Scott Kalitta killed...

HDPDZO6 · 06-21-2008, 06:23 PM

Didn't see it posted yet...

http://www.nhra.com/content/news/30033.htm

Quote:

Kalitta succumbs to injuries suffered in qualifying incident
6/21/2008

Scott Kalitta
Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta, 46, died Saturday from multiple injuries suffered after his car went out of control and crashed in a high-speed racing accident at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park during the fourth and final round of qualifying at the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals.

Kalitta was extracted from his car by NHRA emergency services officials and transported to Old Bridge Township Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Kalitta, a two-time NHRA POWERade Series Top Fuel champion and one of only 14 drivers in NHRA history to earn victories in both premier nitro categories, earned 18 victories during his career, his last coming in Chicago in 2005 in Top Fuel.

Kalitta earned most of his racing success in Top Fuel, where he claimed back-to-back world championship titles in 1994 and 1995. He retired from racing in 1997, sitting out most of two seasons before returning for a 10-race campaign in 1999. He sat out three more seasons following that brief stint and then returned again in 2003, joining cousin Doug as a second driver for the family's two Top Fuel dragsters.

Kalitta started his pro career in Top Fuel in 1982, running limited events for four seasons before moving to Funny Car in 1986 for his first full-season of competition. He returned to that category fulltime in 2006. He posted a runner-up finish two weeks ago in Chicago, his 36th career NHRA final round appearance.

Kalitta is survived by his father, legendary NHRA racer and team owner Connie Kalitta; wife, Kathy; and sons Corey, 14, and Colin, 8.

RIP

SlideFox · 06-21-2008, 06:42 PM

Just saw this on ESPN. This sucks! RIP!

DavesZ#3 · 06-21-2008, 07:12 PM

Video and story here...

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story...PHCP&GT1=39002

TreeFiddyZee · 06-21-2008, 07:15 PM

I had been watching this race. I went out to get dinner and when I came home it had already happened. Sad. Like one of his fellow racers said, "He died doing what he loved".

USN HM 350Z · 06-21-2008, 07:19 PM

R.i.p.

DavesZ#3 · 06-21-2008, 07:20 PM

It's certainly one of the worse crashes I've ever seen. You always hate to see a good guy like that go so unexpectedly.

surfcity40 · 06-21-2008, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreeFiddyZee

I had been watching this race. I went out to get dinner and when I came home it had already happened. Sad. Like one of his fellow racers said, "He died doing what he loved".

That quote always gives me pause. All folk who race or skydive or eat $#!+ they shouldn't, die "doing what they love". How about you stop being so goddamned selfish and die from old effing age; people rely on you. I don't think my family would be all that happy if I died "doing what I love" when I love effing dieing!

DaytonaRoadster · 06-21-2008, 07:55 PM

RIP, but man, if i had to die, a crash at 300 mph in a huge fireball would be in my top 5

RIP buddy, hope your dragging in heaven/next life

411Z · 06-21-2008, 08:03 PM

wow bro, that was kind of a dik comment. maybe you should edit.

Accordaleer · 06-21-2008, 08:16 PM

uhhhh. what? Are you like 12? Stop being so selfish? I dont think he planned to die first off. Second usually people die from old age or unexpected accidents. Maybe you were being sarcastic and im way off.... Really confused by your comment. And you love "effin dieing" ? Peoeple dont rely on professionals, they look up to them, unless you work for him and all you care about is your next paycheck.

surfcity40 · 06-21-2008, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accordaleer

uhhhh. what? Are you like 12? Stop being so selfish? I dont think he planned to die first off. Second usually people die from old age or unexpected accidents. Maybe you were being sarcastic and im way off.... Really confused by your comment. And you love "effin dieing" ? Peoeple dont rely on professionals, they look up to them, unless you work for him and all you care about is your next paycheck.

I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to the folk who say "he died doing what he loved"...as if that makes the risky life somehow okay.

Yeah, I love sky diving but really need to get two kids through college. So when I die because I hit the ground at 120 mph when the chute didn't open, some folk are going to say "he died doing what he loved" and some folk are gonna say he died because "people shouldn't jump out of airplanes when they have kids they need to get through college!".
Sry...my point was smaller than yours.

I'm sorry for the loss.

surfcity40 · 06-21-2008, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accordaleer

Maybe you were being sarcastic and im way off....

Bingo.

davidv · 06-21-2008, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfcity40

I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to the folk who say "he died doing what he loved"...as if that makes the risky life somehow okay.

Yeah, I love sky diving but really need to get two kids through college. So when I die because I hit the ground at 120 mph when the chute didn't open, some folk are going to say "he died doing what he loved" and some folk are gonna say he died because "people shouldn't jump out of airplanes when they have kids they need to get through college!".
Sry...my point was smaller than yours.

I'm sorry for the loss.

I understood your point the first time.

The probability of getting killed driving to and from work is probably 100 times greater than drag racing, yet no one says “He died doing what he loved best” i.e. driving to and from work. So maybe “He died doing what he loved best” shouldn't be taken literally. It just gives others some comfort after someone has died. It might be more appropriate for, say, a police officer.

Divergent13 · 06-22-2008, 12:11 AM

RIP

Sad to see someone go so young.

coachk · 06-22-2008, 04:59 AM

I know you say your comment was sarcastic, but understand that his job was racing a car down the 1/4 mile and thats what he earned a living doing. This was not a hobby for him, in comparison to you jumping out of a plane for the adrenaline rush. How many people go to work everyday and can truly say they love going to work and died doing what they love. Not many unless your hobby is also your job, i.e. sports

JETPILOT · 06-22-2008, 07:27 AM

Actually coah.... it was a hoby for him. I knew him. He was the owner of the airline I used to fly for. He had more money than god. This was just who he was. It was in him to do this. He had plenty of money.

DavesZ#3 · 06-22-2008, 08:37 AM

As mentioned in a couple of the stories about him, Kalitta retired TWICE from drag racing. Apparently the love of the sport and the lure of competiton brought him back again and again, not money or the need of a job.

coachk · 06-22-2008, 09:10 AM

Interesting...I stand corrected.

phreaktor · 06-22-2008, 09:43 AM

I remember watching him or his father race at Atco as a kid....

411Z · 06-22-2008, 04:00 PM

just to add to the "died doing what he loved" thing...

as a drag racer myself for 13 years, since i was 8 y/o, i can honestly say that i would rather have something happen in the car than somewhere else and not get to drive again. i guess if you died youd never know the difference, but lets say if i had to lose my legs... i would rather lose them in a racing accident "doing what i love", than somewhere else, and have to live with never getting in the race car again. does that make sense?

06-21-2008, 06:42 PM	#2
SlideFox *Well No!!* Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,121 iTrader: (0)	Just saw this on ESPN. This sucks! RIP! __________________ Go Turbo or Go Home!! ----->Forced Induction for Noobs....<----- Cowboys 8-4 Suns 11-6

06-21-2008, 07:15 PM	#4
TreeFiddyZee Do WHAAAAT!? Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Hoosier-ville Posts: 2,259 iTrader: (10)	I had been watching this race. I went out to get dinner and when I came home it had already happened. Sad. Like one of his fellow racers said, "He died doing what he loved". __________________ Is math an sgàthan sùil caraide.

06-21-2008, 07:19 PM	#5
USN HM 350Z Super Moderator MY350Z.COM Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: San Diego 92119 Posts: 19,205 iTrader: (108)	R.i.p. __________________ -2008.5 Nissan Titan SE CST 4" spindle lift/Bilstein Shocks/JBA Exhaust/Volant Intake/HyperTech Beta Test Unit/N-Fab Steps/HID Lights Headlights & Driving lights/ BullBar with KC High Lights -2006 Mazda Miata MX-5* Bilstein shocks/ Eibach springs -1975 S30 Right Hand Drive Fairlady Z(Project Car)* SR20DETT swap coming soon -2004 Nissan 350Z JWT TT (Gone, but not forgotten)*

06-21-2008, 07:20 PM	#6
DavesZ#3 Super Moderator MY350Z.COM Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Louisiana Posts: 8,971 iTrader: (6)	It's certainly one of the worse crashes I've ever seen. You always hate to see a good guy like that go so unexpectedly. __________________ 2004.5 Daytona Blue Track Nismo • Volk • Hotchkis • Endless • Centric • Koni • Motordyne • Thermo-tec • Pi-Thon • Infinity • KP Technologies • B-Cool • Classic Soft Trim • Kenwood • Sirius • Valentine {Stealth} • Zaino Support your local Z club: Louisiana Z Club and CENLA SCCA New to MY350Z? Have a question? Please read this thread first: Top 100 Questions Thread (CLICK)

06-21-2008, 08:16 PM	#10
Accordaleer Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Freehold,NJ Posts: 1,076 iTrader: (3)	uhhhh. what? Are you like 12? Stop being so selfish? I dont think he planned to die first off. Second usually people die from old age or unexpected accidents. Maybe you were being sarcastic and im way off.... Really confused by your comment. And you love "effin dieing" ? Peoeple dont rely on professionals, they look up to them, unless you work for him and all you care about is your next paycheck. __________________ ~07 Silver Alloy Touring 5AT~ 20% Tint all around, S2k Antenna, Clear reflectors, Philips 6000k bulbs.... more to come..

06-21-2008, 07:12 PM	#3
DavesZ#3 Super Moderator MY350Z.COM Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Louisiana Posts: 8,971 iTrader: (6)	Video and story here... http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story...PHCP&GT1=39002 __________________ 2004.5 Daytona Blue Track Nismo • Volk • Hotchkis • Endless • Centric • Koni • Motordyne • Thermo-tec • Pi-Thon • Infinity • KP Technologies • B-Cool • Classic Soft Trim • Kenwood • Sirius • Valentine {Stealth} • Zaino Support your local Z club: Louisiana Z Club and CENLA SCCA New to MY350Z? Have a question? Please read this thread first: Top 100 Questions Thread (CLICK)

06-21-2008, 07:55 PM	#8
DaytonaRoadster Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,917 iTrader: (2)	RIP, but man, if i had to die, a crash at 300 mph in a huge fireball would be in my top 5 RIP buddy, hope your dragging in heaven/next life

06-21-2008, 08:03 PM	#9
411Z Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: North Las Vegas, NV Posts: 137 iTrader: (0)	wow bro, that was kind of a dik comment. maybe you should edit.

06-22-2008, 12:11 AM	#14
Divergent13 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Northwest Posts: 4,514 iTrader: (0)	RIP Sad to see someone go so young.

06-22-2008, 04:59 AM	#15
coachk Lovin Life Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 3,261 iTrader: (17)	I know you say your comment was sarcastic, but understand that his job was racing a car down the 1/4 mile and thats what he earned a living doing. This was not a hobby for him, in comparison to you jumping out of a plane for the adrenaline rush. How many people go to work everyday and can truly say they love going to work and died doing what they love. Not many unless your hobby is also your job, i.e. sports __________________ 2003 PPW 5AT.....Lovin Life www.performancefactory.com

06-22-2008, 07:27 AM	#16
JETPILOT Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Vero Beach, FL Posts: 5,600 iTrader: (44)	Actually coah.... it was a hoby for him. I knew him. He was the owner of the airline I used to fly for. He had more money than god. This was just who he was. It was in him to do this. He had plenty of money.

06-22-2008, 08:37 AM	#17
DavesZ#3 Super Moderator MY350Z.COM Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Louisiana Posts: 8,971 iTrader: (6)	As mentioned in a couple of the stories about him, Kalitta retired TWICE from drag racing. Apparently the love of the sport and the lure of competiton brought him back again and again, not money or the need of a job. __________________ 2004.5 Daytona Blue Track Nismo • Volk • Hotchkis • Endless • Centric • Koni • Motordyne • Thermo-tec • Pi-Thon • Infinity • KP Technologies • B-Cool • Classic Soft Trim • Kenwood • Sirius • Valentine {Stealth} • Zaino Support your local Z club: Louisiana Z Club and CENLA SCCA New to MY350Z? Have a question? Please read this thread first: Top 100 Questions Thread (CLICK)

06-22-2008, 09:10 AM	#18
coachk Lovin Life Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 3,261 iTrader: (17)	Interesting...I stand corrected. __________________ 2003 PPW 5AT.....Lovin Life www.performancefactory.com

06-22-2008, 09:43 AM	#19
phreaktor Moderator OT & Marketplace Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Burlington, NJ Posts: 10,237 iTrader: (6)	I remember watching him or his father race at Atco as a kid.... __________________ unce unce unce

06-22-2008, 04:00 PM	#20
411Z Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: North Las Vegas, NV Posts: 137 iTrader: (0)	just to add to the "died doing what he loved" thing... as a drag racer myself for 13 years, since i was 8 y/o, i can honestly say that i would rather have something happen in the car than somewhere else and not get to drive again. i guess if you died youd never know the difference, but lets say if i had to lose my legs... i would rather lose them in a racing accident "doing what i love", than somewhere else, and have to live with never getting in the race car again. does that make sense?