Mass. driver killed in race car collision at Thompson Speedway

By News Channel 8's Bob Wilson Posted April 6, 2008 Updated 11:00 PM Thompson _ A day of racing is overshadowed by tragedy.

[Peter]

not a big race fan but my condolences to the family......

[NLK]

What is it going to take...how many deaths...for people at Thompson to take action??? 1 is too many...but 3 in recent years? Come on!!!

[Midget Fan]

My heart goes out to Shane and his family as well as all those who love Midget racing, both drivers and fans. Hats off to the Parade of Aid that was there to try to save him. Shane died doing something he loved. I'm sure he'll be watching over his fellow pit-buddies for all future races.

[HML]

I was at the race yesterday and it was a horrific scene.

[girlfriend of a driver]

NLK wrote:

What is it going to take...how many deaths...for people at Thompson to take action??? 1 is too many...but 3 in recent years? Come on!!!

That track should be for anything and everything that could happen. These poles, billboards, etc. they should have some kind of fencing. If a wreck is severe enough a tragedy is bond to happen but for the speeds these drivers go and the size of this track Thompson Speedway needs to do more.

[Denise]

I have watched a few of my friends die at this track in the past Godspeed Shane

[narc]

It is a very sad day and a terrible loss... My prayers are with this driver and his family.
We need to remember that this can happen every time we strap into a race car . Safety has improved dramatically howeverThompson HAS adressed the safety issue with the track whenever an incident has occured. NASCAR changed the mods after those deaths.The lighting was not improved for the fun of it . I am sure safety was a factor in the issue of lighting. The barriers surrounding the poles were addressed and I am sure the State of Ct DMV,NASCAR and the Hoenigs with the advice of some drivers addressed any other concerns regarding safety after the Baldwin tradgedy and even after the Blewitt tradgedy .Racing is a dangerous sport .It is terible this young man lost his life but pointing a finger wont change what has happened. If someone is afraid they could be hurt.. racing may not be for them . As far as the midgets running on a 5/8 mile track .That does concern me . I know a midget driver was injured at Stafford last year. Perhaps the technology of the cars has surpassed the designs of some of the tracks they run on . I love the midgets but they are very fast but very compact in design .You wouldn`t run a legend car at Thompson would you? We all need to continue to discuss ways to make the sport safer and if a catch fence would help lets get together and see if we can get it done . The Hoenigs give us a place to race. If track owners bow to the continued finger pointing and abuse they may decide that it simply isn`t worth running a track and close their doors . I have seen some of the so called catch fences around different tracks in new england and they do not look adequate. In closing condidering the speed the car was traveling..if it DID NOT strike the bill board would this fine young man survived the resulting impact .God Bless this young racer and hid family

[Heidi]

I have to say that Shane leaving us yesterday really hit home for me.I saw my brother freddie Brown die at lee usa speedway. al i could think of was my brother and every little detail that went sdwon they day. I just sat in silent tears with my kids at my side hoping to god that this family will get through this somehow.I can say too that my brother died with a smile on his face,but it took me more than fives years to say that much.
i have since raced and have done well and never got a scratch on me also my son Billy has now been racing for 4 years now which he has never gotten even a scratch on him. I truly do believe that my dad(howie Brown)and my brother freddie have been right there each and every time we have sat in our cars. watching over us. Don't ask me how I can bare to watch my son racing now,elieve me I thought about it all day yesterday. but the kid loves it. it's all we have ever known. Ask my kids what they do for excitement and they will always say racing. it's in our blood and we have to carry our family name on and on.

I hope to god to watch over you Shane and your family as I know he will do just that. Thank you for giving us the chance to know you.
Heidi Brown
[e-mail]

[James]

Heidi Brown has said it all when a racer steps in the car he or she knows the risk. God Bless Freddie Brown . Shane Hammond . Fred Desarro. Tom Baldwin . John Blewett. and all those who have lost there lives racing cars Godspeed

[F1 Fanatic]

From Aeyrton Senna to Shane Hammond, death has always been the hard risk in racing. Those who can race do. They know the risks and they accept that responsibility everytime they get in the car. Thompson has worked hard to improve their track. They have provided a place for people who love to race. Our risk avoidant culture sees only the horror when a tragedy occurs. They don't see the other side of the equation.

Racing has provided one of the best test grounds for safety innovation for as long as the sport has existed. Seat belts, tubular frames, fuel cells, aerodynamic dampeners, hans collars. Volvo, GM, Mercedes, BMW and countless others have developed safer cars from what they have learned. These lessons have been passed down to passenger cars and today, as the average passenger car or truck is much safer at higher speeds (and often driven as such) the loss of life and traumatic injury has been reduced in the last two decades. The statistics don't often reflect this for there are more drivers on the road than ever before.

Race tracks have also improved, with "safer barriers", changes in bankings, larger runoff areas on road courses, better lighting...

There is no solution to whatever perception of a problem people may have. Life without risk is a life not lived. Sometimes bad things happen. But at least he tried! If we never try tyhen we are doomed to die alone in our houses for fear of what may get us. There is a balance, and for every life lost I would bet there are at least ten people saved. Just ask Eliot Sadler. Having survived two or three horrific crashes I am sure he is thankful for the technology that saved his neck, literally. It is unfortunate that Dale Earnhardt had to die before we discovered the necessity for it.

We race because it is something we are passionate about. We accept the risk as part of what we love. Would Romeo have given up on Juliet knowing he was risking his life?

Be thankful for people like Shane, for they help make our lives safer because they are willing to try, accept the risk and sadly sometimes die doing something they love.

F1 Fanatic in RI

[Brenda]

My thoughts and prayers go out to Shane and his family. His death will be a loss to the racing community. As far as people blaming the speedway, if you were there,you know it was in no way the speedways fault. I do not understand how anyone can say Thompson is responsible, it is not like they could have predicted that a car would go airborn into a billboard sign. Obviously NASCAR found that the speedway was not responsible for the other deaths, if you go to that speedway you know changes were done after Tom Baldwins death.
I was (and still am) a Blewett fan, and they wern't responsible for Johns death either!