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Friday, June 29
Just three fatalities in 79 years
By Steve Trivett
Scripps Howard News Service

CASCADE, Colo. -- The death of Ralph Chandler Bruning Jr. during qualifying Thursday for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb inevitably raised questions about the safety of the historic race.

"Safety is our major concern," said Bill Walters, chief steward for the race. "Not only for our drivers, but for our spectators and fans."

Much of the pre-race technical inspection is devoted to safety concerns.

"Our cars are as safe as we can make them," Walters said. "Our record has been extremely good, with only three fatalities -- one early in 1921, the other a motorcycle rider in 1982."

In 1921, driver Wallace A. Coleman died of injuries suffered during a practice session.

Motorcycle racer Bill Gross Jr. died at a Colorado Springs hospital after being injured in the 1982 race.

"We prepare intensely for wrecks, quick stops and rollovers, and in this case we don't know what could have been done for Chandler," Walters said.

"We have lost one of our first families of the Hill Climb, and this is a grievous day."

Bruning was killed when his 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo flipped off the course 200 yards from the starting line, crashed through some pine trees and came to rest upside down 20 feet below the road.

"We have many safety officials on the hill," Walters said. "Our safety director has a full complement of paramedics, EMTs and physicians.

"The only thing we didn't have (Thursday) was the Flight for Life helicopter, which we will have on race day."

Race director Bill Connor said when Bruning crashed into a grove of pine trees bordering the driver's side of the racecourse, safety crews immediately were dispatched.

"I was there in about 70 seconds and spectators were pointing out the site of the wreck to us. We wouldn't have seen it if they hadn't helped," Connor said. "One of my assistants went down to the car and yelled back that we had a serious situation and that we needed more help.

"I called for the fire truck that was at the starting line because there is always danger of fire when a car is on its top. Another ambulance was called down from the picnic grounds (about 2 miles above the accident scene).

"This was one of the most severe impacts I've seen, including some in NASCAR."

According to safety director Bob Figgie, the safety equipment on Bruning's car worked.

"His seat belt was attached and we could see no initial damage to the roll bars," Figgie said. "They are very solid and it took a long time to get him out because of that.

"It appears he died on impact."

Figgie said Bruning's car would undergo more examination by the race's safety crew to determine whether any safety measures failed.

Layne Schranz, Bruning's lifelong friend and a fellow Stock Car driver, estimated Bruning was traveling 80 mph when the accident occurred.

"It's not a common spot for an accident, but it's not an uncommon spot either," said Schranz, who crashed on the lower section of the course during a final practice session Wednesday.

Connor had the task of notifying Bruning's mother, Marcia, who was at the starting line, of her son's death.

"She asked me bluntly if he was dead," Connor said. "I had to tell her yes.

"She asked if she could go to the scene and we allowed her to do that."

Dan Trivett writes for the Rocky Mountain News.

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	Driver killed in qualifying run for Hill Climb