July 21, 1963 - Ray Platte Dies after South Boston Crash

Standout Virginia modified driver, Ray Platte of Norfolk, Virginia died on July 21, 1963 at Duke University Medical Center after sustaining massive injuries the previous night in a NASCAR Modified-Sportsman race at Virginia's South Boston Speedway. After hitting the concrete wall, the seat was ripped from the Ken Rush-owned modified and the seat belt failed. It was a terrible shock to Virginia race fans. To this day the South Boston Speedway annually conducts the Ray Platte Memorial race in remembrance of the popular and talented Old Dominion racer. News accounts below are from the South Boston Gazette-Virginian and Associated Press as carried by the Petersburg (Va.) Progress -Index .

--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

Basal skull fracture

In 1963

Yet took until 2001 to truly address the risk

--
Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.

My thought exactly, Chase. NASCAR seat and seat belt failure continued into the next century.

--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"