Track safety queried

Drivers complained of inadequate fire and ambulance services on standby at the track.

Kondo Manabu, 38, from Hachioji, near Tokyo, died instantly when his jet car hit a barrier at 300kmh and burst into flames on Sunday.

A drag-racer who suffered 30 per cent burns when his car caught fire in an October,

2001, test run said he waited 43 minutes for an ambulance to arrive at the track.

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said ambulances and firefighting units on standby should be mandatory at motorsport events.

"I had to use a curtain as a cold compress because the guy didn't even have a towel, let alone a Panadol," he said.

"Then, because there were no proper firefighting units, I had to watch while my

$150,000 car burnt to the ground.

"Since the accident, there have been all sorts of fire controls and regulations put in place by motorsports bodies around Australia, but not at Heathcote.

"This is not a once-off event; Heathcote Raceway should be upgraded or shut down."

A witness of the 2001 incident said last Sunday's fatal smash was a reminder of the need for on-site ambulances and firefighters.

"It was only a matter of time before someone was again seriously injured while using this track and it's sad to see that management at Heathcote have not learnt the lessons..., " the witness said.

"It has cost someone their life."

The Australian National Drag Racing Association

Chief executive Tony Thornton said ambulance and fire units were not mandatory by law at motorsport events, but the association maintained strict safety standards at all its meetings.

"We always have safety and fire personnel suitable to the level of the vehicles running on the day," he said.

"We require a vehicle and personnel who can handle road trauma because that is what it is."

The association does not operate Heathcote Raceway, but holds one or two events there per year at which they arrange their own emergency services.

He said all association events had an ambulance in attendance and a minimum level of fire safety, including two people with fire extinguishers and rescue equipment, while for international level events, such as jet cars, they have a Victoria Fire and

Rescue vehicle in attendance.

The Advertiser did offer Heathcote Raceway the right to reply.