And now...The best unintended comedy video goes to...

I know some of you have seen this on Facebook, but here is a video from a run I made Sunday in the Highbucks IV BB/FC at the Woodburn Dragstrip. The splined area of the steering gearbox broke where the pin or bolt goes through and resulted in the steering wheel and shaft coming off in my hand after the 1-2 shift. The car did hit the wall but did not do major damage, which is why we can laugh about it now. As for what I was doing in the car when all this happened? See for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBYNbovODbE

 

At least you can laugh about it now. Could have been worse. GoPro Hero produces great video.

Also there is to many http's in your link.

 

Oops, thanks Jeff. Should be ok now.

 

Glad you are ok and the car is not too badly hurt, But that made me laugh out load.

 

Hey Russ:

I'm glad you didn't pull that stunt when you drove my car!

Watching you toss the steering wheel aside reminded me of the time when Mert Littlefield did a burn out and the tach dropped in his lap. When he backed up from the burn out he flipped open the roof hatch and threw the tack, wires and all, through the hole in the roof. Crash, the whole thing landed on the ground next to his car, and he made his run.

RG

 

I don't think I would really want this video public if I was you. Going to grab the lenco levers to slow down...

What would I have done in that situation? If I reacted as you did, I would have thrown that Go-Pro just like you tossed the steering wheel...

Glad no one was seriously hurt, but I don't think there is anything funny here...

 

Steering Box certs

I just thought about this-When will NHRA require us to send our steering boxes back in for recertification? Dave Germain

 

Awww, the elephant in the room. Thanks for pointing him out there, Dave!

 

I watched it and it looks like Russ is trying to figure out if there was anything left to grab to steer the car as it was heading for the wall. The levers happened to be in the way. It took him about 5/10ths of a second to figure out he was toast so he grabbed the brakes.

Russ has nore runs in more types of cars in his sleep than most will ever have in their lives. Russ also has a great sense of humor and has graciously allowed us to enjoy what most would say is the unthinkable happening in a race car.

Being a die hard altered fan, this is one of my favorite Russ Parker videos:

Russ Parker Woodburn in an altered. YouTube

RG


.

 

ooooops at 200 mph

your video is now posted on "The Chive" web site under the title oooooops at 200 mph. world famous now!

 

It is also up on Wimp.com, I had someone outside of drag racing send it to me today!

http://www.wimp.com/whenaccelerating/

Chris Saulnier
Gray, Maine

 

First of all glad your ok and it kept pretty straight.

This happened to a fuel altered driver over here, but lucky for him it happened at about 10mph while turning off of track, would of been horrible if had been at 220+

 

Australia Too!

It was also shown on Channel Ten news in Melbourne Australia as well.

 

Tough call

Pretty tough call I think from HemiCuda.
That is a great looking altered that Russ is driving in that clip.
Is that Russ' car or does it belong to someone else?

 

The funny car shown in the "steering wheel" incident is owned by Gary Kmetic, part of the Highbucks series of cars he has run. The altered is owned by Art Mendoza. I will be driving it this weekend in the Oldies but Goodies event held at Woodburn Dragstrip. I will also be driving a nostalgia top eliminator dragster for Dale Patrick. The GoPro will be back in action, and videos posted this weekend. Hopefully dramatic, but for other reasons than last time

 

Made it to Autoblog!