While street racing is highly illegal in every locale in the United States, for one day a year, on one stretch of road in the small town of El Reno, Oklahoma, it’s as legal as driving the speed limit and signaling properly.

Small Town Weekend, as it’s known, is a public event put on by the city of El Reno, centered around the car culture, and includes car shows, cruises, live music, a burnout contest, and yes…even drag races. some very popular drag races, at that. Enough so that the citizens of El Reno continue to vote in favor of bringing it back each year. Under the direction and watchful eye of local police, a section of Highway 66 through town is shut down, concrete barricades are positioned to protect racers and fans, and street racers from across Oklahoma are free to let it rip.

While the event has an impressive safety record over the years, things went terribly awry on Saturday when one racer lost control of his machine and went for one of the most terrifying rides you’ll ever see — on the street or at a race track.

According to eyewitnesses, a bump in the roadway or perhaps even the elevation change along the course caused the rear suspension of the supercharged, tube chassis Corvette you see here to unload, sending it careening out of control. The ‘Vette turned sideways, jumping over the curb before striking and snapping a telephone pole in half. It then turned onto its roof and slid down the opposite side of the road before barrel rolling numerous times, eventually coming to rest upside down in front of the local V.F.W. hall.

Miraculously, the driver emerged from the car — which caught fire during the melee— without injury. As well, the proper precautions by officials kept bystanders from any harm in the frightening accident.

Credit to BigRob Entertainment for the vid!