For those who might have time, I have found a fascinating 1953 Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Court case upholding instructions to a jury in a case decided in favor of an injured race fan awarded $30,000 against the owner and the promoter of a race at the Richmond Fairgrounds dirt track.
In 1950 , Nelson Royall the builder and operator of Royall Speedway ( now Southside Speedway ) in Midlothian, Virginia leased the then 1/2-mile dirt track ( now the site of Richmond International Raceway ) from the operators of the Virginia State Fair to conduct Modified Stock Car races during the fair sanctioned by the Richmond Stock Car Racing Association.
During one of the events a right front spindle broke on the car of eventual NASCAR National Modified Champion Eddie Crouse . The wheel cleared the low 42 inch catch fence and struck a spectator, who sued.
What is so fascinating in the reading is that the court gets into how to properly prepare a dirt track for racing in 1950 with calcium chloride and how cracks can develop in the dirt surface.
Arguments were made that x-rays showed no damage to the spindle, but that racers were aware of metal fatigue.
Promoter Nelson Royall was questioned why he built an 8-foot catch fence at his Midlothian track if a 42 inch catch fence like the one at the Fairgrounds were safe.
Being a Richmond native, I was familiar with Royall, Crouse and Mr. Luck, one of Crouse's car owners. I didn't realize Royall was promoting races at the Richmond Fairgrounds at the same time he operated Royall Speedway.
Arguments include the fence heights at various AAA sanctioned tracks and whether a fan should expect a wheel to fly into the crowd.
The case includes "expert" testimony from driver Buddy Shuman on the subject of broken spindles.
Really fascinating reading:
The link to the court case:
http://www.leagle.com/xmlResult.aspx?page=1&xmldoc=195344577SE2d368_1443.xml&docbase=CSLWAR1-1950-1985&SizeDisp=7
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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:08:38PM