It is sad isn't it. But these competitors take this kind of risk in every race. Over the many years of all kinds of automobile racing I would be willing to bet that the number of deaths in ratio to the many events would not be that high percentage wise, but of course one death is one death too many. The sanctioning bodies do their very best to maintain safety and improvements to the cars to reduce the number of deaths. I had just turned 17 that year and got my driver's license (my dad would not let us get out licenses until we were seventeen). I viewed this on the evening news (Jacksonville Fl) and the whole crash was shown. The chain of events where the vehicle hit that car was just unavoidable. There was a crash in the late seventies there in Daytona at the Goodys 300 where a crash happened in turn one. A local fellow from Jacksonville was in the race and he got involved (not seriously) but he said you are going so fast that you are on top of things before you know it. The driver in that crash was in a coma for some 14 yrs before he died. He was from Lake City Fl. When we were little, we told my dad that we wanted to become a racing car driver. his reply was don't drive them be smart and build them.
That's the crazy part. They knew in 1969 what could happen with an opening in the concrete wall and yet it still happened. Thankfully things have changed.
Several years ago I went to the International Motor Sports Hall of Fame at Talladega. Finished the main building and went to a secondary building and right in front of me as we walked in was the remains of Michael Waltrip's Bristol car set up in the position it came to stop as it came off the wall. The steering wheel was pokin' out the passenger side just back of the firewall. Just like we saw it pictured on tv the day Michael stuffed into the crossover gate. Couldn't believe my eyes it was setting there in front of me and couldn't believe he survived. The lower frame broke completely out and away from the bottom of his seat. The seat was on the ground. It was worse in person than on tv for sure. How he lived is beyond me. Just wasn't his turn. It was a miracle Mike Harmon survived his almost identical crash. His was even worse in that he was hit by a car as it sat on the track.
I was watching the Bristol race when Michael Waltrip hit the gate abutment ! Replay showed his car just disintegrated! I just knew he was gone! When he walked away i was truly impressed.. Couple years later.. i saw that car at the Museum at Talladega..
One would hope - at the cost of seeming cold, as previously mentioned- that Don was already gone after his initial injuries , and did not suffer further.
I was 14, and remember watching this on WWoS, more than likely 2 weeks after the tragic event. And I never forgot it. I played over and over in my head, much like I would do if I had recorded it. Remember thinking, 'who's driving a Nova, (the way the front clip came off), realizing it was a Merc'. Never forgot his name, not knowing he was the first.🏁
These drivers deserve their stories shared to honor their legacy. My plans are to try to do one docu-short like this a week to share drivers achievements and hopefully enlighten some others to research them further.
I agree, and Jeff Burton thank you brother. I am a fan of all drivers and you are one of all class, even when my boy tried to beat you up on the backstretch at Texas, you kept your composure. Thank you for risking everything to race for us fans. #24.4.life RIP#3, RIP#28 And Jeff, please say hi to Ward for us. Miss both of you.
I remember Don, I’m from near his shop in Ballston. Remember driving by it a lot. Was watching the race and was speechless at what I saw. Home town guy being killed in the wreck. Broke my heart.
Greetings - I grew up in Jonesville NY on McElroy Rd in the 80s my Dad would take me to local dirt tracks like Fonda, albany saratoga and the valley - I recall him talking about the speed shop in Ballston Spa - it was about 10 min from our house- so sad that he was taken so young in that crash
@@BenCarling-z9l greetings to you! I now live in Jonesville! Small world with this internet thing! Did the same “dirt tour” like you also Lebanon Valley! And it was a shock to see our local hero come to his demise like that on national tv.
@@warrenp.5916 Watertown NY guy here! Great to see the talk of the old tracks! I myself grew up at Fulton, Brewerton and Weedsport among others in the 70's. Always had a modified housed in our shop. Mainly the 2 Deuce of Duane "Deek" Decker. Was an honor as a kid to grow up around so many of the now legendary modified drivers who used to stop at the garage weekly and drink a beer!
@@thatracingshow brought back memories of some of the greats I watched in my younger years! Kenny (the shoe) Shoemaker Pete Corey Lou Lazarro Doc Blanchard The Romano bros Maynard Forrette “Jumpin” Jack Johnson Kenny Tremont There’s a ton more… Loved spending the weekend at Syracuse too! RIP “Barefoot” Bob McCreadie 🙏
@@warrenp.5916 So many greats! Kenny Brightbill, Will Cagle, man the list! I only made it to the Schaefer once unfortunately at Syracuse. Back in those days my dad stuffed me under a bunch of jackets in the hauler and I would pop back out in the pits. Barefoot is a legend to me. Watched many of nights with he, Gary Reddick and Deek going at it. My dad raced in the late 60's - early 70's and was good friends with Dick May. We later followed him down to NC in 81 and my mom ran his business. While my racing took place down here, I always wanted to go home and run a modified. Something that is still on my bucket list!
Thanks for covering this story the “right way!” I believe that Don House was the owner of this car . Don House was famous for The pink and white red numbered XL-1 , of which many legends drove the XL-1 , Wally Dallenbach , Joe Kelly ( David Houpt) Leroy Yarborough, Tommie Elliott , Donnie Allison , and many others . The story we understood was that was the last car fielded by Don House . This was indeed a sad day as you said Don was a star on the rise !
Exactly what I just told my wife. The car that hit him head on didn't kill him.. he never knew about that because he was already deceased by that time. He was definitely Killed instantly when his car hit the wall. Wonder what happened to make his car dart suddenly to the right. Part failure or did something come loose . Guess only God knows for sure what happened that horrible day.
This stuck in my mind as a teenage racing fan with future aspirations. When I got into racing my concern was as an owner/driver, then a crew member, and inspector, was always on the second hit. Very few people thought about that. When I was on an ARCA crew in '94 when we had a qualifying wreck that busted the wall at Daytona, we were really glad that ALL of us on the team took a few extra steps that weren't required, when we put that car on the track. If it had been in a race, I could really see the possibility of this happening to us. Did it help the driver walk away? Who knows? We're still glad we did it. We weren't the first of what could of been three teams losing a driver that week.
I was a Grand National crew member back in the 70s and you're right, you do all you can but there's really no way to prepare a car for more than one hit. After things get bent up in the first hit, all bets are off. I've seen cars with roll bars sheared through, several times. I've also seen cars that rode the wall for a long time have holes rubbed into the bars from the long scrape of the wall (we're talking hundreds feet, not just a few feet).
@@ceeinfiniti1389 I'm going to say it was Andy Farr. Horrific wreck in ARCA qualifying that proceeded the wrecks and passing of Neil Bonnett and Rodney Orr during preparation for Daytona that week. I'm currently working on an episode of the life and accomplishments of Rodney.
I was only 10 years old when I saw this on tv, WOW I couldn't believe my eyes. I have never forgotten this wreak and I have felt bad for all racers that day.
I never heard of him before your video, and wow, what a talented racer whos life was cut short way before he could prove more of what he could do. Allot of fans watch races to see the wrecks, im sure theres some who watch in hopes of seeing tragedy like Dons accident. I was watching the 2001 Daytona 500 when Dale Sr lost his life. I was, am, and will always be a #24 Jeff Gordon fan and when i heard Mike Helton say those words that shock the entire world, "We've lost Dale Earnhardt" i cried my eyes out. I cried for Dales family, i cried for NASCAR and them losing their most popular driver, i cried for the fans, i cried because NASCAR means allot to me. Everything about it from the rules to the races i loved and i was hooked on it. To see any racer in any sport give the ultimate price is extremely sad, because at the end of the day those guys are doing a job. To support there families, raise kids, take care of parents and when they lose there lives and media capitalize on there death? Allot of people dont think about the mom who lost her son, the wife who lost her husband, and like Dale Jr. A son who lost an icon of a father. Im a fan of the #24, but im also and will always be a Dale Sr fan as well. Cool video, thanks fir sharing and thanks for letting me comment and cry my eyes out yet again, every racer is my idol. They risk there live to entertain us. Racing is a spectater sport. And sometimes the spectators die too. If i had a choice to die doing what i love? Id say yes to that everytime. God speed Don, RIP. #3 RIP
Thanks for sharing. It is definitely the worst to lose a driver on the track. So many have gave all for the sport and their legacy needs to live on for their accomplishments and not let their last race overshadow their career. Thanks for commenting!
I remember watching as a kid. ABC issuing the content warning. Then the crash. Shocked me. It was sad. Years later went to Riverside for Nascar race. Instead of getting turn 6 seats we got Start-Finish seats. Saw Bill Elliott pit crew man get hit and flew through the air by the impact. Another heart stopper.
McTavish and Russell Phillips wrecks are still hard for me to watch. I didn't witness them or see either race live, but they're burnt into my memory. I have a family member who used to work for Nascar/MRN, and he arrived at CMS a few minutes after Phillips' incident. He obviously didn't witness the wreck, but what he described to me that he saw and heard from officials and witnesses that night gave me chills and ill never forget.
I can understand. I ran the shop at the museum below Charlotte Motor Speedway the day Phillips passed. I heard the speedway get quiet. I was in the shop and walked outside knowing something happened with the quietness. I had a lifelong friend with Goodyear who was in turn 4 and walked out to the crash. He later told me things that still haunt me.
That accident is seared into my memory. I was 13 years old at the time watching that race on television. As a 13-year-old it was quite a shock to see someone die while watching my favorite sport.
These old tracks of the early 60s were real down to earth racing. My younger Brother and myself would walk about 2 miles in Oklahoma City to the Taft Jr High School stadium used for Saturday night racing. There was a hole in the chain link fence on the back side of the oval and we would crawl thru the hole and be the first in the stands every Saturday night. All those old class of cars we watched and it was a different world back then. My Brother is long gone now and I miss our conversations because over the years we would talk about our old adventures and car racing in Oklahoma City. The fairgrounds had a very nice dirt track for decades until population finally destroyed it too. I grew up and was born in Houston so I was no stranger to good car racing, having gone to Playland Park at a very young age I watched old greats to be like AJ Foyt and all the other greats. After Playland closed and I finished Army service in 1970 I would go to Meyers speedway every Saturday night. I left Houston for good in 82 and so did car racing as I once knew it. The oldest track I remember was an old wooden bleacher track called North Houston Raceway. It has been closed and gone for over 60 years. You could still see the track outline all grown over looking from google earth and it is now a part of Airport Authority grounds for the Airport. Last time I looked 3 or 4 years ago it was still visible and the grounds not being utilized for anything. Taft in OKC has been renewed and looks different, just like every school I ever attended in Houston has changed except for one school Eugene Fields Elementary, 2nd grade at that time but the property has been down sized and more new buildings. Here is the old Taft looking down but it isn't as far back as 1960 and has a lot more growth around it in these old photos than there was when we were going thru that fence. They had a great midget class there. Also a good written goodbye to a well known Houston Racing champion. One of my drag racing friends was his neighbor and he would get good information how to build his Pontiac motors for his drag racing. Unfortunately that drag strip has a walmart sitting on the starting lights today. The cars are so much safer today but I just can't wrap my head around the rules and class in today's NASCAR. After 70 years I have lost interest and rarely watch a nascar race. At least they aren't electric .... yet ! www.findagrave.com/memorial/7456983/herring_burl-bailey www.speedwayandroadracehistory.com/taft-stadium.html
Thanks for sharing that. The memories of the good old days will live on forever! While my early days at the tracks started in New England in the early 70's I felt every word you said in this. The racing in those days were some of the best!
Holman-Moody made a fr frame stub pattern after a 65 Galaxy. Then you added their spindles, floater hubs brakes steering swaybar etc. Take the uni-,body open up the rocker panels and that's how the body sat on steel frame rails. Swap out the street leaf springs and ad 9in rear and race shocks. Quite a undertaking but think how many Ford/Mercury race cars there were there were very few Chevys in those days
I am 71 and I watched this accident happen on "Wide World of Sports" in black and white. To this day I can remember his name and exactly how he died. It was the most horrific wreck I have ever witnessed and it has been etched in my mind to this day. His accident was worse than Dale Earnhardt's. I can only pray he was unconscious which he probably was when the car hit him head on. He had nothing to protect him and didn't have a chance.
As an eye witness this car was built in the infield at the Speedway. In those days short track teams would use the infield to repair their stuff. This car had a front frame stubb with frame rails welded on thats where it broke off. The 427 had such a radical cam that made it difficult to idle. When it hit the steel gate it shot back like a bullet and broke. To bad all around. RIP Don
My father, who was 3 yrs out of medical school was a member of Cotton Owens pit crew( it was his hobby) jumped the wall and was one of the first people on the scene. As my dad was jumping the pit wall as Don was spinning, Cotton tried to hold him back by saying, Jerry, he's dead, there is nothing you can do for him. Then when he was hit head on, which was a freak accident. Dad said when he got within 10 ft of the car, The asphalt was covered with blood from Don's legs being cut off from the head on collision but Don's legs remained in the racing suit. Dad remained by the car until the emergency crews arrived. I wasn't even born until yrs later but I was raised around the sport due to my dad. I remember watching a replay of it with my dad yrs later and I asked him if that ever haunted him as it would many and he said it never did. He said son, as bad as it was, he always took solace in the fact that Don died doing what he loved and he knew Don didn't suffer due to the fact that he died instantly from the initial wreck, plus as he said, "I've seen a lot worse." He did say that Don was a truly likable person that was well thought of and he did feel as if he lost a friend that day.
Throught the years, those openings in the outer walls have probably amounted to at least a quarter of all the really terrible wrecks we have seen at short tracks. Never understood why so many places had such hazardous setups this way. Walls in general are probably the biggest hazard at any track, but theres not much you can do about that. But it seems like theres always a way to design the openings that will make them no more dangerous than if it were just straight wall.
I remember seeing that accident on the evening news, they warned the parents to not let the kids see it. I watched and never forgot it, i was 8yrs old.
I was watching ABC that day when they broke into whatever I was watching (could have been Wide World of Sports) to show the Don McTavich wreck. I was only 12 and it really shocked me.
Talk about bad luck. That was horrible. RIP Mac. Lorenzo Bandini raced for Ferrari at LeMans as well most notably in 1966 against the GT40s of the late Ken Miles and Chris Amon.
There is so much to this story. I felt like I knew so much about him since literally to my earliest memories of my dad talking so highly of Don. This piece has been educational for me with research. I grew up to the book about Don which I believe was written by Dick Berggren. It was like a bible in my house as a kid.
@@thatracingshow I had known some people involved in Grand National/Late Model Sportsman back then. The story I heard was that that Mercury had a stock type unit-body front end as opposed to a Holman Moody front clip. I also remember someone stating that the car was "junk", but I find that surprising seeing that Don White's name was on it.
Agree Russell Phillips and Don McTavish were the two most horrible crashes in NASCAR history. In Phillips crash the top of the car was sheared off and you could see his helmet rolling off the banking near the entrance to pit road at Charlotte Motor Speedway. So tragic and Russell and Don were great guys. May both R.I.P .
The NASCAR Sportsman series was unfortunately brutal for quite a few. I had a lot of friends that ran it in its early days. As much as I enjoyed those races, I'm glad the division ended. Phillips wreck was unimaginable.
@@thatracingshow The Sportsman division is still there it's just called Xfinity now. It first became the Busch series and then has gone through name changes as sponsorships have changed
@@EclecticHillbilly correct but with the Russell Phillips accident it was in the short-lived NASCAR Sportsman series created by Humpy Wheeler in 1989 that ended in 1996. This series essentially became the roots for the ProCup series which through a series of transitions is the current CARS Tour.
@@thatracingshow Yes it surely was. Always loved NASCAR and fortunately the safety aspect has improved greatly since The Day on Feburary 18, 2001. Unfortunately the racing in my opinion has gone down with crazy decisions, bad rule changes, and popular tracks closing or losing races. Thanks for your valuable input thatracingshow.
@@stevekelley7738 thank you for joining in the conversation! I love to talk racing! It's been my life. I agree with you in so many ways. With that said, being in the garage or just at the track these days always makes me realize the big picture of drivers who love to race and people who love to be involved in it. Tends to make me forget about all the changes thankfully. But I 100% get where you are coming from!
Thanks for sharing! My dad was a new England racer in the day and from literally as far back as I can remember I heard the stories of Don. He passed 3 years before I was born but wish I could have seen him in action!
I can't imagine what Sam Sommers had to live with after that. There was nothing he could have done, of course, but he must have seen Don sitting right in front of him in that split second after he popped out of the smoke.
Sam was my father, and he said the track was covered in heavy white smoke. It was a white car. He did not see it at that speed until the impact happened.
It’s one of those horrific accidents that you don’t know what exactly killed him. Some say he was killed by the initial impact with the wall and others say he was killed by the impact from the other car. He would have been a star in the grand national series.
With the initial impact I feel it probably did it. Either way I wish he would have been able to live a full life in NASCAR. Being from upstate NY myself I honestly felt like I knew him the way he was talked about by my parents and those that knew him when I was a kid. My dad's shop was full of some of the best modified racers in the northeast in the 70's. All had much respect for him, and it carried over to me. He's a legend to me!
Was watching with my parents on Wide World of Sports. They issued a parental warning. My dad would not let me watch. Today is the very first time I have actually watched that horrific crash. I am thankful that I did not see it all these years.
I can only imagine what those expecting to see the race thought when seeing the graphic warning displayed. I appreciate comments like this. It gives so much more feel to what the time was like and the impact on people.
i remember this . i went to the daytona 500 the day after and went into the garage after the 500 . the car was in a back corner 1/2 covered with a tarp..nothing left
You said in 1968 the Grand National series became known as the NASCAR CUP SERIES. I believe 1n 1968 the highest NASCAR series was called the "Grand National Division." I don't think the term cup came into play until 1971 when RJ Reynolds attained the naming rights to the Grand National Division and NASCAR then renamed it the "NASCAR Winston Cup Series." On another note, I've been living in Sav. Ga since the late 1970's where Sam Summers was a regular on both the dirt and asphalt tracks that were in existence at the time (driving Fords in what were nearly all Chevy fields). Along with..."we may have never won a race but we never lost a party" Delma Cowart which lived at, and had his shop at, the end of the road I live on. Visited with him many times...he had a stage set up in his living room and played with a little band on the weekends, only at his house not in public. Delma was a character for sure!
That is a great story! I enjoy hearing things like that and learning new things about racers! Thanks for sharing! You are correct on the Cup aspect. I believe I stated that Don moved south in 1968 to pursue the Grand National Series which is now known as Cup.
@@thatracingshow Oh OK, I took it to mean it was "now known" meaning in 1968. Sorry. Here's a cool Delma Cowart story. I raced my entire life, dragracing. (25 national and world records in both NHRA and IHRA, #3 & #5 world ranking in Stock Eliminator, division title, etc etc...sorry, bragging LOL)....So anyway, I had never met Delma even though he lived 2 miles away. Pretty rural road. A friend that worked for me lived behind Delma and knew him pretty good. So my guy one day said let's run down to Delma's and I'll introduce you, he's there right now tinkering with his car. I say cool let's go. So the scene is this when we walk up to his garage (behind his house)... Delma and about 3 of his friends were just leaning over the fenders looking at the motor. Beers in hand. Not saying much. I knew exactly that scene, done it many times...work on the car all day, then lean over the fender and have a beer and just talk about it. So my friend introduced me to Delma, shook hands with him and the other 3 guys. Them still leaning over the fenders. So Delma, not knowing I was a racer, decided he'd impress me a bit. Now this was the late '80's, Elliott had just gone 212 at Daytona, which Delma tried to qualify at that race and missed the cut. So now we're all just leaning over the fenders looking at the motor. And Delma says to me in a very impressive voice, "this car just went 195 mph at Daytona!" .... I don't look up, still staring at the motor I go....."Really? what you reckon's wrong with it?" .... (😄😆😅) Silence for a couple of seconds...then one of his crew stifles a snicker, the next one stifles a laugh, 5 seconds later everyone bursts out in laughter! 🤣😂😅 We became good friends even after that LOL. He invited me to play with his band (keyboards for me) but I just never made the time. He passed away just a few years ago, house and garage in the back still standing.
That is priceless lol. Thanks for sharing! I could visualize every bit of it as I read it. I used to visit at various independent drivers shops back in the day so I can feel the vibe lol.
Nascar isn’t broken!!! The only thing that is broken are you anti nascar fans that think nascar isn’t going to last. Because it’s not like it was in the 90’s
We gathered my place or one of the usual 4 of us drinking Busch watching NASCAR....haven't watched more then 5 min of a NASCAR race since Dale had his last wreck! RIP 03 Earnhardt!
Don McTavish and Russel Phillips are the two most horrible racing accidents in nascar and some of the worst in all of racing. Pryce and Cervert were awful in F1 but damn were they all brutal and thankfully instant for the drivers so they didn't suffer.
@@daleweis3712 Yes, being trapped upside-down in your burning F1 car and coming to the slow realisation that David Purley is the only person who's going to try and come to your aid until the fire fighters arrive because the marshals are not equipped to try and assist a driver trapped in a burning car. Being overcome by the smoke and fumes must have been a blessed release for him...
The footage of this accident made me cringe and just reminds me how dangerous my beloved racing really is. I’ve been racing for 30 years and although cars and safety equipment have come a long way the threat is still there.
So very true. It's a passion that will always have a risk that comes along with it. I can honestly say I always had more anxiety for the drivers I crewed for than when I was behind the wheel. Why I have much respect for all racers.
I could only imagine. The footage was eventually lost of the race as well. It's unfortunate Don's passing became their highlight reel but I guess that is what the media has always been good at. Thanks for commenting!
The NASCAR Sportsman deaths were some vicious ones. Phillips was eerie for me. I wasn't at the track that day but was out behind the museum below the speedway working in the shop. I heard the crash and then this eerie long silence that was almost like the track was empty. I can still remember walking out the bay door and standing there thinking something really bad just happened. A couple hours later a friend that worked for Goodyear racing told me details of what he had seen after the wreck. Still haunts me.
My family had been involved in professional auto racing since before WWII as Officials & Promoters. They even promoted NASCAR Grand National & Convertible Division races. I had just returned from Viet. & saw the footage on T.V. Many racers found the way Mac Tavish's car disintegrated so cleanly at the firewall questionable. Rumor (?) circulated that the car had been intentionally weakened at the firewall due to concern that in a head-on crash at Daytona speeds the engine would be shoved into the driver. At the time Indy & F-1 drivers were surviving horrendous crashes where the engines & gearboxes along with suspension corners were sheared off leaving a survivable chassis or tub. There was more concern with fire in those race cars than actual crash injuries. I never heard any official confirmation of this theory.
Rumours always circulate after memorable crashes like this. If you think about it then this rumour makes absolutely no sense as if that was the case then the firewall/bulkhead would have remained attached to the car body and the body and subframe, engine and suspension would have separated in a much straighter line across the car as the intention would be. There is also the fact that weakening the front of the car would massively increase the risk of the engine being sent back into the cockpit and not reduce it. Even in those days the engine and gearbox were solidly mounted with the mounts being designed to cause the engine to be ejected from the vehicle in a certain "safe" (for the driver of that car) direction, usually upwards, and would only be ejected from the car if the block casting failed. The mounts were designed to be stronger than what attached to them to remove the risk of the stresses put on them in racing causing them to fail and causing a DNF. This was a critical angle impact into the crossing gate which basically pretty much tore the car in half diagonally from left front fender to right rear quarter. In terms of the effect on the driver then this was less than it would have been if it had been a full frame car as, simply, the worse a vehicle looks after an impact the better the occupants will be, which is exactly why you can write off a modern vehicle at little more than walking pace. The worse the state of the vehicle after an impact then the more of the energy of the impact has been absorbed by the vehicle and, therefore, not been passed on to the occupant. Nonetheless the impact with the crossing gate was never going to be survivable then due to the lack of forward head restraint meaning that massive injury would have happened to the base of the skull and the spine as happened to Dale. If the identical crash into the crossing gate happened today with modern safety equipment, even in an identical vehicle it would likely be survivable. For Don, however, it wasn't as studying the film of the crash massively slowed down clearly shows sure signs that he had suffered fatal head and neck injuries in the first impact. The second impact, basically taking Sam Sommers' car to the face at racing speed even now would not be survivable but for Don was nothing more than adding insult to injury and had a far greater effect on those watching and those who had to clear up afterwards than it did on Don...
I saw that on Tv right after it happened. They put a warning on the screen, :have women and children leave the room, this is very disturbing" or, something to that effect.
My husband watched this on TV when it happened when he was 11 he said the network did a viewer warning tell people to remove their children from the TV before showing it again.
I can somewhat translate as i speak roughly broken media jargon. They are saying that they are jealous it was t them who got the pictures to publish so now they lose out on the sales to their competitor.
Dale did many many good things for NASCAR racing! He was the 1st to really completely understand drafting... Learn your NASCAR history! Dale did so many great things with cars that had to be driven in and out of the corners! And anyone to ever say Dale was dirty or Dale was a cheater....then you have never sat in seat during any circle track.
Are you telling me to learn my NASCAR history or others? Sorry I tend to get confused when reading comments lol. Dale was a badass. An innovator of so much because NASCAR listened to him. I could go on and on about his understanding on the track and off of branding and Sports Image. Hank Jones is a customer of my son's and Hank is always telling him stories of when he and Dale started it all. Hank still wears a championship ring. Legendary!
I agree, and when your a half second faster then the laped cars, and your the leader getting bigger and bigger in there mirrors. Its not cheating or dirty if you gotta put the old chrome bumper to the lapper and move his slow butt out of your way. Ill admit Dale Sr was an aggresive racer, that was Dale. Jeff Gordon was a finesse driver. And ive seen Jeff move people too. Fans that dont know enough about the sport think Dale was a dirty racer. Just like they think Chad and Jimmie Johnson cheated there way to 7 time. BULLSHIT!.Dont try to lesson the accomplishment of real champions like Dale Sr, Jimmie Johnson, Richard OG 7 time Petty. What all of these racers did was amazing for there respected eras when they raced. Jimmie Johnson is the most disrespected champion because the haters cry cheater all the time, but for that team to win SEVEN STRAIGHT TITLES IN MODERN ERA...Is extremely difficult. Just ask Denny Hamlin and now retired Carl Edwards how hard it is to win just one. Im a NASCAR fan who loves the sport and will always try and educate new fans or ignorance when its thrown into the camp fire conversations if you will. If your a fan? Know the history before you call a 7 time champion dirty. Dale Sr was more of a man then most men are today. Dont call that man dirty. And im a #24 4 life fan. And imma defend Sr when they say he was dirty every time. Cried my eyes out when he died. For allot of reasons. But mostly for hus family and i could feel the pain, cuz i felt that same pain at 15 years old. So i relate to the loss of your father, brother, son, nephew. That man was an aggresive racer, The Intimadator name was because he was just that, on and off the track. RIP#3, RIP#28, 24,48,88.4.LIFE
I totally agree. Dale had a comprehensive of racing that few around him possessed and used it to his advantage. He understood the drafting concept from both sides, and knew what happened to your handling if you were drafted, and what to do about it before you lost control. Alot of the engineering changed on the cars thanks to Dale, so that it wasn't as dangerous to draft or be drafted.
It was a very horrific crash. The only thing that we can pray for does it look like he was unconscious on the first hit. Then when the car came through to smoke and hit him. Hopefully he didn't know what happened.
The race car itself wasn't built to spec and should not have passed inspection which may be irrelevant. He was killed instantly on the initially dead blow hit . Sam didn't kill him.
I feel pretty certain the initial impact was fatal as well. I've received more photos of the impact since this episode came out and that first hit was devastating.
There were reports that he hit oil, others of a malfunction. Sadly we will never know. Why I respect the advancements of technology today for safety and data. Couldn't imagine the g-force of that hit to rip a solid old car like that apart.
There was a time when the people were not thought of as such babies that they couldn't see "graphic" things. Now it is thought that we must be "protected" from such visuals.
Those old Fairlanes were unibody cars, were the not? Did NASCAR require full frames underneath those things? It seems to me a car like that was just an tragedy waiting to happen, When the subframe was ripped away, it took the firewall with it, leaving McTavish completely exposed.
I do believe they were unibody. Some others had commented on here about seeing the car being partially put together at the track. Sad outcome for such a talented driver.
I remember seeing the report on the wreck when I was eight years old. The video contained the initial impact into the crossing gate. I vividly remember the car getting out of shape, going head on into the gate and the entire nose of the car vanishing with a loud bang. To this day, I have never again seen the full wreck footage, nor seen a more horrific wreck.
That is interesting. I had no idea they did a report that showed it. Thanks for sharing that. By all accounts the full race footage was lost eventually which leads me to believe it was probably destroyed. I appreciate input like this!
Unfortunately, RUclipsrs are still seeking out this stuff and sensationalizing it showing multiple replays and in slowmo for "gain" such as this channel, the same as ABC and TNYT did, then saying "This video is for educational purposes and pointing out the footage is from ABC, thus justifying it. Friends and families of Don and his colleagues are still around. They must still be going through life without the people they care about the most. showing multiple replays and in slow-mo for "gain"
For me Don MacTavish is a name I've known since my earliest memories. Being from New England myself and from a racing family my parents knew Don and spoke highly of him. As a child we had the memorial book of his by Dick Berggren that was my favorite book. An amazing collection of his racing life that I wish I still had. My hope was to introduce some who may have not known of his racing talents and unfortunately the wreck is part of his story.
Meanwhile US tracks so often have no gates and sections of wall not continuous. 55 years later. Some dirt ovals simply have parts of the track with NO wall. Where cars disapear into the dark. Happened this year in a World of Outlaws show, Criminal!!
Lernerville speedway has that, and to be honest in some ways I think it's better. Especially on the back-stretch it's a downhill that leads to a barrier, and if someone goes off there's plenty of room for energy to dissipate, especially when it's one of the 410 sprint cars. I've been to the track about a dozen times and have yet to see or hear of someone losing their life in an accident because of no wall along the back stretch.
@@ceeinfiniti1389 I agree with some tracks operate with dangerous wall situations and also your view of no walls on a backstretch. I ran a couple in the 80's that were that way. One a mini sprint track that I took a ride through a corn field in the dark on lol.
It was a unibody car, if it had a full frame the car would have stayed together a lot better but still he may have not lived through that horrible crash when the second car hit him
I was sitting about 25 rows up with my late Dad.
He wouldn't let me look.
Racing and Death walk together. R.I.P.
It is sad isn't it. But these competitors take this kind of risk in every race. Over the many years of all kinds of automobile racing I would be willing to bet that the number of deaths in ratio to the many events would not be that high percentage wise, but of course one death is one death too many. The sanctioning bodies do their very best to maintain safety and improvements to the cars to reduce the number of deaths. I had just turned 17 that year and got my driver's license (my dad would not let us get out licenses until we were seventeen). I viewed this on the evening news (Jacksonville Fl) and the whole crash was shown. The chain of events where the vehicle hit that car was just unavoidable. There was a crash in the late seventies there in Daytona at the Goodys 300 where a crash happened in turn one. A local fellow from Jacksonville was in the race and he got involved (not seriously) but he said you are going so fast that you are on top of things before you know it. The driver in that crash was in a coma for some 14 yrs before he died. He was from Lake City Fl. When we were little, we told my dad that we wanted to become a racing car driver. his reply was don't drive them be smart and build them.
That was horrific, RIP Don. Luckily Michael Waltrip (1990) and Mike Harmon (2002) were not injured in similar circumstances at Bristol, TN.
That's the crazy part. They knew in 1969 what could happen with an opening in the concrete wall and yet it still happened. Thankfully things have changed.
Several years ago I went to the International Motor Sports Hall of Fame at Talladega. Finished the main building and went to a secondary building and right in front of me as we walked in was the remains of Michael Waltrip's Bristol car set up in the position it came to stop as it came off the wall. The steering wheel was pokin' out the passenger side just back of the firewall. Just like we saw it pictured on tv the day Michael stuffed into the crossover gate. Couldn't believe my eyes it was setting there in front of me and couldn't believe he survived. The lower frame broke completely out and away from the bottom of his seat. The seat was on the ground. It was worse in person than on tv for sure. How he lived is beyond me. Just wasn't his turn. It was a miracle Mike Harmon survived his almost identical crash. His was even worse in that he was hit by a car as it sat on the track.
I was watching the Bristol race when Michael Waltrip hit the gate abutment ! Replay showed his car just disintegrated! I just knew he was gone! When he walked away i was truly impressed..
Couple years later.. i saw that car at the Museum at Talladega..
One would hope - at the cost of seeming cold, as previously mentioned- that Don was already gone after his initial injuries , and did not suffer further.
Lowkey Michael Waltrip has cheated actual death more than a few times. I have met the guy, he has the aura of a dude that has done that too LOL
Call me cold, but being killed instantly is better than lingering for weeks or months. That would be sad.
It would be better than Bandini yes.
Totally agree.
I was 14, and remember watching this on WWoS, more than likely 2 weeks after the tragic event. And I never forgot it. I played over and over in my head, much like I would do if I had recorded it. Remember thinking, 'who's driving a Nova, (the way the front clip came off), realizing it was a Merc'. Never forgot his name, not knowing he was the first.🏁
Great story for those of us that were unaware, good that we remember drivers that paved our way. Thanks Don
These drivers deserve their stories shared to honor their legacy. My plans are to try to do one docu-short like this a week to share drivers achievements and hopefully enlighten some others to research them further.
I agree, and Jeff Burton thank you brother. I am a fan of all drivers and you are one of all class, even when my boy tried to beat you up on the backstretch at Texas, you kept your composure. Thank you for risking everything to race for us fans. #24.4.life RIP#3, RIP#28 And Jeff, please say hi to Ward for us. Miss both of you.
Drivers we’ll never get again
I remember when I was a kid, and the interrupted the programming, to show the accident. I remember to this day.
This crash, Russ Phillips, Gordon Smiley, Tony Renna have to be the worst crashes as far as what happened to the drivers.
Friday Hassler.
Hassler's death was something out of a horror movie and I am sadly not joking... RIP Friday
I remember Don, I’m from near his shop in Ballston. Remember driving by it a lot. Was watching the race and was speechless at what I saw. Home town guy being killed in the wreck. Broke my heart.
Greetings - I grew up in Jonesville NY on McElroy Rd in the 80s my Dad would take me to local dirt tracks like Fonda, albany saratoga and the valley - I recall him talking about the speed shop in Ballston Spa - it was about 10 min from our house- so sad that he was taken so young in that crash
@@BenCarling-z9l greetings to you! I now live in Jonesville! Small world with this internet thing! Did the same “dirt tour” like you also Lebanon Valley! And it was a shock to see our local hero come to his demise like that on national tv.
@@warrenp.5916 Watertown NY guy here! Great to see the talk of the old tracks! I myself grew up at Fulton, Brewerton and Weedsport among others in the 70's. Always had a modified housed in our shop. Mainly the 2 Deuce of Duane "Deek" Decker. Was an honor as a kid to grow up around so many of the now legendary modified drivers who used to stop at the garage weekly and drink a beer!
@@thatracingshow brought back memories of some of the greats I watched in my younger years!
Kenny (the shoe) Shoemaker
Pete Corey
Lou Lazarro
Doc Blanchard
The Romano bros
Maynard Forrette
“Jumpin” Jack Johnson
Kenny Tremont
There’s a ton more…
Loved spending the weekend at Syracuse too!
RIP “Barefoot” Bob McCreadie 🙏
@@warrenp.5916 So many greats! Kenny Brightbill, Will Cagle, man the list! I only made it to the Schaefer once unfortunately at Syracuse. Back in those days my dad stuffed me under a bunch of jackets in the hauler and I would pop back out in the pits. Barefoot is a legend to me. Watched many of nights with he, Gary Reddick and Deek going at it. My dad raced in the late 60's - early 70's and was good friends with Dick May. We later followed him down to NC in 81 and my mom ran his business. While my racing took place down here, I always wanted to go home and run a modified. Something that is still on my bucket list!
Thanks for covering this story the “right way!” I believe that Don House was the owner of this car . Don House was famous for The pink and white red numbered XL-1 , of which many legends drove the XL-1 , Wally Dallenbach , Joe Kelly ( David Houpt) Leroy Yarborough, Tommie Elliott , Donnie Allison , and many others . The story we understood was that was the last car fielded by Don House . This was indeed a sad day as you said Don was a star on the rise !
Thanks for sharing that! I enjoy others commenting and filling in some blanks or adding to the story!
Don white was the car owner
Don was dead the second he hit that wall poor guy . There was no HANS device back than
Exactly what I just told my wife. The car that hit him head on didn't kill him.. he never knew about that because he was already deceased by that time. He was definitely Killed instantly when his car hit the wall. Wonder what happened to make his car dart suddenly to the right. Part failure or did something come loose . Guess only God knows for sure what happened that horrible day.
This stuck in my mind as a teenage racing fan with future aspirations. When I got into racing my concern was as an owner/driver, then a crew member, and inspector, was always on the second hit. Very few people thought about that. When I was on an ARCA crew in '94 when we had a qualifying wreck that busted the wall at Daytona, we were really glad that ALL of us on the team took a few extra steps that weren't required, when we put that car on the track. If it had been in a race, I could really see the possibility of this happening to us. Did it help the driver walk away? Who knows? We're still glad we did it. We weren't the first of what could of been three teams losing a driver that week.
Who's team did you work on, if I may ask?
I was a Grand National crew member back in the 70s and you're right, you do all you can but there's really no way to prepare a car for more than one hit. After things get bent up in the first hit, all bets are off. I've seen cars with roll bars sheared through, several times. I've also seen cars that rode the wall for a long time have holes rubbed into the bars from the long scrape of the wall (we're talking hundreds feet, not just a few feet).
@@ceeinfiniti1389 I'm going to say it was Andy Farr. Horrific wreck in ARCA qualifying that proceeded the wrecks and passing of Neil Bonnett and Rodney Orr during preparation for Daytona that week. I'm currently working on an episode of the life and accomplishments of Rodney.
I remember seeing the video of that on Wide World of Sports 😢 the following week before they showed the races live
I am an old school fan and was a teen when this horrific accident took place looking at you clip has brought back the pain of this great loss 😢
Excellent video, I seen that live on Wide World of Sports. Thank You for posting.
Thank you, appreciate the comment!
I was only 10 years old when I saw this on tv, WOW I couldn't believe my eyes. I have never forgotten this wreak and I have felt bad for all racers that day.
I never heard of him before your video, and wow, what a talented racer whos life was cut short way before he could prove more of what he could do. Allot of fans watch races to see the wrecks, im sure theres some who watch in hopes of seeing tragedy like Dons accident. I was watching the 2001 Daytona 500 when Dale Sr lost his life. I was, am, and will always be a #24 Jeff Gordon fan and when i heard Mike Helton say those words that shock the entire world, "We've lost Dale Earnhardt" i cried my eyes out. I cried for Dales family, i cried for NASCAR and them losing their most popular driver, i cried for the fans, i cried because NASCAR means allot to me. Everything about it from the rules to the races i loved and i was hooked on it. To see any racer in any sport give the ultimate price is extremely sad, because at the end of the day those guys are doing a job. To support there families, raise kids, take care of parents and when they lose there lives and media capitalize on there death? Allot of people dont think about the mom who lost her son, the wife who lost her husband, and like Dale Jr. A son who lost an icon of a father. Im a fan of the #24, but im also and will always be a Dale Sr fan as well. Cool video, thanks fir sharing and thanks for letting me comment and cry my eyes out yet again, every racer is my idol. They risk there live to entertain us. Racing is a spectater sport. And sometimes the spectators die too. If i had a choice to die doing what i love? Id say yes to that everytime. God speed Don, RIP. #3 RIP
Thanks for sharing. It is definitely the worst to lose a driver on the track. So many have gave all for the sport and their legacy needs to live on for their accomplishments and not let their last race overshadow their career. Thanks for commenting!
That was shown on ABC ‘s wide world of sports. Seen it as a kid. The network warned parents of the violence of the wreck.
me too has always stuck with me... remember it like it was yesterday
I was 9, seen it too
I remember that .
I remember watching as a kid. ABC issuing the content warning. Then the crash. Shocked me. It was sad.
Years later went to Riverside for Nascar race. Instead of getting turn 6 seats we got Start-Finish seats. Saw Bill Elliott pit crew man get hit and flew through the air by the impact. Another heart stopper.
I was about 8 years old and remember ABC showing this on TV with warnings. One of those things you just don't forget.
NY Times even sucked back then.
You got it, NYT is the worst rag out there
Except his story isn’t true. Look up the photos for yourself. NYT 2/23/1969 No dead body in the photos.
@@dangabor8585 WaPo as well. ABC not far behind.
Wow R.i.p Don .i never saw this.what a sad time it must of been
From two Towns over from me. My Local Hero.
Donny was Daytona Bound !!!
This tore my Heart out.
McTavish and Russell Phillips wrecks are still hard for me to watch. I didn't witness them or see either race live, but they're burnt into my memory. I have a family member who used to work for Nascar/MRN, and he arrived at CMS a few minutes after Phillips' incident. He obviously didn't witness the wreck, but what he described to me that he saw and heard from officials and witnesses that night gave me chills and ill never forget.
I can understand. I ran the shop at the museum below Charlotte Motor Speedway the day Phillips passed. I heard the speedway get quiet. I was in the shop and walked outside knowing something happened with the quietness. I had a lifelong friend with Goodyear who was in turn 4 and walked out to the crash. He later told me things that still haunt me.
That accident is seared into my memory. I was 13 years old at the time watching that race on television. As a 13-year-old it was quite a shock to see someone die while watching my favorite sport.
I could only imagine.
These old tracks of the early 60s were real down to earth racing. My younger Brother and myself would walk about 2 miles in Oklahoma City to the Taft Jr High School stadium used for Saturday night racing. There was a hole in the chain link fence on the back side of the oval and we would crawl thru the hole and be the first in the stands every Saturday night. All those old class of cars we watched and it was a different world back then. My Brother is long gone now and I miss our conversations because over the years we would talk about our old adventures and car racing in Oklahoma City. The fairgrounds had a very nice dirt track for decades until population finally destroyed it too. I grew up and was born in Houston so I was no stranger to good car racing, having gone to Playland Park at a very young age I watched old greats to be like AJ Foyt and all the other greats. After Playland closed and I finished Army service in 1970 I would go to Meyers speedway every Saturday night. I left Houston for good in 82 and so did car racing as I once knew it. The oldest track I remember was an old wooden bleacher track called North Houston Raceway. It has been closed and gone for over 60 years. You could still see the track outline all grown over looking from google earth and it is now a part of Airport Authority grounds for the Airport. Last time I looked 3 or 4 years ago it was still visible and the grounds not being utilized for anything. Taft in OKC has been renewed and looks different, just like every school I ever attended in Houston has changed except for one school Eugene Fields Elementary, 2nd grade at that time but the property has been down sized and more new buildings. Here is the old Taft looking down but it isn't as far back as 1960 and has a lot more growth around it in these old photos than there was when we were going thru that fence. They had a great midget class there. Also a good written goodbye to a well known Houston Racing champion. One of my drag racing friends was his neighbor and he would get good information how to build his Pontiac motors for his drag racing. Unfortunately that drag strip has a walmart sitting on the starting lights today. The cars are so much safer today but I just can't wrap my head around the rules and class in today's NASCAR. After 70 years I have lost interest and rarely watch a nascar race. At least they aren't electric .... yet !
www.findagrave.com/memorial/7456983/herring_burl-bailey
www.speedwayandroadracehistory.com/taft-stadium.html
Thanks for sharing that. The memories of the good old days will live on forever! While my early days at the tracks started in New England in the early 70's I felt every word you said in this. The racing in those days were some of the best!
Holman-Moody made a fr frame stub pattern after a 65 Galaxy. Then you added their spindles, floater hubs brakes steering swaybar etc. Take the uni-,body open up the rocker panels and that's how the body sat on steel frame rails. Swap out the street leaf springs and ad 9in rear and race shocks. Quite a undertaking but think how many Ford/Mercury race cars there were there were very few Chevys in those days
Man, I like that kind of comment and I'm a Chevy guy!
I was watching this race as a kid I will never forget this
Never knew about this one - It’s horrific
I am 71 and I watched this accident happen on "Wide World of Sports" in black and white. To this day I can remember his name and exactly how he died. It was the most horrific wreck I have ever witnessed and it has been etched in my mind to this day. His accident was worse than Dale Earnhardt's. I can only pray he was unconscious which he probably was when the car hit him head on. He had nothing to protect him and didn't have a chance.
Thanks for sharing! The stories from those who witnessed it that day adds so much to Don's story.
I remember watching Wide world of Sports that day when they interrupted and showed the crash. I was fifteen years old.
As an eye witness this car was built in the infield at the Speedway. In those days short track teams would use the infield to repair their stuff. This car had a front frame stubb with frame rails welded on thats where it broke off. The 427 had such a radical cam that made it difficult to idle. When it hit the steel gate it shot back like a bullet and broke. To bad all around. RIP Don
That is interesting! I had never heard that before about this car.
The New York Slime has always been the same duplicitous, and a flapping windsock, publishing whatever they can twist to sell one more paper.
I thought of this accident when I saw the title of the video, then you reported on that accident. I'll never forget it. I was 15 then.
Appreciate the comment! It's definitely something that stuck with so many years later. Great racer who could have changed the history books of NASCAR.
I love those Ford Fairlanes!!
I loved the days of factory sheet metal and a good body man!
That same car had been in numerous races. The subframe had already been compromised.
what sub frame is that?
If it had never been wrecked then it being raced had never had a reason to be compromised
Idk if it was. Just saying
My father, who was 3 yrs out of medical school was a member of Cotton Owens pit crew( it was his hobby) jumped the wall and was one of the first people on the scene. As my dad was jumping the pit wall as Don was spinning, Cotton tried to hold him back by saying, Jerry, he's dead, there is nothing you can do for him. Then when he was hit head on, which was a freak accident. Dad said when he got within 10 ft of the car, The asphalt was covered with blood from Don's legs being cut off from the head on collision but Don's legs remained in the racing suit. Dad remained by the car until the emergency crews arrived. I wasn't even born until yrs later but I was raised around the sport due to my dad. I remember watching a replay of it with my dad yrs later and I asked him if that ever haunted him as it would many and he said it never did. He said son, as bad as it was, he always took solace in the fact that Don died doing what he loved and he knew Don didn't suffer due to the fact that he died instantly from the initial wreck, plus as he said, "I've seen a lot worse." He did say that Don was a truly likable person that was well thought of and he did feel as if he lost a friend that day.
Viewed on the local evening news and it showed the whole crash from beginning to end. It was so sad.
Throught the years, those openings in the outer walls have probably amounted to at least a quarter of all the really terrible wrecks we have seen at short tracks. Never understood why so many places had such hazardous setups this way.
Walls in general are probably the biggest hazard at any track, but theres not much you can do about that. But it seems like theres always a way to design the openings that will make them no more dangerous than if it were just straight wall.
I remember seeing that accident on the evening news, they warned the parents to not let the kids see it. I watched and never forgot it, i was 8yrs old.
I was watching ABC that day when they broke into whatever I was watching (could have been Wide World of Sports) to show the Don McTavich wreck. I was only 12 and it really shocked me.
Talk about bad luck. That was horrible. RIP Mac.
Lorenzo Bandini raced for Ferrari at LeMans as well most notably in 1966 against the GT40s of the late Ken Miles and Chris Amon.
Thanks for contributing that piece of information! Always great to learn more!
That video was on network news the night after it happened. (Saturday evening)
There is so much to this story. I felt like I knew so much about him since literally to my earliest memories of my dad talking so highly of Don. This piece has been educational for me with research. I grew up to the book about Don which I believe was written by Dick Berggren. It was like a bible in my house as a kid.
@@thatracingshow I had known some people involved in Grand National/Late Model Sportsman back then. The story I heard was that that Mercury had a stock type unit-body front end as opposed to a Holman Moody front clip. I also remember someone stating that the car was "junk", but I find that surprising seeing that Don White's name was on it.
@@YouScroob that is very interesting!
I miss the old NASCAR. when the racers would work on there cars, the cars were basically tanks going 100 mph 😭😭💔😔.
They laid the groundwork and were as much mechanics as drivers that's for sure. Some legendary drivers!
Agree Russell Phillips and Don McTavish were the two most horrible crashes in NASCAR history. In Phillips crash the top of the car was sheared off and you could see his helmet rolling off the banking near the entrance to pit road at Charlotte Motor Speedway. So tragic and Russell and Don were great guys. May both R.I.P .
The NASCAR Sportsman series was unfortunately brutal for quite a few. I had a lot of friends that ran it in its early days. As much as I enjoyed those races, I'm glad the division ended. Phillips wreck was unimaginable.
@@thatracingshow The Sportsman division is still there it's just called Xfinity now. It first became the Busch series and then has gone through name changes as sponsorships have changed
@@EclecticHillbilly correct but with the Russell Phillips accident it was in the short-lived NASCAR Sportsman series created by Humpy Wheeler in 1989 that ended in 1996. This series essentially became the roots for the ProCup series which through a series of transitions is the current CARS Tour.
@@thatracingshow Yes it surely was. Always loved NASCAR and fortunately the safety aspect has improved greatly since The Day on Feburary 18, 2001. Unfortunately the racing in my opinion has gone down with crazy decisions, bad rule changes, and popular tracks closing or losing races. Thanks for your valuable input thatracingshow.
@@stevekelley7738 thank you for joining in the conversation! I love to talk racing! It's been my life. I agree with you in so many ways. With that said, being in the garage or just at the track these days always makes me realize the big picture of drivers who love to race and people who love to be involved in it. Tends to make me forget about all the changes thankfully. But I 100% get where you are coming from!
Watched Don race in Vt and Ma in the 60's. Great driver!!!
Thanks for sharing! My dad was a new England racer in the day and from literally as far back as I can remember I heard the stories of Don. He passed 3 years before I was born but wish I could have seen him in action!
my dad knew Don Mctavish from the old Norwood Arena in Norwood mass & i met him when i was a kid he was a very good guy
I can't imagine what Sam Sommers had to live with after that. There was nothing he could have done, of course, but he must have seen Don sitting right in front of him in that split second after he popped out of the smoke.
Sam was my father, and he said the track was covered in heavy white smoke. It was a white car. He did not see it at that speed until the impact happened.
@@bryansommers4475 Hey, very cool of you to answer. No, I would never expect he had any reaction time at all. I hope he's still well.
@@ald1144 He came to my wife's funeral a couple of weeks ago and is still getting around.
It’s one of those horrific accidents that you don’t know what exactly killed him. Some say he was killed by the initial impact with the wall and others say he was killed by the impact from the other car. He would have been a star in the grand national series.
With the initial impact I feel it probably did it. Either way I wish he would have been able to live a full life in NASCAR. Being from upstate NY myself I honestly felt like I knew him the way he was talked about by my parents and those that knew him when I was a kid. My dad's shop was full of some of the best modified racers in the northeast in the 70's. All had much respect for him, and it carried over to me. He's a legend to me!
Every single driver knows exactly the danger of raceing
Was watching with my parents on Wide World of Sports. They issued a parental warning. My dad would not let me watch. Today is the very first time I have actually watched that horrific crash. I am thankful that I did not see it all these years.
I can only imagine what those expecting to see the race thought when seeing the graphic warning displayed. I appreciate comments like this. It gives so much more feel to what the time was like and the impact on people.
Horrible crash resulting in death,one I did not no about.Rest in peace Don.❤❤❤
i remember this . i went to the daytona 500 the day after and went into the garage after the 500 . the car was in a back corner 1/2 covered with a tarp..nothing left
You said in 1968 the Grand National series became known as the NASCAR CUP SERIES. I believe 1n 1968 the highest NASCAR series was called the "Grand National Division." I don't think the term cup came into play until 1971 when RJ Reynolds attained the naming rights to the Grand National Division and NASCAR then renamed it the "NASCAR Winston Cup Series."
On another note, I've been living in Sav. Ga since the late 1970's where Sam Summers was a regular on both the dirt and asphalt tracks that were in existence at the time (driving Fords in what were nearly all Chevy fields). Along with..."we may have never won a race but we never lost a party" Delma Cowart which lived at, and had his shop at, the end of the road I live on. Visited with him many times...he had a stage set up in his living room and played with a little band on the weekends, only at his house not in public. Delma was a character for sure!
That is a great story! I enjoy hearing things like that and learning new things about racers! Thanks for sharing!
You are correct on the Cup aspect. I believe I stated that Don moved south in 1968 to pursue the Grand National Series which is now known as Cup.
@@thatracingshow Oh OK, I took it to mean it was "now known" meaning in 1968. Sorry.
Here's a cool Delma Cowart story. I raced my entire life, dragracing. (25 national and world records in both NHRA and IHRA, #3 & #5 world ranking in Stock Eliminator, division title, etc etc...sorry, bragging LOL)....So anyway, I had never met Delma even though he lived 2 miles away. Pretty rural road. A friend that worked for me lived behind Delma and knew him pretty good. So my guy one day said let's run down to Delma's and I'll introduce you, he's there right now tinkering with his car. I say cool let's go.
So the scene is this when we walk up to his garage (behind his house)... Delma and about 3 of his friends were just leaning over the fenders looking at the motor. Beers in hand. Not saying much. I knew exactly that scene, done it many times...work on the car all day, then lean over the fender and have a beer and just talk about it.
So my friend introduced me to Delma, shook hands with him and the other 3 guys. Them still leaning over the fenders. So Delma, not knowing I was a racer, decided he'd impress me a bit. Now this was the late '80's, Elliott had just gone 212 at Daytona, which Delma tried to qualify at that race and missed the cut. So now we're all just leaning over the fenders looking at the motor. And Delma says to me in a very impressive voice, "this car just went 195 mph at Daytona!" .... I don't look up, still staring at the motor I go....."Really? what you reckon's wrong with it?" .... (😄😆😅)
Silence for a couple of seconds...then one of his crew stifles a snicker, the next one stifles a laugh, 5 seconds later everyone bursts out in laughter! 🤣😂😅
We became good friends even after that LOL. He invited me to play with his band (keyboards for me) but I just never made the time. He passed away just a few years ago, house and garage in the back still standing.
That is priceless lol. Thanks for sharing! I could visualize every bit of it as I read it. I used to visit at various independent drivers shops back in the day so I can feel the vibe lol.
I still remember going to the l and r speed shop
I miss Dale Earnhardt Sr. NASCAR is broken after his death
He was a dirty driver and NASCAR is better without him.
Nascar isn’t broken!!! The only thing that is broken are you anti nascar fans that think nascar isn’t going to last. Because it’s not like it was in the 90’s
We gathered my place or one of the usual 4 of us drinking Busch watching NASCAR....haven't watched more then 5 min of a NASCAR race since Dale had his last wreck!
RIP 03 Earnhardt!
And that is too the person that says NASCAR is better without!
@@jamescook6564 The ratings, ticket sales and testimonials would strongly disagree with you.
Glad they didn't show D E after his demise 😮
Don McTavish and Russel Phillips are the two most horrible racing accidents in nascar and some of the worst in all of racing. Pryce and Cervert were awful in F1 but damn were they all brutal and thankfully instant for the drivers so they didn't suffer.
Completely agree.
F1 wreck involving Rodger Williamson was horrible also.
@@daleweis3712 Yes, being trapped upside-down in your burning F1 car and coming to the slow realisation that David Purley is the only person who's going to try and come to your aid until the fire fighters arrive because the marshals are not equipped to try and assist a driver trapped in a burning car. Being overcome by the smoke and fumes must have been a blessed release for him...
I remember seeing the picture of this in our local paper when it happened. They showed a picture of the car just before he was hit head on.
Don was deceased from first impact . Rip
The footage of this accident made me cringe and just reminds me how dangerous my beloved racing really is. I’ve been racing for 30 years and although cars and safety equipment have come a long way the threat is still there.
So very true. It's a passion that will always have a risk that comes along with it. I can honestly say I always had more anxiety for the drivers I crewed for than when I was behind the wheel. Why I have much respect for all racers.
ABC's shame is that they didn't even mention who won they only showed the graphic crash. If you saw it, it was unforgettable.
I could only imagine. The footage was eventually lost of the race as well. It's unfortunate Don's passing became their highlight reel but I guess that is what the media has always been good at. Thanks for commenting!
Worst crash ever. Has haunted me ever since it happened.
I was at that race and witnessed this tragedy
This and Russell Phillips TO ME are the most horrifying crashes in Nascar history.
Russell’s accident was way beyond horrifying.
@@reno145 Yeah, as far as gruesome, Russell Phillips is the worst and Im hoping both drivers didnt feel anything before they passed.
The NASCAR Sportsman deaths were some vicious ones. Phillips was eerie for me. I wasn't at the track that day but was out behind the museum below the speedway working in the shop. I heard the crash and then this eerie long silence that was almost like the track was empty. I can still remember walking out the bay door and standing there thinking something really bad just happened. A couple hours later a friend that worked for Goodyear racing told me details of what he had seen after the wreck. Still haunts me.
🙏Ouch wish I had a 🍀time machine 👀 they were the good ol days✌️
My family had been involved in professional auto racing since before WWII as Officials & Promoters. They even promoted NASCAR Grand National & Convertible Division races. I had just returned from Viet. & saw the footage on T.V. Many racers found the way Mac Tavish's car disintegrated so cleanly at the firewall questionable. Rumor (?) circulated that the car had been intentionally weakened at the firewall due to concern that in a head-on crash at Daytona speeds the engine would be shoved into the driver. At the time Indy & F-1 drivers were surviving horrendous crashes where the engines & gearboxes along with suspension corners were sheared off leaving a survivable chassis or tub. There was more concern with fire in those race cars than actual crash injuries. I never heard any official confirmation of this theory.
Rumours always circulate after memorable crashes like this. If you think about it then this rumour makes absolutely no sense as if that was the case then the firewall/bulkhead would have remained attached to the car body and the body and subframe, engine and suspension would have separated in a much straighter line across the car as the intention would be. There is also the fact that weakening the front of the car would massively increase the risk of the engine being sent back into the cockpit and not reduce it. Even in those days the engine and gearbox were solidly mounted with the mounts being designed to cause the engine to be ejected from the vehicle in a certain "safe" (for the driver of that car) direction, usually upwards, and would only be ejected from the car if the block casting failed. The mounts were designed to be stronger than what attached to them to remove the risk of the stresses put on them in racing causing them to fail and causing a DNF. This was a critical angle impact into the crossing gate which basically pretty much tore the car in half diagonally from left front fender to right rear quarter. In terms of the effect on the driver then this was less than it would have been if it had been a full frame car as, simply, the worse a vehicle looks after an impact the better the occupants will be, which is exactly why you can write off a modern vehicle at little more than walking pace. The worse the state of the vehicle after an impact then the more of the energy of the impact has been absorbed by the vehicle and, therefore, not been passed on to the occupant. Nonetheless the impact with the crossing gate was never going to be survivable then due to the lack of forward head restraint meaning that massive injury would have happened to the base of the skull and the spine as happened to Dale. If the identical crash into the crossing gate happened today with modern safety equipment, even in an identical vehicle it would likely be survivable. For Don, however, it wasn't as studying the film of the crash massively slowed down clearly shows sure signs that he had suffered fatal head and neck injuries in the first impact. The second impact, basically taking Sam Sommers' car to the face at racing speed even now would not be survivable but for Don was nothing more than adding insult to injury and had a far greater effect on those watching and those who had to clear up afterwards than it did on Don...
Back in the day almost everything was a go! Shame, I just hope his family were spared
I saw that on Tv right after it happened. They put a warning on the screen, :have women and children leave the room, this is very disturbing" or, something to that effect.
I was watching this on tv. I’ll never forget the way his heels were bouncing on the track while he spun. I figure he was already dead.
My husband watched this on TV when it happened when he was 11 he said the network did a viewer warning tell people to remove their children from the TV before showing it again.
Thanks for sharing. I can only imagine how impactful that day was to even viewers at home.
I can somewhat translate as i speak roughly broken media jargon. They are saying that they are jealous it was t them who got the pictures to publish so now they lose out on the sales to their competitor.
Dale did many many good things for NASCAR racing! He was the 1st to really completely understand drafting...
Learn your NASCAR history!
Dale did so many great things with cars that had to be driven in and out of the corners!
And anyone to ever say Dale was dirty or Dale was a cheater....then you have never sat in seat during any circle track.
Are you telling me to learn my NASCAR history or others? Sorry I tend to get confused when reading comments lol. Dale was a badass. An innovator of so much because NASCAR listened to him. I could go on and on about his understanding on the track and off of branding and Sports Image. Hank Jones is a customer of my son's and Hank is always telling him stories of when he and Dale started it all. Hank still wears a championship ring. Legendary!
I agree, and when your a half second faster then the laped cars, and your the leader getting bigger and bigger in there mirrors. Its not cheating or dirty if you gotta put the old chrome bumper to the lapper and move his slow butt out of your way. Ill admit Dale Sr was an aggresive racer, that was Dale. Jeff Gordon was a finesse driver. And ive seen Jeff move people too. Fans that dont know enough about the sport think Dale was a dirty racer. Just like they think Chad and Jimmie Johnson cheated there way to 7 time. BULLSHIT!.Dont try to lesson the accomplishment of real champions like Dale Sr, Jimmie Johnson, Richard OG 7 time Petty. What all of these racers did was amazing for there respected eras when they raced. Jimmie Johnson is the most disrespected champion because the haters cry cheater all the time, but for that team to win SEVEN STRAIGHT TITLES IN MODERN ERA...Is extremely difficult. Just ask Denny Hamlin and now retired Carl Edwards how hard it is to win just one. Im a NASCAR fan who loves the sport and will always try and educate new fans or ignorance when its thrown into the camp fire conversations if you will. If your a fan? Know the history before you call a 7 time champion dirty. Dale Sr was more of a man then most men are today. Dont call that man dirty. And im a #24 4 life fan. And imma defend Sr when they say he was dirty every time. Cried my eyes out when he died. For allot of reasons. But mostly for hus family and i could feel the pain, cuz i felt that same pain at 15 years old. So i relate to the loss of your father, brother, son, nephew. That man was an aggresive racer, The Intimadator name was because he was just that, on and off the track. RIP#3, RIP#28,
24,48,88.4.LIFE
I totally agree. Dale had a comprehensive of racing that few around him possessed and used it to his advantage. He understood the drafting concept from both sides, and knew what happened to your handling if you were drafted, and what to do about it before you lost control. Alot of the engineering changed on the cars thanks to Dale, so that it wasn't as dangerous to draft or be drafted.
It was a very horrific crash. The only thing that we can pray for does it look like he was unconscious on the first hit. Then when the car came through to smoke and hit him. Hopefully he didn't know what happened.
Amen. Such a loss with a talent who could have changed NASCAR history.
I saw that happen live on TV...
The race car itself wasn't built to spec and should not have passed inspection which may be irrelevant. He was killed instantly on the initially dead blow hit . Sam didn't kill him.
I feel pretty certain the initial impact was fatal as well. I've received more photos of the impact since this episode came out and that first hit was devastating.
Could've been a stuck throttle
There were reports that he hit oil, others of a malfunction. Sadly we will never know. Why I respect the advancements of technology today for safety and data. Couldn't imagine the g-force of that hit to rip a solid old car like that apart.
Swede Savage at Indy was the last network televised fatality for some time..my former Boss owns Swedes 68 McLaren Owned by Dan Gurney.
I bet that is a sweet ride! Thanks for sharing!
I watch that live on TV as a Young Man black and white
How the car he was driving passed a safety inspection is questionable. For all intensive purposes he was driving a piece of 💩💩that cost him his life.
There was a time when the people were not thought of as such babies that they couldn't see "graphic" things. Now it is thought that we must be "protected" from such visuals.
Those old Fairlanes were unibody cars, were the not? Did NASCAR require full frames underneath those things? It seems to me a car like that was just an tragedy waiting to happen, When the subframe was ripped away, it took the firewall with it, leaving McTavish completely exposed.
I do believe they were unibody. Some others had commented on here about seeing the car being partially put together at the track. Sad outcome for such a talented driver.
I remember seeing it happened when kid.
I could only imagine seeing it at the time. Such a tragic incident.
Hideous crash, and tragic end to a great career!
I would have loved to see the record books today had it not happened. He was a talent!
I remember seeing that wreck
Was it not ego that killed Earnhardt?
He was killed when he hit the wall.
It’s called “The New York Slimes” for good reason.
My Dad sat 2 rows up from where Don hit the gate.
I could only imagine how tough that was.
Back then drivers never got paid a dime unless they where in top 3...and #1 was lucky to make his fuel money to get back home at times!
I remember seeing the report on the wreck when I was eight years old. The video contained the initial impact into the crossing gate. I vividly remember the car getting out of shape, going head on into the gate and the entire nose of the car vanishing with a loud bang. To this day, I have never again seen the full wreck footage, nor seen a more horrific wreck.
That is interesting. I had no idea they did a report that showed it. Thanks for sharing that. By all accounts the full race footage was lost eventually which leads me to believe it was probably destroyed. I appreciate input like this!
Unfortunately, RUclipsrs are still seeking out this stuff and sensationalizing it showing multiple replays and in slowmo for "gain" such as this channel, the same as ABC and TNYT did, then saying "This video is for educational purposes and pointing out the footage is from ABC, thus justifying it. Friends and families of Don and his colleagues are still around. They must still be going through life without the people they care about the most. showing multiple replays and in slow-mo for "gain"
For me Don MacTavish is a name I've known since my earliest memories. Being from New England myself and from a racing family my parents knew Don and spoke highly of him. As a child we had the memorial book of his by Dick Berggren that was my favorite book. An amazing collection of his racing life that I wish I still had. My hope was to introduce some who may have not known of his racing talents and unfortunately the wreck is part of his story.
WOW 🥺
Dale Earnhardt, no Sr to it, he hated that.
If you were a Chevy man in those days there was little to cheer from in those days.
Diffrent times...
NASCAR wasnt always rainbows and unicorns!
Meanwhile US tracks so often have no gates and sections of wall not continuous. 55 years later. Some dirt ovals simply have parts of the track with NO wall. Where cars disapear into the dark. Happened this year in a World of Outlaws show,
Criminal!!
Lernerville speedway has that, and to be honest in some ways I think it's better. Especially on the back-stretch it's a downhill that leads to a barrier, and if someone goes off there's plenty of room for energy to dissipate, especially when it's one of the 410 sprint cars. I've been to the track about a dozen times and have yet to see or hear of someone losing their life in an accident because of no wall along the back stretch.
@@ceeinfiniti1389 I agree with some tracks operate with dangerous wall situations and also your view of no walls on a backstretch. I ran a couple in the 80's that were that way. One a mini sprint track that I took a ride through a corn field in the dark on lol.
..is that Spud? 3:09
I say that the car was not well built!! It should of not come apart like that!!!
It was a unibody car, if it had a full frame the car would have stayed together a lot better but still he may have not lived through that horrible crash when the second car hit him
Even back then the NYT was woke.
No question that was a horrible accident but in a way that’s what racing is always the risk it is a shame but it happens
The worst wreck in NASCAR was Danica Patrick!!
The New York Slimes