Shane Hammond, 27, was a Midget Car race driver, participating in Thompson International Speedway’s Connecticut season-opening weekend, when his light-weight small car became air-born, resulting in Shane’s Hammond’s death on Sunday. Shane was a registered member of Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA) driving Midget cars in NEMA events since 2003.
According to the NEMA site, Shane Hammond was driving his pretty little yellow-line color and deep blue markings car that was numbered 37, and sponsored by Wild Child Designs, when at turn-three, in lap three, he came in contact with another car, and sailed air-born over the top of the cement wall to crash into a sign. It took amazingly long 12-minutes for paramedics to cut Shame out of this open-air type of car.
Shane Hammond was obviously trying to be safe while behind the wheel with his yellow-line color choice for paint being very easy for other drivers to see in all types of track conditions. But, as every Midget driver knows, NEMA rules require Midgets to be less than 1200lbs, and that they will try to fly if given a chance with a nudge while under speed. Dark colored cars that are harder to see would be less safe than Shane’s car was.
Neither NEMA nor the track can be blamed for this accident; Shane Hammond was driving as an owner and independent contractor who agreed that the track safety conditions were up to his high standards before racing. When entering a race you are required to know and follow all of the NEMA safety rules. After 5-years of circuit driving Midgets, and prior years in Go Karts, Shane knew when a track was unsafe.
Drivers can start racing with parental and doctor permission, proper insurance, and NEMA approval at age 16; this is not to be confused with a new driver being allowed to become a safety hazard to all other drivers. New drivers must understand that they are on the track for one reason only: to get driving experience. They need to quit the race instantly if other drivers are having trouble maneuvering around them.
Some drivers cause track problems when they have not had enough sleep the night before their event; Shane Hammond only lived about an hour away from the track that he was driving on, so this problem probably did not apply to him. In larger end-of-season races, cars tend to travel great distances to be at the race. Owner/drivers who have just put in a 6-hour stint on a crowded freeway may be slower in their racetrack reaction times.
Drivers all need to be aware of new trends in safety equipment that become available for their teams before NEMA makes them a requirement for all drivers to use. NEMA gives you the choice on wearing fire-retardant sox, shoes, underwear, hoods, and gloves, it is common sense that racing drivers should wear these things no matter what the rules say. In all area of driving rules, drivers need to take the safest technology available to protect themselves and everybody involved on the team. Safety always counts.
Shane Hammond loved his driving, and died doing what he loved to do. Racing is a hazardous sport. I believe that this accident was simply that: an accident and situation where no finger of blame can be pointed. Little cars can fly if given the proper conditions necessary to propel the car into the air. Fan sympathy goes out to Shane’s family, team, and friends today; he will be missed.
