Racer Dies When Car Falls Off Jackstands In Garage
by John Gibsonon April 25, 2011
We are getting reports that a local racer from around Wall, South Dakota, Travis McDonnell, was found underneath his car Monday Morning. The police on the scene are reporting that it looked as if McDonnell was underneath his car working on it when the jackstands failed or fell crushing him underneath the car. A story that we have heard happen before, but are never prepared for when it does occur.
You can read the report here RapidCityJournal.com
McDonnell was a regular racer at Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City South Dakota. He raced modifieds, and mini sprints. He was a numerous time feature winner. From all of us at OneDirt.com our deepest sympathy and prayers go out to the family that is grieving the loss of McDonnell.
Let this serve as a reminder to all of us who race out there today. I don’t know the circumstances of what happened to McDonnell, and more then likely no one will ever truly know what caused the car to fall off of the jackstands. But don’t let safety stop at your car’s cockpit. We were watching the Nationwide race a couple of weeks back and saw crew members getting underneath a car without jackstands. This should never happen!
We beg of everyone who reads this news story, to pay close attention to what is happening in your race shop and at the track. It wasn’t to many years ago that this very same thing happened at a track in the north east, which killed a crew member. Make sure before anyone gets underneath that car that all four corners of the cars are sturdy underneath jackstands. And NEVER get underneath a car that is being held by a floor-jack alone.
Safety has to be our first concern not only while we are racing, but also while we work on our cars in the garage and while at the track.
You can read the report here RapidCityJournal.com
McDonnell was a regular racer at Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City South Dakota. He raced modifieds, and mini sprints. He was a numerous time feature winner. From all of us at OneDirt.com our deepest sympathy and prayers go out to the family that is grieving the loss of McDonnell.
Let this serve as a reminder to all of us who race out there today. I don’t know the circumstances of what happened to McDonnell, and more then likely no one will ever truly know what caused the car to fall off of the jackstands. But don’t let safety stop at your car’s cockpit. We were watching the Nationwide race a couple of weeks back and saw crew members getting underneath a car without jackstands. This should never happen!
We beg of everyone who reads this news story, to pay close attention to what is happening in your race shop and at the track. It wasn’t to many years ago that this very same thing happened at a track in the north east, which killed a crew member. Make sure before anyone gets underneath that car that all four corners of the cars are sturdy underneath jackstands. And NEVER get underneath a car that is being held by a floor-jack alone.
Safety has to be our first concern not only while we are racing, but also while we work on our cars in the garage and while at the track.