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Funny Video: Drag racer loses something important at 200mph

When you go racing, you need everything to be perfect. You need to have the proper amount fuel, the correct number of wheels and even a device to steer whatever contraption you're attempting to race. In fact, many race teams take untold hours to make sure no bolt is left un-torqued and no tire is left uninflated.
Posted: June 22, 2011 - 2:39PM
Author: Roman Rosa
Car racer

In this video, which was released yesterday, drag racer Parker Russ had one hell of a ride in which things obviously didn't go as planned. In fact, the most basic instrument to maintain control of a vehicle, the steering wheel, wasn't fastened down. I could understand that the bolt to your cup holder bracket could be over looked, or forgetting to connect the wires to your rear window defrost. But the steering wheel? You kind of need that, don't you?

Somebody thought it wouldn't be a big deal if that was put off until later. That somebody, unfortunately is the driver. You see, that small capsule he drives in is so small, he can't get in or out of his seat with the steering wheel in the way, so drivers use steering wheels with quick releases so they can get in and out.

I can only think that someone put it in for him while he was attaching his five-point safety harness and the driver didn't engage the lock on the quick release because he either figured the mechanic did it, or he simply had other things on his mind and he forgot.

When he loses the steering wheel, you can definitely sense his fear and panic (imagine how you'd feel if that happened to you in your own car at 80mph on the highway.) At the same time, you can't help but giggle a little bit. Especially when you realize that miraculously he doesn't crash too hard and is perfectly ok, except for the muddy pants he surely got along the way.

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