica), provocato dall'esplosione (presunta) della quale si ha traccia nell'unica foto diffusa: pare che il padiglione si stia sollevando mentre le fiamme sono gi? all'altezza dell'avantreno. Potrebbe essere il cambio che, per?, ? protetto da uno scattershield proprio a prova d'esplosione (SFI specs);

l'altro tipo di blocco potrebbe riguardare il fisico di Scott: 46 anni non escludono un ictus od un infarto, ma non sono un medico e posso solo ipotizzare un irrigidimento muscolare non controllabile... in quei cinque maledetti secondi. Le visite mediche di inizio stagione (Phoenix, mese di Febbraio) non lo hanno sicuramente rilevato, e sono visite condotte da medici che lavorano per L'Aviazione Civile (e visitano anche i Piloti dei Jumbo di linea).



funnycar

[Guest]

Nell'esplosione del motore a scott deve essere successo qualcosa gia da subito perche non ha azionato assolutamente il paracadute e nemmeno provato a frenare...Dal 2007 la nhra a limitato la percentuale del nitro nei funny questo pero a innescato nei team un ulteriore ricerca nel limite del motore aumentando le pressioni del volumetrico e altro mettendo a rischio il motore a ogni run...

[Guest]

Ciao a tutti

R.I.P. Scott Kalitta

buona serata a tutti. MISTER BUBA.

[funnycar]

[quote name='john' post='137842' date='23/6/2008, 19:06']Nell'esplosione del motore a scott deve essere successo qualcosa gia da subito perche non ha azionato assolutamente il paracadute e nemmeno provato a frenare...Dal 2007 la nhra a limitato la percentuale del nitro nei funny questo pero a innescato nei team un ulteriore ricerca nel limite del motore aumentando le pressioni del volumetrico e altro mettendo a rischio il motore a ogni run...[/quote]



Il paracadute ? stato azionato e si vede benissimo nel primo video che ho postato.

La N.H.R.A. nel 2008 (per chi possiede il Rulebook riservato agli iscritti) ha "aumentato" la percentuale di nitrometano al 90% riprendendo la vecchia percentuale del 2004: vedere Section 16-Funny Car alla pagina 255.

Quando non si sa che cosa vuol dire "la pressione del volumetrico" (che, casomai, ? "overdrive") e non si vuol far capire che cosa significa "ed altro" ? molto meglio non scrivere stupidaggini, grosse stupidaggini!



funnycar

[Tarizza]

RIP

[NiX]

...pensavo a Cha Cha ed ho scritto Connie...



...una cosa certa il padre era Conrad "Connie" Kalitta che aveva avuto una relazione con la grande Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowney Roque...

ho sempre pensato erroneamente fosse il loro figlio... ora ho compreso meglio i legami...

Scott kalitta era anche cugino di Doug Kalitta nipote di Connie ed in squadra col secondo marito di Shirley, Rahn Tobler...



...non sono un grande esperto di drag, comunque m'affascina...

[Guest]

[quote name='funnycar' post='137811' date='23/6/2008, 17:26']"Quello che rende pi? spaventosa la cosa ? che dalla tua analisi emerge che Kalitta era cosciente fino al momento dell'impatto giusto?



ps grazie per il link "



@ bruce:



sono combattuto tra due ipotesi, nessuna delle due verificabile, purtroppo: stabilito che i soccorsi (Safety Safari, immediati) lo hanno trovato ancora con un filo di vita, potrebbero essersi verificati due tipi di blocco: uno meccanico che ha impedito le corrette reazioni del pilota (sto pensando all'acceleratore ed allo sterzo, ma contemporaneamente sarebbero una fatalit? tragica), provocato dall'esplosione (presunta) della quale si ha traccia nell'unica foto diffusa: pare che il padiglione si stia sollevando mentre le fiamme sono gi? all'altezza dell'avantreno. Potrebbe essere il cambio che, per?, ? protetto da uno scattershield proprio a prova d'esplosione (SFI specs);

l'altro tipo di blocco potrebbe riguardare il fisico di Scott: 46 anni non escludono un ictus od un infarto, ma non sono un medico e posso solo ipotizzare un irrigidimento muscolare non controllabile... in quei cinque maledetti secondi. Le visite mediche di inizio stagione (Phoenix, mese di Febbraio) non lo hanno sicuramente rilevato, e sono visite condotte da medici che lavorano per L'Aviazione Civile (e visitano anche i Piloti dei Jumbo di linea).



funnycar[/quote]

[Guest]

Quindi ancora nulla sulle reali cause del sinistro?

[funnycar]

[quote name='bruce' post='138474' date='26/6/2008, 09:59']Quindi ancora nulla sulle reali cause del sinistro?[/quote]



Per il momento no: e credo che si dovr? aspettare un bel p?.

Dal sito del loro Team notizie su funerali (che saranno privati e blindati), ma niente altro.



funnycar

[Guest]

Mio Dio che impressione. Sembra un susseguirsi di incredibili sfortune: l'esplosione, il non aver sbandato e il paracadute che si ? aperto, ma dal video mi sembra non del tutto.

Pu? essere un assetto perfetto del mezzo a farti perdere la vita?

R.I.P.

[funnycar]

Scott Kalitta Mourned After Funny Car Crash At Englishtown, NJ

A tribute to Scott Kalitta, son of drag racing legend Connie Kalitta and two-time NHRA Top Fuel Dragster World Champion, who died during a qualifying run June 21 in Englishtown, NJ.





writer: Jim Hill

photographer: National Dragster/NHRA, Chuck Schifsky









Scott Kalitta, son of drag racing legend Connie Kalitta and two-time NHRA Top Fuel Dragster World Champion, died Saturday afternoon, June 21, while on a qualifying run for the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals. The crash occurred at Old Bridge Township Raceway, in Englishtown, New Jersey. Scott Kalitta was 46 at the time of his passing.



Anyone remotely interested in major event drag racing will recognize the iconic name Kalitta. For older fans the name Kalitta defines the family patriarch, Conrad "Connie" Kalitta, the legendary dragster and Funny Car driver. Younger enthusiasts know it means Connie Kalitta's nephew, Doug Kalitta, and Connie's son, Scott Kalitta, both of whom have enjoyed highly successful careers as drivers of the world's fastest, most powerful race cars.



Connie Kalitta's self-proclaimed nickname was "The Bounty Hunter", and he displayed his conquests on the side of his dragster's cockpit. There he placed the names of the top drivers and teams he intended to defeat. He proclaimed those as "Wanted". Those he had already met and beaten were "crossed off" this list.



Far from being mean-spirited, this was done as self-promotion for a young man desperate to gain a reputation in the racing sport he loved. To the contrary, drag racers in those early days often borrowed parts from fellow competitors, sometimes from the same driver just defeated, all in the interest of making the next round of eliminations! These casual encounters often grew into enduring friendships cast during these on-the-road odysseys. Connie Kalitta has since retired from the driver's seat, but years before Connie hung up his helmet his son Scott had been groomed and battle tested to carry on the family name and tradition. It was also Connie who convinced his nephew Doug Kalitta to abandon circle track sprint car racing and step into one of uncle Connie's Top Fuel dragster. Both second generation Kalitta's enjoyed considerable success, but Scott Kalitta was the obvious heir apparent to continue Connie's personal drag racing legacy.









That dream ended, suddenly and tragically, Saturday, June 21, when 46 year old Scott Kalitta was killed during final qualifying for the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals. The younger Kalitta was driving his DHL air transport sponsored Toyota Funny Car when a massive engine explosion and fire resulted in his car's striking an obstacle at the far end of Old Bridge Township Raceway, at Englishtown, New Jersey. A huge secondary explosion and fireball appeared to follow and in its violent aftermath Scott Kalitta perished. Scott Kalitta was born February 19, 1962. Of course he didn't know it at the time, but Scott had been born into a family of drag racing royalty. In a much greater sense, he was also born into a family of aviation royalty too.



The Kalitta aviation dynasty wasn't one of glamour, but was founded in the more pedestrian yet equally valuable field of air cargo transit. Scott's dad Connie Kalitta began his own flying career with a pieced-together airplane that he used to ferry small quantities of automotive parts to various Ford assembly plants across the Midwest. In the automotive industry, moving assembly lines are like hungry monsters that must devour millions of parts and components to keep finished cars and trucks flowing. The absence of even one particular piece can mean a "shut down the line" disaster that idles thousands of workers and can cost millions of dollars in lost production. Kalitta provided a critical service that quickly transported needed parts to plants large and small, keeping the lines moving, until additional supplies could be follow over land routes.



From that humble beginning Kalitta developed an enormous global air cargo fleet that became a mainstay in the industry. The Kalitta enterprise is also a premier transporter of "special needs" cargo such as million dollar thoroughbred racehorses, medical supplies and "hazardous cargo" items such as explosives and military ordnance. The Kalitta operations, of which Scott was also integral, had grown to the point that Connie was awarded a Presidential citation for his efforts in successfully moving cargo to support U.S. troops involved in the 1991 Gulf War. Immediately following the 9-11 tragedies, a Kalitta airplane that was the first civilian aircraft allowed to return to the air. Its mission was to deliver critical medical supplies as the nation struggled to regain its footing after that tragic September day.



Like his dad, Scott Kalitta was also a pilot and an airline founder and owner, but both were drag racers at heart. The Kalitta's used their aviation profits and business world contacts to finance and grow their equally successful drag racing ventures. This season there were four separate Kalitta drag racing teams, three Top Fuel operations and Scott Kalitta's DHL Funny Car team.



Also like his dad, Scott was licensed and certified to fly a wide variety of aircraft, from small personal executive jets to the huge Boeing 747. Scott was a member of an even more elite group, being NHRA licensed to drive ground-shaking, nitro fueled, 330 mph, Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars.









Where the trend today is to take a talented yet inexperienced youngster and insert him or her into a powerful, fast race car, Scott's racing education was very much in the traditional vein. He began as a youngster working on his dad Connie's various race cars, learning every nut and bolt involved, washing parts and sweeping floors to acquaint him with the mundane yet equally important aspects of operating a race team. In late 1980, as a teenager, Scott began assembling parts and pieces to build his own first drag racer, a non-supercharged, nitro-fueled, A/Fuel Dragster. Although much of the car was constructed from pieces discarded by the other Kalitta racing operations, Scott's first ride was capable of 220 mph runs. This A/Fuel experience proved to be an excellent set of "training wheels" for Scott's inevitable upward move into an all-out, nitro race car. He made the move to a Top Fuel car a smooth one, easing into a part-time schedule in the second-half of the '82 season.



By the early 90's Scott had acquired an impressive amount of seat time in both nitro classes, but the best was yet to come. Coming off a successful 1993 season Scott scored a runner-up finish in the Winston World Championship Top Fuel points chase. In 1994 Kalitta Racing, with Scott Kalitta at the wheel, overwhelmed the category, taking both the 1994 and then the '95 championship titles.



Scott, by then married and in the midst of starting a family and flying business, retired from driving, and then "un-retired" less than two years later. He drove Funny Cars and then Top Fuel dragsters until again retiring to focus on his family and business interests. In 2006 Scott returned to Funny Car racing. His DHL sponsorship was a natural, as DHL is a global air freight forwarder. It was in the DHL Toyota bodied Funny Car that Scott Kalitta took his last ride.



On Sunday, June 22, the racing world grieved for Scott and his father Connie. The elder Kalitta had returned to Michigan to make the necessary arrangements and to gather the courage to survive this tragedy. The remaining three Kalitta racing teams, drivers Doug Kalitta, David Grubnic and Hillary Will, predictably withdrew from competing in Sunday's finals of the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals.



Scott Kalitta's career included 17 major event wins in Top Fuel Eliminator, 1 Funny Car NHRA major event win, and 2 NHRA Top Fuel World Championships. Those numbers are indeed impressive, yet not nearly as much as the respect and affection as displayed by Scott's drag racing peers and fans. Scott Kalitta was far more than merely "Connie's kid", or "Doug Kalitta's cousin". Scott was a successful businessman, pilot, race driver, father and husband.









Scott's untimely death, in what should been the prime of his lifetime, will be especially difficult for his dad, the legendary Connie Kalitta, in whose footsteps he followed. As the clich goes, Scott "died doing what he loved," yet that lifetime affair should never exact such a terrible price for its affection.



Scott Kalitta is survived by his father, Connie Kalitta cousin, Doug Kalitta; wife Kathy Kalitta, and two sons, Corey, 15, and Colin, 8.



The following information is from the Kallita Motorsports web site. For more or how to purchase the official Scott Kalitta tribute decal please visit www.kalittaracing.com.





Arrangements for Scott Kalitta



A public memorial service to celebrate the life of Scott Kalitta will be held this Thursday, June 26th at 7:00 p.m. at:



Ernsthausen Performing Arts Center350 Shady Lane Drive

Norwalk, OH 44857



The Kalitta family appreciates your desire to send flowers to express your sympathy and asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to these charities close to Scott's heart:



The school his sons attend-



Saint Stephen's Episcopal SchoolAttn: Development Office

315 41st Street West

Bradenton, FL 34209



B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe)c/o Doug Herbert Performance Parts

1443 E. Gaston St.

Lincolnton, NC 28092



*All donations to BRAKES will be used for the expressed purpose of saving lives and keeping our children safe. Website - www.putonthebrakes.com



A private funeral service for family members will be held at a later date.



Cards for Scott's family or Connie can be sent to:



Kalitta Air

818 Willow Run Airport

Ypsilanti, MI 48198



Please send condolences via E-mail to: champion@kalittaracing.com





SCOTT KALITTA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS (Courtesy National Dragster/NHRA)



* National event wins 1989 Houston (FC)

* 1993 Topeka

* 1994 Columbus

* 1994 Topeka 1

* 1994 Denver

* 1994 Sonoma

* 1994 Reading

* 1995 Columbus

* 1995 Topeka 1

* 1995 Denver

* 1995 Reading

* 1995 Topeka 2

* 1995 Dallas

* 1996 Topeka 1

* 1997 Topeka 1

* 2004 Denver

* 2005 Pomona 1

* 2005 Chicago







YEAR-BY-YEAR HIGHLIGHTS



* 1988: Qualified No. 1 for first time in career (Baton Rouge)

* 1989: Won first career event in Houston in Funny Car

* 1993: Captured one event victory (Topeka), his first in Top Fuel; recorded fastest speed in NHRA history (308.64 mph) in Topeka; became fourth member of the Slick 50 300-mph Club in Gainesville

* 1994: Earned first career NHRA championship; became first Top Fuel driver in NHRA history to win four consecutive races (Columbus, Topeka, Denver, and Sonoma); won five events overall

* 1995: Won second consecutive NHRA Top Fuel championship; was runner-up at Budweiser Shootout at Pomona; won six events and a career-best 45 rounds of eliminations

* 1996: Earned a $100,000 bonus for winning the Budweiser Shootout at Pomona; finished second in Top Fuel standings; recorded top speed at a category-best eight races

* 1997: Won Topeka for fourth consecutive season; announced retirement in October

* 1999: Made brief comeback and advanced to one final round in 10 starts

* 2003: Returned to competition after nearly three-year absence; advanced to two final rounds; clocked fastest speed in history at 333.95 mph but failed to certify mark as national record

* 2004: Earned one victory in two final-round appearances; clocked career-best time; was No. 1 qualifier at both Las Vegas events; earned his sixth top five points finish in POWERade Series

* 2005: Earned two victories in two final-round appearances; set a career-best elapsed time at Pomona 1; qualified for all 23 events and was in the top half of the field in 13 events

* 2006: Returned to Funny Car; advanced out of the first round at three of last six events; advanced to semifinals in Richmond

* 2007: Qualified for 16 of 23 races; reached the semi's in Denver

* 2008: Reached final round in Chicago





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Questo ? quanto scrive, e pubblica on-line, Hot Rod Magazine



funnycar

[funnycar]

And so we find ourselves for the second consecutive NHRA POWERade season mourning the death of a beloved Funny Car driver. In 2007, it was another second-generation personality, Eric Medlen. Now we must come to grips with the all-too-abrupt passing of Scott Kalitta. But if it were possible to hear from either of these young, courageous racers as we reflect on their losses, their message would be clear and concise and would help to remind us how much they loved the sport and how much it enriched their lives.

"We have no regrets," they would say. "If we had it to do all over again, we would race our cars and we would race to win. Anything less isn't living."



Bill Stephens covers the NHRA for ESPN.com.



funnycar