http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-13/junior-drag-racing-suspended-after-anita-board-crash/9144166

Junior drag racing banned in WA after Anita Board’s death as family break silence

Junior drag racing has been suspended in WA pending the outcome of a police investigation into the death of an eight-year-old girl who died while driving her junior dragster at a venue in Perth’s south.

Anita Board died when her car careened into a concrete barrier while taking it for a “test run” at a venue in Perth’s south.

Her speed is not yet publicly known, but the vehicle was capable of travelling up to 96 kilometres per hour.

Anita’s father, Ian Board, said the incident was a “one-in-a-million event” and he wanted junior drag racing to continue.

“The history speaks for itself and sadly this one-in-a-million event happened to us, to our little girl.

…

An Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing study found AFL accounted for the most sport-related hospitalisations in Australia, followed by soccer and cycling.

However, this did not account for participation rates.

The study, which looked at data for 2011-12, found the three sports with the highest proportion of incidents posing a “high threat to life” were:

*cycling *wheeled motorsports *equestrian activities

Here is that AIHW report.

Ian’s estimate of one in a million might be a bit off, as there have been 450 drag racing fatalities, and I don’t think there have been 450 million drag racers.
http://dragstripdeaths.webs.com/

http://www.news.com.au/national/western-australia/anita-board-remembered-as-an-angel-after-drag-racing-death-in-perth/news-story/f9a17e46067201616b4461934a63f018

Premier Mark McGowan, who is currently in China, and Sport Minister Mick Murray both said they were unaware young children could participate in such events. “I was very surprised to find out that they were allowed to be in the system. But in saying that, from my understanding, it was well controlled but an unfortunate accident,” Mr Murray told reporters.

A bit surprised that the Sports Minister isn’t familiar with this.

Drag racing isn’t really a sport.

Perhaps I’m simple-minded, but letting an 8-year-old drive a racing car capable of 96km/h just sounds barking mad.

dv said:

Premier Mark McGowan, who is currently in China, and Sport Minister Mick Murray both said they were unaware young children could participate in such events. “I was very surprised to find out that they were allowed to be in the system. But in saying that, from my understanding, it was well controlled but an unfortunate accident,” Mr Murray told reporters.

A bit surprised that the Sports Minister isn’t familiar with this.

Really? I’d be surprised if a Sports Minister was aware of it.

dv said:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-13/junior-drag-racing-suspended-after-anita-board-crash/9144166

Junior drag racing banned in WA after Anita Board’s death as family break silence

Junior drag racing has been suspended in WA pending the outcome of a police investigation into the death of an eight-year-old girl who died while driving her junior dragster at a venue in Perth’s south.

Anita Board died when her car careened into a concrete barrier while taking it for a “test run” at a venue in Perth’s south.

Her speed is not yet publicly known, but the vehicle was capable of travelling up to 96 kilometres per hour.

Anita’s father, Ian Board, said the incident was a “one-in-a-million event” and he wanted junior drag racing to continue.

“The history speaks for itself and sadly this one-in-a-million event happened to us, to our little girl.

…

An Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing study found AFL accounted for the most sport-related hospitalisations in Australia, followed by soccer and cycling.

However, this did not account for participation rates.

The study, which looked at data for 2011-12, found the three sports with the highest proportion of incidents posing a “high threat to life” were:

*cycling *wheeled motorsports *equestrian activities

Here is that AIHW report.

Ian’s estimate of one in a million might be a bit off, as there have been 450 drag racing fatalities, and I don’t think there have been 450 million drag racers.
http://dragstripdeaths.webs.com/

http://www.news.com.au/national/western-australia/anita-board-remembered-as-an-angel-after-drag-racing-death-in-perth/news-story/f9a17e46067201616b4461934a63f018

Premier Mark McGowan, who is currently in China, and Sport Minister Mick Murray both said they were unaware young children could participate in such events. “I was very surprised to find out that they were allowed to be in the system. But in saying that, from my understanding, it was well controlled but an unfortunate accident,” Mr Murray told reporters.

A bit surprised that the Sports Minister isn’t familiar with this.

he’s the Minister for sport! he isn’t expected to have read about every sport ever existing in his country …

party_pants said:

Drag racing isn’t really a sport.

yeah running in high heels and a frock is a skill!

party_pants said:

Drag racing isn’t really a sport.

Depends if they are queens or not?

Bubblecar said:

Perhaps I’m simple-minded, but letting an 8-year-old drive a racing car capable of 96km/h just sounds barking mad.

I wouldn’t be letting my kids do it.

the fact that it’s been going on and this is the first anyone outside the sport knows of it shows how freaky this accident really is

Arts said:

the fact that it’s been going on and this is the first anyone outside the sport knows of it shows how freaky this accident really is

It is actually quite amazing the accidents that they have at drag racing events and walk away.

Bubblecar said:

Perhaps I’m simple-minded, but letting an 8-year-old drive a racing car capable of 96km/h just sounds barking mad.

I actually agree. Maybe a mini bike in the back paddock if the terrain and child were suitable.

I scrolled past the story. I didn’t want to deal with it. I was reflecting on how this stuff is on journalists. Parents and paramedics always get the empathy. Writing a story like that can’t be easy was where my brain space was as I scrolled past.

I am continually surprised at how safe motor racing is. Race drivers walk away from accidents that look horrific.

Compare for example skiing, which has the real advantages of relatively slow speed and soft stuff to fall on. Or compare with quad bikes.

Did they say what caused this death, eg. was the safety harness oversized or was there a fire or did a foreign object enter the cabin?

mollwollfumble said:

I am continually surprised at how safe motor racing is. Race drivers walk away from accidents that look horrific.

Compare for example skiing, which has the real advantages of relatively slow speed and soft stuff to fall on. Or compare with quad bikes.

Did they say what caused this death, eg. was the safety harness oversized or was there a fire or did a foreign object enter the cabin?

she hit a brick wall after ‘losing control of her vehicle’

> Ian’s estimate of one in a million might be a bit off, as there have been 450 drag racing fatalities, and I don’t think there have been 450 million drag racers.

Only 12 drag racing fatalities since 1985 according to one website.

All the websites that say more than 450 seem to be quoting off one another. Original source obscure.

> Ian’s estimate of one in a million might be a bit off, as there have been 450 drag racing fatalities, and I don’t think there have been 450 million drag racers.

Only 12 drag racing fatalities since 1985 according to one website.

All the websites that say more than 450 seem to be quoting off one another. Original source obscure.

Arts said:

mollwollfumble said:

I am continually surprised at how safe motor racing is. Race drivers walk away from accidents that look horrific.

Compare for example skiing, which has the real advantages of relatively slow speed and soft stuff to fall on. Or compare with quad bikes.

Did they say what caused this death, eg. was the safety harness oversized or was there a fire or did a foreign object enter the cabin?

she hit a brick wall after ‘losing control of her vehicle’

Brick!

Who is crazy enough to line the side of a drag racing stsip with brick! Bad choice.

monkey skipper said:

party_pants said:

Drag racing isn’t really a sport.

yeah running in high heels and a frock is a skill!

very droll :)

mollwollfumble said:

Arts said:

mollwollfumble said:

I am continually surprised at how safe motor racing is. Race drivers walk away from accidents that look horrific.

Compare for example skiing, which has the real advantages of relatively slow speed and soft stuff to fall on. Or compare with quad bikes.

Did they say what caused this death, eg. was the safety harness oversized or was there a fire or did a foreign object enter the cabin?

she hit a brick wall after ‘losing control of her vehicle’

Brick!

Who is crazy enough to line the side of a drag racing stsip with brick! Bad choice.

ok cement barrier is the term they used she died in hospital the next day

mollwollfumble said:

Did they say what caused this death, eg. was the safety harness oversized or was there a fire or did a foreign object enter the cabin?

This is under investigation for the coroner.

Arts said:

he’s the Minister for sport! he isn’t expected to have read about every sport ever existing in his country …

Well I would, geez

mollwollfumble said:

> Ian’s estimate of one in a million might be a bit off, as there have been 450 drag racing fatalities, and I don’t think there have been 450 million drag racers.

Only 12 drag racing fatalities since 1985 according to one website.

The 450 isn’t just quoted: they list them all in detail, and I provided the URL. Please provide the URL for the website you are alluding to.

dv said:

Arts said:

he’s the Minister for sport! he isn’t expected to have read about every sport ever existing in his country …

Well I would, geez

you would make a terrible politician

https://www.facebook.com/NowThisPolitics/videos/1778169845547831/

Arts said:

you would make a terrible politician

I’d be the Tony Stark of politicians. “The Selvig Papers? Am I the only one who did the reading??”

love this stuff, the inducements, the delivery into the aether of overdetermining social forces, good part of which are arbitrary, to be generous about it.

……….as family break silence……………not yet publicly known

dv said:

mollwollfumble said:

> Ian’s estimate of one in a million might be a bit off, as there have been 450 drag racing fatalities, and I don’t think there have been 450 million drag racers.

Only 12 drag racing fatalities since 1985 according to one website.

The 450 isn’t just quoted: they list them all in detail, and I provided the URL. Please provide the URL for the website you are alluding to.

you really are comparing apples with oranges there.
when in America, there’s sanctioned drag racing events you can enter with your street car and all you need is a helmet.
In Australia, there are very strict guidelines and rules. Standards for all safety gear and especially the junior classes are closely monitered. Hence only the 8 deaths.
The guys I work for at times refuse to build junior dragsters as there are so many hoops to jump through, it just becomes not viable for them to bother.

But accidents do happen and unfortunately this one took a life. The authorities will look into what happened and if they can implement any new regulations to minimise the possibility of it happening again.

Our juniors start in the cars at age 10, go racing at 12. Most are mature enough by then to be in control of a racecar, but there are some that have been sent away to mature a bit more before being allowed on the track.

All the classes will e running pony power stickers for the next meeting, the juniors will run them for the rest of the years.

In some states, like NSW, 16 yo learner drivers aren’t allowed to go over 80 kph. Why is an 8 year old allowed to go nearly 100? Even first year P platers aren’t allowed to go over 100 kph.

I understand this was a tragic accident and there are very few deaths related to the junior sport. I also understand that children are encouraged to walk in their parents’ footsteps; think Bindi and Robert Irwin being brought up dealing with crocodiles.

My point is, why are 8 year olds allowed a higher speed limit than drivers twice their age, who presumably have better mental capacity and reflexes to deal with higher speeds (and bigger cars).

Divine Angel said:

In some states, like NSW, 16 yo learner drivers aren’t allowed to go over 80 kph. Why is an 8 year old allowed to go nearly 100? Even first year P platers aren’t allowed to go over 100 kph.

I understand this was a tragic accident and there are very few deaths related to the junior sport. I also understand that children are encouraged to walk in their parents’ footsteps; think Bindi and Robert Irwin being brought up dealing with crocodiles.

My point is, why are 8 year olds allowed a higher speed limit than drivers twice their age, who presumably have better mental capacity and reflexes to deal with higher speeds (and bigger cars).

one is on a race track under controlled conditions. the other is not.

Divine Angel said:

In some states, like NSW, 16 yo learner drivers aren’t allowed to go over 80 kph. Why is an 8 year old allowed to go nearly 100? Even first year P platers aren’t allowed to go over 100 kph.

I understand this was a tragic accident and there are very few deaths related to the junior sport. I also understand that children are encouraged to walk in their parents’ footsteps; think Bindi and Robert Irwin being brought up dealing with crocodiles.

My point is, why are 8 year olds allowed a higher speed limit than drivers twice their age, who presumably have better mental capacity and reflexes to deal with higher speeds (and bigger cars).

your average 16 yo learner driver isn’t strapped into a full containment seat, hans device, arm restraints, fire resistant undies, nomex neck to ankle suit, racing boots, helmet and balaclava..
Nor does their vehicle have a roll cage, safety cell, racing fuel bladder, fire bomb, kil switch (some junior classes require a remote control kill switch)

your learner drivers aren’t also limited to being on their own on the road/track until they have passed their licence

Divine Angel said:

In some states, like NSW, 16 yo learner drivers aren’t allowed to go over 80 kph. Why is an 8 year old allowed to go nearly 100? Even first year P platers aren’t allowed to go over 100 kph.

I understand this was a tragic accident and there are very few deaths related to the junior sport. I also understand that children are encouraged to walk in their parents’ footsteps; think Bindi and Robert Irwin being brought up dealing with crocodiles.

My point is, why are 8 year olds allowed a higher speed limit than drivers twice their age, who presumably have better mental capacity and reflexes to deal with higher speeds (and bigger cars).

presumably because driving on a racetrack is different from driving on a public road.

Obviously something went wrong even with all those safety procedures in place and its pending review which usually happens when something like this occurs. People are upset as it happened to a child and perhaps aren’t in the know of how danger is minimised as much as possible, but hey life is dangerous and the same child could have been hit by a car riding to school.