Death at NHIS yesterday

nhfirefighter13 · 07-10-2004, 1:41 PM

One of the riders to frequent NHIS as well as a worker for the Dunlop tire guy, Brian Paquette (sp?) died yesterday after crashing into turn three at Loudon. Apparently, he had just replaced his front brake pads and forgot to put the pin back in so he had no brakes and turn three is where you first use them (for the fast guys anyway). From what I hear, he hit the wall and seemed ok during transport but started to crash in the ER from internal injuries.

RIP

SomeStrangeGuy · 07-10-2004, 2:16 PM

Crap, that sucks, any other turn and he could have at least had some better options

Didn't know him but RIP all the same

Chrome Dome · 07-10-2004, 3:07 PM

Gawd damn man, that's terrible to hear

abtech · 07-10-2004, 3:49 PM

This is one of the reasons that tech inspections make little sense unless they are performed each time you go out on track.

I am really sorry to hear about this and when I hear people bitch about changing anti-freeze or wiring their bike, it all seems pretty trivial.

On a typical race weekend many riders go through tech on Saturday morning (if they didn't have it opened on Friday). They run practice and one or two solo endurance races and then change the oil, swap tires, redo the brakes etc. The tech inspection they went through earlier certainly won't help if they forgot something before Sunday's sprints . . .

Chrome Dome · 07-10-2004, 3:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abtech

This is one of the reasons that tech inspections make little sense unless they are performed each time you go out on track.

I am really sorry to hear about this and when I hear people bitch about changing anti-freeze or wiring their bike, it all seems pretty trivial.

On a typical race weekend many riders go through tech on Saturday morning (if they didn't have it opened on Friday). They run practice and one or two solo endurance races and then change the oil, swap tires, redo the brakes etc. The tech inspection they went through earlier certainly won't help if they forgot something before Sunday's sprints . . .

I agree. But I've only gone through one thorough tech inspection out of 11 track days (it's not a race, but tech inspections should be equally important). At the track day yesterday, the guy just looked at my tires, jiggled the rear brake lever and visually inspected the rest of the bike. Never once did he check to see if anything was leaking, front brake pressure, throttle sticking open, steering etc. etc... Made me wonder: if he's not checking my bike then he didn't check the 75+ riders before and after me

nhfirefighter13 · 07-10-2004, 3:56 PM

I agree. It was a stupid mistake that had drastic consequences.

abtech · 07-10-2004, 4:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrome Dome

I agree. But I've only gone through one thorough tech inspection out of 11 track days (it's not a race, but tech inspections should be equally important). At the track day yesterday, the guy just looked at my tires, jiggled the rear brake lever and visually inspected the rest of the bike. Never once did he check to see if anything was leaking, front brake pressure, throttle sticking open, steering etc. etc... Made me wonder: if he's not checking my bike then he didn't check the 75+ riders before and after

I think I can safely say that the tech inspection at Fireblades 111 was pretty comprehensive, especially since I had to beat up Joe to not make everyone take off all the bodywork to check the radiators, hoses and whatnot. If I go to any trackday and they just "walk you through", I get my money back and leave rather than go on track with other riders that may not be as conscientious as I am.

In 10 plus crashes I have been in during the past several years, 8 of them were caused by some ass clown not being diligent with re-assembly and the tech inspector that didn't do his job.

HondaGalToo · 07-10-2004, 4:53 PM

I'm sorry to hear that. Turn 3, for those of you who don't know NHIS, is lined with Jersey barriers. There is no runoff; miss turn three and you run right into concrete barriers. Such a shame. My prayers to his family and friends.

Re: Tech inspection. I agree. The track club I run with does inspection each day of a multi-day event. If we're running Sat and Sun, for example, you have to go through tech both days. Of course, if someone changes something during lunch on the second day, well, it won't get checked again. Nothing's perfect. I was kind of surprised that we didn't have to go through tech each morning of the fireblades at Grattan days. Not a criticism, but I'm used to having to tech every morning, in case tires got bad after the first day, or whatever. I guess with as small a group as we were, folks would mention it if they saw something amiss.

CBR929RE · 07-10-2004, 5:35 PM

wow that sucks. but if I ever do a track day or the race class it would be up there at loudon so even if I take the race class and use their bike I'll check the brakes myself as that turn sounds pretty nasty and seems like it should be torn down and remade so as to make it safer.

SomeStrangeGuy · 07-10-2004, 5:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

that turn sounds pretty nasty and seems like it should be torn down and remade so as to make it safer.

sorta, but not really possible, it's about as "safe" as it's gonna be if that place is to remain a nascrap oval.

nhfirefighter13 · 07-10-2004, 5:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

Turn 3, for those of you who don't know NHIS, is lined with Jersey barriers. There is no runoff; miss turn three and you run right into concrete barriers.

A couple of pics of 3...you get the idea.

nhfirefighter13 · 07-10-2004, 5:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

wow that sucks. but if I ever do a track day or the race class it would be up there at loudon so even if I take the race class and use their bike I'll check the brakes myself as that turn sounds pretty nasty and seems like it should be torn down and remade so as to make it safer.

It's a very fun track, IMO. Turn three is a bit hairy but it is a slow corner and should be taken as such. The barriers are there because turn 10 is on the other side of the wall..blowing through 3 and entering into traffic from the side might be a bad thing.

SomeStrangeGuy · 07-10-2004, 5:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhfirefighter13

A couple of pics of 3...you get the idea.

for the viewers at home, I beleive the hill in photo on the right is the perspective from which 1&2 are shot from.

I think I have some pics of me on that track I can prolly find a 3 one taken from the nest @ 2...

CBR929RE · 07-10-2004, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhfirefighter13

It's a very fun track, IMO. Turn three is a bit hairy but it is a slow corner and should be taken as such. The barriers are there because turn 10 is on the other side of the wall..blowing through 3 and entering into traffic from the side might be a bad thing.

ahh gotcha, that helps me out a little, the pics don't help me much, if thats turn 3 then the wall must be to the right the person taking the photos in the first 2 and the third I got no clue where that one is taken from.

Bacchus · 07-10-2004, 10:48 PM

So sorry to hear nhf.

Let's face it, M/C racing is a very dangerous hobby/occupation... Still, I hate to hear of these things.

nhfirefighter13 · 07-10-2004, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

ahh gotcha, that helps me out a little, the pics don't help me much, if thats turn 3 then the wall must be to the right the person taking the photos in the first 2 and the third I got no clue where that one is taken from.

The first two are looking down the hill (wall on the right behind the tires) and the third is looking up the hill with that wall on the left. The guy on the bike missed three and did some emergency braking, which is why he's where he is.

SomeStrangeGuy · 07-11-2004, 2:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhfirefighter13

The guy on the bike missed three and did some emergency braking, which is why he's where he is.

..and why NH is on the guys left instead of dead on

tigerblade · 07-14-2004, 3:41 PM

I agree completely with abtech. On a race weekend, you go through tech once then run the rest of the time after you've changed tires, etc. Doesn't make much sense other than ensuring basic initial prep. The Fireblades.org Grattan tech was more intensive than any I've been through while racing.

Baketech · 07-14-2004, 3:49 PM

That blows...

The last turn on my local track has a similar setup.....not much runoff, and usually just a couple of rows of bales in front of the armco. I am in a habit of taking that corner at about 7/10ths every time.....

Tornado bait · 07-14-2004, 3:56 PM

Such a shame.

Sounds like a good corner for air fence.

HondaGal · 07-14-2004, 4:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abtech

I think I can safely say that the tech inspection at Fireblades 111 was pretty comprehensive, especially since I had to beat up Joe to not make everyone take off all the bodywork to check the radiators, hoses and whatnot. If I go to any trackday and they just "walk you through", I get my money back and leave rather than go on track with other riders that may not be as conscientious as I am.

FWIW, they guy doing tech never even took a peek at my brake pads, front or rear. I watched him do the inspection. He gave the front forks the most attention and bounced them up and down a few times. He never checked the brake levers either.