Video: Racers Tangle At High-Speed At New Zealand Nostalgia Event

Despite our best efforts to build a bulletproof race car and do everything right behind the wheel, one can never truly predict what might go wrong on a racetrack. Not only are parts failures or track conditions an ever-present factor, but there’s also another car with all of its own possible variables 60 or fewer feet away, barreling down the ‘strip alongside you. That’s why safety regulations exist and why racers are urged to take them seriously, no matter how much they trust themselves, their abilities, and their machine.

This scenario was put on full display last weekend in Auckland, New Zealand, where the annual Bob Wilton Memorial Drags was held at the Masterton Motorplex International Dragstrip. The event, featuring classic gassers and dragsters, was attended by racers Jim MçIndoe and Bart Blithe, who brought out machines for some action during the country’s prime summer months.

While matched up, Blithe lost control of his Ford Popular (a 1950’s two-door saloon sold by Ford in the UK, also commonly called a “Pop”) and careened across the centerline in front of the tri-five Chevrolet of McIndoe. Just before striking the wall nearly head-on, Blithe’s car was impacted in the rear by McIndoe, causing significant, if not catastrophic, damage to both vehicles.

While McIndoe was indeed an innocent bystander in it all, it shouldn’t go unnoticed that him striking the Popular may have saved Blithe from a more devastating blunt impact with the concrete guardrail. In the end, both drivers, having adequately prepared with the proper chassis and safety equipment, emerged from their cars unhurt and were able to survey the damage and return home defeated but not injured. While unconfirmed, reports suggest oil or other fluid may have been a contributing factor to Blithe’s sudden loss of control of his machine.