by "Jcarr" (jcarr)
Published 04/21/2017 at 20:25
by "Jcarr" (jcarr)
Published 04/21/2017 at 20:25
Tags: Captain Obvious
STARS: 0
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"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
04/21/2017 at 22:23, STARS: 1
Ned Jarrett’s and Junior Johnson’s cars collided between turns one and two and began spinning. Roberts spun off turn two trying to avoid the accident and his Lavender colored Holman-Moody # 22 Ford slammed backwards into an opening on the inside retaining wall, exploded, flipped over and burst into flames. There were no fuel cells or fire retardant suits in those racing days and they only had a fire resistant solution they could dip their driving uniforms into. It was thought Fireball was allergic to the chemicals in the solution, but he very privately suffered from an asthmatic condition and the chemicals affected his breathing. Jarrett’s car spun to a stop near Fireball’s car that was engulfed in flames. Jarrett rushed to and pulled Roberts from his car as Fireball was screaming, “My God, Ned, help me! I’m on fire!” With just a tee shirt for protection Roberts received second and third degree burns over 80 percent of his body. He was airlifted to Charlotte Memorial Hospital in extremely critical condition. Good friends Jarrett & Johnson were most shaken by the incident and it’s said to have hastened the end to their driving careers a short time later.
Fireball Roberts’ story is always chilling to hear.
"Jcarr" (jcarr)
04/21/2017 at 23:08, STARS: 0
Good Lord. Must have taken balls of steel to race in those days.