Another freak accident at a racetrack . . .

[f1reverb]

From other reports I've read this happened in the paddock/parking area, not the pits, so never let your guard down . . .

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-fontana-speedway-accident,0,525938.story

Drag Racer Dies at Fontana Speedway

KTLA News

2:02 PM PDT, August 8, 2009

FONTANA -- A drag racer was killed Saturday at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.

The crash happened at 8:30 a.m. in the pit area of the race complex, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Ronald F. Marcum, 53, of La Habra was seated behind the steering wheel of a dragster conducting a transmission-brake test, CHP Officer Jeff Briggs said.

The test involves revving the vehicle's engine at high RPMs while the transmission is not engaged.

National Hot Rod Association rules require such tests to be conducted with a vehicle's tires off the ground, but Marcum did not follow that procedure, according to Briggs.

While Marcum revved the engine, the dragster's transmission suddenly engaged, and the vehicle sped off at more than 100 miles per hour.

The dragster crashed into a parked trailer.

Briggs said only that Marcum sustained fatal injuries in the crash.

No one else was hurt.

http://vote29.com/myblog/archives/2271

Tragic accident at California Speedway

Saturday, August 8, 2009

By Obtel29

Ronald Farmer Marcum, a 53 year old resident of La Habra, was parked in the northeast parking lot at the California Speedway in preparation for his participation in a sanctioned drag racing events. While seated in his mid-engine dragster making pre-race adjustments, he started the vehicle and for an unknown reason, the dragster accelerated from the parking area toward the west at full throttle. The dragster collided into the rear of a trailer approximately 300 feet to the west and caught fire. Local fire fighters that were pre-staged in the parking lot very quickly extinguished the fire. Paramedics who were also immediately on scene rendered medical aid, however, Mr. Marcum was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene at 8:58 AM. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the incident.