European FIA Pro Modified racer Mats Erikkson campaigns what is without a doubt one of the coolest doorslammers in the world — a flamed, mint green 1956 Ford Crown Victoria packing a 521 cubic inch supercharged mill he calls the “Green Goblin” that, if you ask us, should be the blueprint for what makes a badass Pro Mod race car. And it’s because of that fact why it makes it so painful to watch Erikkson put the beautiful race car into the wall, as he did over the weekend while competing at Round 1 of the MSA British Drag Racing Championship at the Santa Pod Raceway in England.

During the opening round of qualifying, with Bruno Bader in the opposing lane, Erikkson launched with the front wheels dangling high in the air before encountering some major tire shake that sent his mount on a beeline toward the centerline of the race track. Erikkson pedaled the car and fought valiantly to reign it back into his own lane, but after sashaying left and right and at one point even getting the car well up onto two wheels, he finally crossed behind the charging Bader and slapped the wall passenger-side first. That initial impact sent the Crown Vic careening back across the track, with a much more destructive angled blow into the left lane retaining wall.

As an SFI safety representative in Europe, Erikkson certainly left no stone unturned in his efforts to be safe in the 200 MPH race car, and that allowed him to walk away from the two vicious hits. Likewise, his position as a chassis builder by trade should allow him the ability to make swift repairs to get back out on the track in the near future.