I've been living in a bit of a news vacuum lately, but I got an email from a friend about the tragic death of WERA Expert #122 Timothy L. Francis at Summit Point on Sunday June 13. Tim was killed in a freak accident after being stuck by a ghost bike that had high-sided in turn 5 while Tim was in turn 6. He was from Lynchburg, Virginia and his funeral was on Wednesday, June 16th.
There is info on the WERA board, but I am not smart enough to know how to post a link.
It's very sad when someone dies doing something they love so much.
Godspeed Tim, and may God bless the rider of the other bike that fell in turn 5.
Godspeed Mr. Francis. My wife understands the dying doing what we love doing, she rides too. :)
God speed and bless the family
My prayers and thoughts go out...
Any more details? Anything we can learn here?
QuoteAnything we can learn here?
I've always been somewhat concerned about a bike, riderless or not, coming accross the grass in the carosel at Summit. I had envisioned it happening as a bike going straight thru 5 and coming accross and reentering the track at 8 by Baker and the oak tree. It's a fairly narrow crossing at that point to get back on the track. I'm not sure how it could be protected there short of some air fence deployed in a zig-zag pattern so that a rider could get through at very slow speed by riding around and through a gap to get back to the racing surface.
Godspeed
QuoteAny more details? Anything we can learn here?
Not really, another rider highsided, almost saved it, fell off, the bike stayed upright long enough to cut across the inside of the corner and hit Tim. Not a long distance and nothing even tethers would have prevented it.