\"My condolences.\"\"Oh no! Last sunset 9/10/2001 - Twin Towers. Several veteran drivers . In 1982, record speeds were being set during qualification for the 1982 Indianapolis 500. Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality. He had competed in the last two 500's here, finishing 25th in 1980 and 22d last year after he crashed in turn 4. The 1955 Le Mans disaster killed 83 people and the driver instantly when he crashed at 200+ mph same as this but with a SHITLOAD more carnage SmoothOperatorrr 2 yr. ago "Most violent single car accident " From memory, Le Mans disaster was a multi car pileup with a car being launched into the crowd. She watched the race Sunday, but not to applaud. Pray for my son's mother and my sons siblings, everybody that was raised with Brandon.\"While he didnt provide any details on Brandons death, the \"Dish Nation\"alum alluded to past family tragedy as he spoke about his own grief.\"Now I see what my granddaddy went through and why he felt the way he felt,\"Smiley said. In 1982, Racer Gordon Smiley was killed after reaching his stated goal of 200 mph straight into a wall. Guarda a tutto schermo. Smiley corrected, and the car spun back to the right. Privacy Policy. He also disputed the F1 non-championship 1979 Race of Champions in Brands Hatch, finishing 10th with a Tyrrell. Smiley told the owner of the car he was driving, Bob . Before the attempt, drivers must warm up their cars. ''I think the cars are safe, until you hit wrong,'' A.J. Then Rick Mears, Cogan's teammate with Penske Racing, surpassed Cogan's one-lap record by more than 2.2 miles per hour on his first lap. Originally posted by Old_school Gordon did not scrub much speed prior to impact..Both Piquet and Blundell had scrubbed off significant speed prior to their impacts. During the event, drivers would drive for four laps, and the average time will be calculated and serve as the qualifying time. Gordon Smiley, Indy 500 qualifying, 1982, Scan this QR code to download the app now. 'There was only one person I ever rooted for,' she said as she perched on a hard metal chair in the shady hospitality tent of Intermedics, Smiley's sponsor. He had a gaping wound in his side that looked as if he had been attacked by a large shark. Smiley became the 62d person, and the 38th driver, to die since the Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened in 1909. However, USAC did not bow to the media. Ongais recovered, and he took a qualifying run late this morning, less than 20 minutes before Smiley died. Guarda Gordon Smiley fatal accident at the 198 - dream81 su Dailymotion. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. and led to the racing standard of not declaring a driver dead at the track unless he is incinerated or decapitated.[5]. Gordon Eugene Smiley (April 20, 1946 May 15, 1982) was an American race car driver who was killed in a single-car crash at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Even more so than a typical Indy Car of the time. The car, and Smiley, was scattered everywhere across the track. So do you think that the safety engineering has progressed to such a point that a driver could survive a near head-on impact with a wall at around 200 mph? Other than your assumption is there any evidence to support your being "very sure" that there was no autopsy? ''It was very similar, they tell me, to the accident Ongais had,'' Fletcher said. So did Andretti. Originally posted by David M. Kane Tony Renna was a protege of Derek Daly, so I got the medical details and Henri is correct. The March 81c Chassis wrapped itself in the catchfencing, spinning wreckage wildly across the track. I don't feel anymore like I need constant support,' she said. Accedi. Not long after other drivers had created records with each lap in the first hour of qualifying, Smiley, who was 33 years old, died instantly when his March racer, powered by a Cosworth engine,. A television tape showed that Smiley apparently tried to correct the racer but failed. Everest 4. 1BN. I had never seen such trauma. had warned him that he was in way over his head, driving all wrong for the Speedway. On the NBC morning news program, the comedian said though the toxicology report. Not a good thing for a rookie to be doing.Was Mickey Thompson to blame for the deaths of McDonald and Sachs? He had no chance of survival. There is a glaring error in the post fines is referring to. Before the attempt, drivers must warm up their cars. Originally posted by Cirrus I seem to recall Buford saying in an earlier thread, that Gordon Smiley's body was lying on the track, looking completely unharmed after the accident. Privacy Policy. But by race day, she had been at the track long enough. Is the true account (of it's different) too morbid? Gordon as we all know had already run two Indy 500's, was he doing something out of the ordinary during the '82 Indy ? In the second row were Mario Andretti, Gordon Johncock and Bill Whittington. Smiley raced in the Indianapolis 500 twice, in 1980 and 1981, and was killed while trying to qualify for a third in 1982. He was inducted into the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2000. Lone Star JR thought so. For more information, please see our His foot was to the floor as he headed down the backstraightaway. And even further down that vein was Thompson's decision to hack away part of the cowlings of the car to make room for new tire specs handed down by the Indy brass. [2][3][4], In the 1980 Indianapolis 500, Smiley qualified Patrick Racing's Valvoline Phoenix/Cosworth in 20th position. His race ended when the turbocharger blew on lap 47, causing him to finish 25th. Inside The Tragic Death Of Race Car Driver Gordon Smiley Motor vehicle accidents Auto accident driving accidents fatal car . 1. During an attempt to qualify for the Indy 500, Gordon Smiley, a cocky young driver from Texas, was determined to break 200mph or die trying. During the event, drivers would drive for four laps, and the average time will be calculated and serve as the qualifying time. DHLTV. FUNERAL: Rickey Smiley Reveals Brandon Smiley Cause Of Death - YouTube Im so sorry for your loss,\"Xscape singer Kandi Burruss wrote. Medical Director Steve Olvey described the brutal and disturbing scene. Gordon Eugene Smiley was born in 1946 in Omaha, Nebraska. ''If that car goes over a bump, or if the attitude changes just a little bit, you're not steering.'' In Turn 2, on his 3rd lap, something went wrong. range to approximately 185. Jim Hickman was killed in another March 81c less than 2 months later during a practice session for the CART race at the Milwaukee Mile. Originally posted by Flat Black Numerous independent sources who DID know Smiley suggest that he was an overly aggressive driver who was not particularly alive to the dangers of the Brickyard. Open-Wheel racing had become much safer than it had before. Fatal Crash - Gordon Smiley, Indy 500 - 1982 : r - Reddit Libreria. You talk from experience that won't be found with many other posters here.henri. MOTORSPORT NETWORK 2023. The speeds had risen so dramatically at Indianapolis this year, in part through the widespread use of ground effects, an innovation introduced here in 1979. Gordon Smiley fatal Indy 500 Crash @ Indianapolis 1982 andromeda78f 349 subscribers Subscribe 2.6K Save 354K views 14 years ago Notice Age-restricted video (based on Community Guidelines). 3. \"My son Brandon Smiley has passed away this morning.\"Smiley did not specify his son's cause of death nor give his age. Both Kevin Cogan and Rick Mears set new single lap and 4-lap records in their attempts. Marcelo died from severe head and chest injuries, Bock said through a spokesman. Near 1981 Crash Site. GORDON SMILEY CRASH - YouTube Originally posted by ghinzani Re your last question old_school theres also the factor, oft repudiated, that Smiley was indulging in what the Whittingtons were so famous for. Originally posted by Henri Greuter Your last remark makes every post you make on this subject more than welcome and respected. Several veteran drivershad warned him that he was in way over his head, driving all wrong for the Speedway. There is a warm up lap before each run which is used to warm up the tires, but Smiley was pushing the car, hard. I rode to the care center with the body. Driver Dies After Hitting Wall In Indianapolis 500 Practice Gordon 0 references date of birth 20 April 1946 2 references place of birth Omaha 1 reference date of death 15 May 1982 2 references place of death Indianapolis Motor Speedway 0 references manner of death accident 0 references cause of death blast injury 0 references occupation racing driver 0 references racing automobile driver 1 reference sport No matter how experienced a driver is and no matter how many safety precautions are done, there is always a percentage of something going wrong. Dead frozen bodies act as waypoints up Mt. Originally posted by Flat Black Don't insult my intelligence, fines, by suggesting that I was insulting Gordon's. \"My granddaddy went through this (expletive) with my dad and somehow, here I am going through the same thing my grandparents went through. The material on the race track was most of his brain. In 1976, with Canute. When I reached the car, I was shocked to see that Smiley's helmet was gone, along with the top of his skull. According to Dr. Henry Bock of the Speedway medical staff, Smiley died of massive head injuries. Originally posted by Old_school having read Steve Olvey's book i'm still somewhat stumped when he states: "Several veteran drivershad warned him that he was in way over his head, driving all wrong for the Speedway." Originally posted by David M. Kane Perhaps someone more knowledgeable on ground effects can explain why once that car turn to towards the wall there was little physically he could to change its direction again because of the tremendous downforce. I attempted the effect of a third call; there was no further movement and the eyes took on the glazed look which they have in the dead. His crash set up the controversial finish to the Indy 500 between teammate Mario Andretti and Bobby Unser. Rickey Smiley mourns the death of his son Brandon | CNN ''I'm sorry.'' Into the 1950's, it was common practice to sever pieces of patients 's brains to "cure" mental illness. ''We were just worried if I was going to make it.'' 6. Gordon Smiley 1982 - OC newly uploaded images : r/INDYCAR - Reddit Cars were braking speed records at Indianapolis already, with Rick Mears setting the fastest qualifying average ever earlier in the session. 1M views 16 years ago Gordon Smiley is killed in a practice crash during the qualifyings warmup lap for the Indy 500 1982. Brandon Jamaad Smiley, 32, was found . Smiley started racing at just 19 years old and participated in a series of competitions, such as the Formula 5000, Formula Super Vee, and Formula Athletic before going professional. Please do enlighten me. Originally posted by Flat Black I don't want to seem morbid, but I'm so curious about something that I'll run the risk.The question for those of you who are up on the safety engineering of modern Indy cars is this: If a driver of a modern Indy car had an identical accident to the one that killed Gordon Smiley in 1982, would s/he survive?If you view the YouTube video of Smiley's crash, you might be inclined to think there's no way in hell anybody could survive such an impact in any car, no matter how well engineered. Cancer-Stricken Actor Gordon MacRae Dies | AP News 8. A life-sized monument to her remains to this day. Inside The Tragic Death Of Race Car Driver Gordon Smiley. His death was the first at Indy since 1973 when Art Pollard and Swede Savage were killed and, to date, the last driver to die during qualifying. '', Fletcher said that the crash was not the result of a mechanical failure. Originally posted by brandspro Drawing on the above mentioned Nelson Piquet shunt and the head-on shunt that Mark Blundell walked away from - on broken ankles - in Rio, I'm inclined to say the chances of surviving that exact incident would be quite good. An atomic bomb was accidentally dropped on North Carolina. It targeted the healthy.The first time humanity met H1N1, we were far less prepared. The disease turns the immune system against vital organs, so those with the strongest immune systems were more likely to die. So, yes, it probably would have been worse. Originally posted by MPea3 That is pure conjecture. and our Smiley hit the wall at an estimated 185 mph. Ffs only 1 person died. It's all over. Barbara Smiley knew the risks she faced, and she gave them sober thought. Originally posted by Jerome I was suprised when I saw the crash that killed Dale Earnhart. On May 15th, 1982, a cocky young driver named Gordon Smiley went out to qualify for the 1982 Indianapolis 500. Actor and comedian Rickey Smiley is mourning the death of his son Brandon Smiley.Smiley, who starred on \"The Rickey Smiley Show\"from 2012-2014, took to Instagram on Sunday to share he had some\"bad news\"to deliver to his followers.In a touching video Rickey said \"I hate to announce this, but I just want to give it to you before you hear it in the streets,\"Smiley said. The. Gordon Smiley - Wikidata Originally posted by jimclark Thanks, HwI had not read that before (wish I hadn't still). CART and the Indy Race League was forced to do something. Originally posted by Cirrus I think that it's likely that, even if it were possible to make a survival cell that could withstand that sort of impact, the internal organs of the human body probably couldn't.I seem to recall Buford saying in an earlier thread, that Gordon Smiley's body was lying on the track, looking completely unharmed after the accident. Read Also: 5 Haunting Images You Wont Be Able To Shake. A life-sized monument to her remains to this day. I've always carried a pocketful of phone numbers in my purse,' she said. Several veteran drivershad warned him that he was in way over his head, driving all wrong for the Speedway. In 1982, Gordon was competing at the qualifiers for the Indy 500 when tragedy struck, according to This Day in Motor Sports History. See the article in its original context from. She's been with racing people most of the time since Gordon Smiley died 15 days ago when his car hit the wall in turn three and disintegrated during the first day of time trials, as he tried to get up to 200 mph. During an attempt to qualify for the Indy 500, Gordon Smiley, a cocky young driver from Texas, was determined to break 200mph or die trying. Thirteen mechanics, two track workers and nine spectators have also lost their lives here. To my mind anyone stupid enough to try and drive on coke is asking for trouble. The accident took place at a point not far from where Danny Ongais had hit the wall during the Indianapolis 500 last year. No. Smiley, a 33-year-old native of . Smiley's racer, Fletcher said, ''hit it dead on. Smiley, 54, elaborated on the "bad news" in an emotional video showing him in Dallas as he readied to catch a flight to his hometown of Birmingham, Ala., after learning of his son's death . As JY suggested in a PM to me, an Indy car was perhaps too much for someone of his experience. I probably shouldn't ask, but what actually happened to Tony Renna? Fletcher said the car was timed at 196.7 during earlier practice runs today, before the track was closed prior to the beginning of the qualifying period. The principal aim of an autopsy is to determine the factors that contributed to the individual's death.There would obviously be an external examination, in this case the external examination would be sufficient in basing a conclusion as to the cause of death. The most violent single car accident in motor racing history. Lobotomies were often successful in diminishing the effects of mental disorders, but at the cost of a patient's personality and intelligence. Jim Clark thought so. At the end of the third turn, at the northeast corner of the 2.5-mile oval, the rear of the car began to veer slightly to the right. Gordon smiley wife Barbara Hill (Smiley) VIEW PROFILE Deceased Classmate: Barbara Hill (Smiley) Date Of Birth: July-29-1944 Date Deceased: Sept-15-1987 Age at Death: 43 Cause of Death: Cancer Classmate City: Grapevine Classmate State: TX Classmate Country: USA Was a Veteran: No Survived By: Sister: This means that the death count went up 20 percent to 802 people that died per 100,000 in population. When I reached the car, I was shocked to see that Smiley's helmet was gone, along with the top of his skull. 1:06. She was waiting there for the traditional picture, taken after the run, with the driver and crew all around the car. When Smiley first shared the news in January, he did not specify his son's cause of death nor give his age. An accident had not killed a driver here since 1973, when Art Pollard died on the first day of qualifications and Swede Savage died of injuries sustained in an accident during the race. Several functions may not work. John B. Watson was fired not long after his unethical experiment, and the anonymous subject, "Little Albert" was never deconditioned. Her nails were found bloodied, and her face contorted in anguish. A bomb disposal expert Lt. Jack Revelle, in 2011 admitted that "we came damn close" to a nuclear detonation that would have completely ruined the eastern half of NC. Florida Death Records | Enter Any Name To Begin - SearchQuarry The material on the race track was most of his brain. I probably shouldn't ask, but what actually happened to Tony Renna? Originally posted by Twin Window When word got through to Autosport it was mentioned that Gordon had been taken to one side by, IIRC, Al Unser who'd advised him to be less aggressive in the turns save he caused himself some problems as apparently, we were told, Gordon was getting the tail out on a regular basis. Smiley talked to his car owner, Bob Fletcher before he strapped into his car. But even as the Penske drivers smiled soon afterward, Mears said there had been problems. On May 15th, 1982, a cocky young driver named Gordon Smiley went out to qualify for the 1982 Indianapolis 500. Gordon Smiley fatal Indy 500 Crash @ Indianapolis 1982 35 Years ago, Gordon Smiley witnessed a similar crash, but with different, and more horrific, results. She kept her cheers for the man she met at a party in 1973, and married after a five-year courtship. In July 2020, Smiley shared that his youngest daughter Aaryn was injured during an alleged road rage incident.We send our prayers to the smiley familyRest in power king Octavia Hatcher was buried alive.Octavia was bitten by a tstete fly and presumed dead. Even more so than a typical Indy Car of the time. Mears went even faster on his next two laps. The Spanish Flu killed over 3% of the world's population in 1918. Smiley, whose helmet came off, was entangled in one of the three pieces. one of them asked. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. No, of course not. Other townspeople became ill with the same thing, which turned out to only be sleeping sickness. The impact shattered the March chassis, which completely disintegrated, causing the fuel tank to explode, and sent debris, including Smiley's exposed body, into the catch fence and then back onto the track, tumbling hundreds of feet across the short-chute connecting turns 3 and 4. Into the 1950's, it was common practice to sever pieces of patients 's brains to "cure" mental illness.Lobotomies were often successful in diminishing the effects of mental disorders, but at the cost of a patient's personality and intelligence.8. Tom Sneva had set both the one-lap and four-lap track records in 1978, with speeds of 203.620 and 202.156 miles per hour, respectively. Numerous independent sources who DID know Smiley suggest that he was an overly aggressive driver who was not particularly alive to the dangers of the Brickyard. The fuel tank burst, catching what was left of the car on fire. It's cable reimagined No DVR space limits. An atomic bomb was accidentally dropped on North Carolina. On the way in I performed a cursory examination and realized that nearly every bone in his body was shattered. Did you ever see or race against Gordon in FF and Formula Atlantic? But not what the legacy of Gordon Smiley. I assume Smileys autospy would have checked for substances anyway? Then there was a further closing of the eyelids, but now less complete. But his decisions and his engineering were factors. Marcelo is the first driver to die at this track since Gordon Smiley hit the wall head-on during practice in. Officials spent 3 1/2 hours cleaning the track from both debris from the car and from Smiley. Eventually, Gordon Smiley made his way to compete at the Indianapolis 500, one of the most prestigious car races that draws hundreds of thousands of people in Indiana (via Britannica). 5. Mrs. Smiley said she stayed in Indianapolis for the race because 'I enjoy being around the people.' The back end stepped out, Bourdias corrected, and the car went straight into the wall at 230 mph. A very large increase that was a result from those troubling years of the pandemic. Son of radio host and comic Rickey Smiley dies - Los Angeles Times Brandon Smiley Death Video Scene, Rickey Smiley son Brandon Smiley DIES, Cause of death is shocking. But with possible life threatening injuries. \"Ilove you (and) Im praying for you!\"Im so sorry friend,\" TV personality and singer Tamar Braxton commented.\"Condolences brother,\"singer CeeLo Green wrote.This isnt the first time Smiley has opened up about hard times in his family life. CNN . He raced SCCA, Can-Am, Formula 5000 and Formula Super Vee, winning in each series while setting 25 track records, and winning the SCCA National Championship four times. On May 15, 1982, Gordon Smiley got ready for the qualifiers for the Indy 500. The most violent single car accident in motor racing history. Gordon His body will be taken to Omaha for burial. He was only 36 years old when he died, and was the 38th race car driver who lost his life at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1909. Gordon Smiley - Findadeath Forum 7 Nearly-Extinct Animals and the Wine That Pairs Best With Them, 5 Haunting Images You Wont Be Able To Shake, Kid Wearing A 'Sons of Anarchy' Vest Gets Berated By Real Biker, Remember When that Douchebag Drop Kicked Arnold Schwarzenegger At Event in South Africa, 29 Darn Fine Memes That Arrived in the Nick of Time, 32 Expensive Fails That Ruined Someone's Day, 29 Awesome Randoms For Your Ocular Enjoyment, Monday Morning Randomness: 63 Pics, Memes, and Everything in Between. Originally posted by Flat Black Specifics? He was killed instantly. When Fletcher first brought a car to Indianapolis, Pollard was his driver and he died on the first qualifying day. Today, Kevin Cogan, the first driver on the track, broke the one-lap record on his second time around, and the four-lap record on his complete 10-mile run. Driving his first race at age 19, Smiley was an accomplished road racer. and our By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. In 1961, a B52 crashed near Goldsboro, NC. The car flipped over, caught on fire, and slide to a stop on the backstraightaway. 1:01. It just takes off. Not long after other drivers had created records with each lap in the first hour of qualifying, Smiley, who was 33 years old, died instantly when his March racer, powered by a Cosworth engine, lost control during a second warm-up lap as it came out of a turn at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Throughout the years, the sport of auto racing has seen plenty of accidents and fatalities. In 2010, she recounted: They brought the remains of Gordons car back to our garage, and the biggest piece was a little ball of engine. The Spanish Flu killed over 3% of the world's population in 1918. But soon came the announcement: There is a yellow light. The first qualifying day had begun with a remarkable succession of records. Fast Early Times. They continued to make improvements of the tracks of the series. By controlling the air flow beneath a car, designers created a low-pressure area that forces the car downward and holds it closer to the road surface. Gordon Smiley was inducted into the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2000 (via NARHOF). A report by Los Angeles' coroner's officials released Tuesday states the fatal clot occurred after the comedian developed blood clots in his legs, a condition known as deep vein thrombosis. During the event, drivers would drive for four laps, and the average time will be calculated and serve as the qualifying time. Gordon Smiley fatal Crash @ Indy 500 1982 - YouTube '', Bob Fletcher, the owner of the car Smiley drove, said: ''The ground-effects cars, when they start to jump out, they lose the ground effects. All rights reserved. [2][3], After the 1981 CART season ended, Smiley was released from Patrick Racing, but was essentially traded to a Patrick-affiliated ride, Fletcher Racing.[4]. WARNING: GRAPHIC WRITING AHEAD, IF FAINT OF HEART, SCROLL PAST TO THE NEXT SECTION OF BOLD TEXT. He was legendary crazy/aggressive BUT very FAST just Jody and Clay when they were young.Fines have you read the link in Hugewally's post? He died instantly, marshalls on scene said brain matter was spread on the track. Gordon Smiley's widow watches 500 - UPI Archives People crashed, people survived. Gordon Smiley fatal accident at the 198 . Gordon Smiley fatal accident at the 198 - Video Dailymotion Gordon Smiley (April 20 1946 - May 15 1982) was an American race car driver. The ugliest racing accident ever filmed and photographed.But not what the legacy of Gordon Smiley should ever stand for.If you take the time to research Gordon Smiley ,you find a man who simply wanted to be the best driver in the best sport - Formula One- at the time.Gordon never got the breaks-in fact-while trying for Formula One he ran into some really evil people and had to come back to Indycar to try and restart his Formula One career try.I detail just what happened and the stupendous forces that tore his car apart and threw him against a fence going over one hundred and sixty miles per hour.