1987 CorkyCookman Fatal crash

[XxSiiCkXKiilZxX]

how did he die

[wabby111]

I was there that day. Corky was a great driver and a good man.

[MegaJiol]

what was that flash inside the car

[AbbalynHanson]

Thank you, Corky, for all the time you soent with me as a young kid at Stafford, and thank you carol, too. I'll never forget the time Corky let me take his car out on the rack at stafford for practice. Chickenman looked at me, he knew it wasnt' corky, but let me out anyway! Holy crap, 800 horsepower is an awesome feeling! I did a pratice with Richie Evans, Geoof Bodine and Ronnie Bouchard. Sex with a supermodel will never even come close to being as awesome as that.

[NoLifeWithoutRacing]

what if this happened today? safer barrierers!

[latemodel71]

@NoLifeWithoutRacing no, not at short tracks unless your at bristol or martinsville or richmond pretty much

[SwimistaFashions]

@latemodel71 yes at many short tracks ... Thompson is a 5/8 mile short track that is faster then the tracks you just mentioned.

[yellowmaxxisrider]

damn modifieds are so sick

[MrBrennan008]

Dale sr didn't have head what every it's called he broke his neck

[Chenstrapftw]

@MrBrennan008 No, he smacked his head on the steering wheel and cracked his skull.

[MrBrennan008]

@Chenstrapftw no my dad knows so does dale jr

[Chenstrapftw]

@MrBrennan008 His cause of death was a Basilar skull fracture. What from? His head hitting the steering wheel.

[MrBrennan008]

@Chenstrapftw so u thing but his ed got fractured and he broke his neck mabey both

[Video24Maker]

@MrBrennan008 Its when your head detaches from your spin I think.

[mw2masterful]

@MrBrennan008 yep he wasnt wearing a neck brace since he was a pro but got to wear a neck brace

[QuikdrawlMcgraw]

he died from massive head trauma just like earnhardt he had a basal skull fracture...they did not Use HANS devices back then



[MrRoccomc]

love you corky. rocky the 1e

[DailyTerror666]

lol dat name

[racefan32]

Those cars were built too stiff back then so the driver took the bunt of the impact.

[glassgodofdoom]

@LeMaestro123 the seats they used back then were plastic or fibergllass they were half seats and most had no head or neck restraints. Thompson speedway is a very fast track lined in concrete .

[505197]

AS mentioned the cars had too little crash absorbtion, they were too stiff and the forces tore the heart loose from the aorta. The heart isn't really attached too well, at about 50Gs it's a done deal and yer dead.

[DavoBowRowe]

damn those modifieds are more dangerous than regular stock cars. I say are cuz people have been killed fairly recently. RIP Corky, Richie Evans, John Blewett III and all other people who have died in any form of racing

[0603000334]

@DavoBowRowe that is very true

[CombatSportFan]

Did they ever examine the cars to see if there was a problem with the safety features on them?

[JMPhillips99]

@CombatSportFan Believe it or not the cars were built TOO stiff. Their bodies took the brunt of the impact energy.

[CombatSportFan]

@JMPhillips99 Interesting. I hadn't thought of that, which is the exact opposite of how most open wheel cars today are designed (to pretty much shatter like fragile China on impact to take the brunt off of the driver.)

[answerstolucky]

RIP Corky!

[brockmemorial05]

@ItsYummyYumi his nickname was corky u disrespectful unfair sorry person u show respect when a driver dies not be a selfish person with no manners

[flyerfan019283new]

I swear to god, you are the most disgusting, horrible person on YouTube today. Get a FUCKING LIFE YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF SHIT, STOP CURSING THE DEAD.

[DKjoca]

show some respekt idiot

[GordonSmileysCorpse]

hah not going to happen!

[DKjoca]

your sick get a life..... or burn in hell

[iamiorngirl]

i was there in 2003 when another death happened 7 rip

[rpgct1]

3 great drivers lost in 2 years... Corky, Richie Evans and Charlie Jarzombek.

[f3wbs]

charlie died the year b4 corky?!?! holy i didnt no this! i thought the accident happen a year AFTER corky

[RealTallOlaf]

First I've been to Thompson a few times and seen a few nasty wrecks there, but I was at Stafford Motor Speedway this past weekend and saw a late model do something just like that going into turn 1, he just never slowed down and hit the wall hard. Thankfully he was ok, but wrecks like this are never fun to see.

[drumskill2]

That's the risk's you take when your racing, at least he died doin what he loved. RIP bro

[TJNC1976]

My father was good friends with Corky...he was at the race when that happened.

[54spiritedwill54]

That Crash Looks Pretty Bad.

[WhiteHatBobby]

The Modifieds were an issue in those days and it was a rash of fatal crashes in a short time which led to reform of rigidity issues.

[sjaderlund]

I was witness to a few mod crashes like this back then...I seem to remember some issue with the jets backing out and holding the throttle open.

fan of the orange 61

[dpoencet]

my dad was at that race

[cenamichaels]

Your level of idiocy actually makes me laugh

[donebar4]

Those cars were badly built, now a days the guy would be laughing at it but back then that kills you. thats sad to see a another driver killed in racing

[flatulatingmarmoset]

@donebar4 Tell that to Earnhardt

[Poddeh]

Great name, great shame :(

[Racing7132]

Very Sad. After that crash didn't troyer maker of the chassi made a front clip change to a 30 degree angle style clip to help with the crush factor? Cause they found out the chassi was to ridged

[JoeytheHDK]

Good lord, those Modifieds were so dangerous back then in the 80s. Poor guy.

[lintels123]

any form of motorsports were dangerous back in the day, they all risked their lives doing what they loved

[18carNASCAR]

What track is that

[supercross578]

well this is thompson speedway in CT. nice track

[99boyz]

sombody else

died their today

[e521soediv]

you guys didnt det what SHARKY10811 said he said rest in peices what thats not offending or somethin?

[TeamAmericaNo1]

wow., this happened when i was 7. what a coincidence. rip corky.

[maverickfa14]

I've heard some pretty horrible stuff about this crash.....chilling things I would rather not say. I'm not sure if a cause of the crash was ever determined ( though that is one of the stories I have heard, about what caused the accident ). I wasn't alive when this happened but my friends were there when JB III was killed...They asked me to go that night but I refused

[bobmc1968]

Hi maverick. I was on the wrecker the night Corky was killed. Believe me, it's not something I ever want to experience again. I never heard any official explanation but I know what I saw and still believe. Either the throttle hung or something on the right side of the car broke. I was watching Reggie and Brian Ross who were right behind him and saw the smoke and sparks just before Corky went in. My father, who was driving the wrecker, immediately said to me, "He's gone." That was a brutal night

[panicxitsxbrea]

For chrissake this guy DIED and you're fighting over what style is better.

News flash: They all take talent and different kinds of talent, and they're all different and therefore can't be compared to one another.

And just because a lot of people die in racing doesn't mean each one isn't sad. And yeah they volunteered for it, but that also doesn't mean it's not sad.

Grow the fuck up, people. I'm nineteen and I have more common sense than you.

[Andy1245711]

Alot of these deaths in this sport are so boring.

[RIPBARNBURNER]

and your life is worthless

[starmanjames]

the survivability rate of drivers in heavy accidents in american motorsport is very poor, the more i see american motorsport the more it troubles me...added to the fact that everything you can hit around the track in america is solid concrete, even ralf schumacher found this out at Indy in F1.

[rosun82]

Why those stupid Americans learned so little from those terrible accident. Look how much formula 1 have learned

[bobmc1968]

Yeah, SAFER barriers, crumple zones in racecars, impact absorbing helmets and roll cages, five and six point restraints, the fuel cell, The Car of Tomorrow in Nextel Cup, not to mention the nomex firesuit was invented right here in the U.S.A., I could go on and on. We haven't learned a thing since 1987 over here, I guess. It's kinda stupid to post a comment about a crash that occurred 21 years ago when you don't know what the hell you're talking about.

[rosun82]

Of cause I know what I am talking about. The recent fatal accident in Nascar was 2002, if I remember correct, and the recent fatal accident in IRL was 2005, that is not 20 years ago!

[bobmc1968]

First off, Earnhardt was the last Nextel Cup fatality in 2001. From 1994 to 2007 there have been 5 deaths in Nextel Cup. To compare F1 to Cup racing is ridiculous in the first place. One, they race half the events Cup teams do. Two, They start half as many cars per race as Cup cars do. Try starting 43 F1 cars for 36 races in a season and see how many fatalities you'll have. Thanks for mentioning the safety innovations that were invented in the US that are in worldwide use today.

[rosun82]

Race safety is not just those equipment on the car, it is also related to people's altitude, especially those who organize races and making regulations.

[rosun82]

Even if the equipment on F1 and Indy are pretty much the same, F1 is still much safer than Indy cars. Look how much effort FIA put into F1 to reduce the speed of those cars, especially on tyres and downforce reducing, as well as track safety..If those cars have less downforce, it can not go that quick and the driver will realized the limit of the car earlier than they do now (In Indy car, it is pretty much like you either have the grip or you don't)

[rosun82]

Another problem is from the race organizers. So many serious injuries started with some car lying on the center of the road and crashed by some car far, far behind. Look how slow the yellow flag shows and how ignorant those drivers react to the yellow flag. Those stupid accidents happen again and again.

[wingsideup]

I think you'd better go back and research where a lot of the safety equipment you are using in F1 came from. I'll start with the first real racing tires made by Firestone in the early 20th century and move on to fuel bladders developed during WWII by American tire companies. We'll then move to the HANS and HUTCHINSON devices, SAFER barriers which are a direct evolution of the foam blocks found around AMERICAN short tracks in Lancaster and Oswego, NY. The list goes on partner.

[mariajs426]

Motorcycle racing concerns me the most but you're right Indy gets some bad crashes from time to time but when you're on a motorcycle your not straped in your just leaning on the bike.I've seen bad crashes.Guys getting trown off the bike and one that involved 2 officials getting run over and 2 riders.I think 1 official and one rider were killed in that crash.

[wingsideup]

good point bobmc1968. however the simple fact that we are sitting here watching a fatal crash should be more troubling period. I wish I hadn't watched.

[bobmc1968]

Hi wingside, not sure which comment you were responding to but believe me, I didn't want to be on that wrecker the night it happened either.

[4TTOMMYKERR]

Can I put my point of veiw in this? ITS RACING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!! PEOPLE DIE FROM DOG ATTACKS MORE THAN RACING SO SHUT THE HELL UP ! AND ANOTHER THING INDY AND F1 AND ALL THE OTHER SHIT LIKE THAT IS GAY! I mean who wants to watch 20 gay french, german etc. go around a huge ass track for 4 hours? not me! and another thing all you F1 fans take your montoya back get him outta the cup cars he suckin fucks!

[ClubWago]

Dirt racing is where it's at, I gave Nascar a shot, restrictor plates are retarded, the points system is retarded, and half the time I see drivers content with running in 2nd place, what kind of racing is that? F1 is an overglorified parade. IRL I like, but the car counts suck. I just prefer watching guys slide through the turns, have to race their way into the race, and watching 3-4 wide racing all night long. I agree with what you said about it just being racing though.

[haggardde]

I don't know man, but as a mexican I do love both american & european forms of racing, I think it's a bit unfair to say that americans know nothing about motorsport safety developments, I mean, the HANS device, the tire restraining cables etc, were developed and became mandatory much earlier in the U.S. than in europe.

To mention an example, F1 made mandatory the HANS until 2003, but Champcar did it in 2001, I'm not gonna say F1 is unsafe though, only a few broken legs since 1994 says it all.

[bobmc1968]

I remember this very well. I'm the guy riding on the back of the lead wrecker as we double ended the car out of the track. Even though he was pronounced dead at the hospital, we at the scene knew he was gone long before that. That was a surreal night. RIP Corky

[Tornadoracer]

That's sad....too many deaths up at Thompson. Cookeman, Baldwin, Blewett was a freak thing but still...they gotta do something up there. Teddy Christopher almost got killed there a few years ago after hitting a pole, imagine what woulda happened if he died.

[StewieGriffin1985]

i'm sorry you guys

about the deaths of Russell Phillips, Corky Cookman and Terry Schnoover

my stupid racist brother wrote that mean shit!

I'm sorry

[Feetza]

stewiefriffin1985 fuck u i wud like to see u dead, fuckin bitch..

[KissFreak09]

Thompson,is a jinxed track.

[racerjake24]

what do you mean by that

[KissFreak09]

It had taken the life of my friend JBIII on AUGUST 16TH. I am not going there anymore

RIP John

[StewieGriffin1985]

fuck Corky Cookman, Terry Schnoover and Russell Phillips

[racerjake24]

you need to die and go to hell

[XC0688]

John Blewett the THIRD died THREE years and THREE days to the day of Tom Baldwin Sr. John is also the THIRD modified driver to pass after the death of Richie Evans following richie was Cookman, and Baldwin. also John Blewett died at the THIRD meeting at that race track.... also this came to my attention that the doctor that signed John Blewett III's death cirtificate is named Richie Evans...... coincidence?

[Gottisanidiot]

WTF do you mean "third meeting at that race track"? Also John is not the third driver to die since Richie. Get your facts straight and don't spin a stupid numbers game on John's death.

[99boyz]

john blewwet died their last night i think to

[davidd2172]

John Blewett III of Howell, N.J., died Thursday night 8-16-07 after he and Jimmy Blewett hit a wall in the 107th lap of the 150-lap NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event in Thompson.

John Blewett's car ended up on top of his brother's car "Jimmy got out of his car. He was yelling and screaming. He was just a wreck, He was yelling at people to get [John] out of the car." John Blewett, who suffered head and neck injuries, was extricated from the car

[KissFreak09]

I have been friends with the Blewett's all my life, and I missed John.

RIP John

[Romero101]

Tom Sr. was killed from the impact with the light pole. We saw each other at a restaurant and followed each other up to the track that day. It was devastating to hear the news. A lot of those cars were built with thin-wall tubing back then. Some are still built like that today. In my opinion, the only safe modified chassis is a RaceWorks car. I think the stability of that car is what saved Reggie's life when he crashed in practice at Thompson earlier this year.

[XC0688]

yeahh raceworks is a good chassis ill give you that. troyers are pretty tough but corkys almost looked ike a race works just that straight back just like the ones of today although his looks more like pastryacks #5

[CHASSISBLD]

I'm really amazed at the ignorance.I worked at troyers from 86-96.Cookman,evans,deaths etc. thin wall tubing?Thin wall would probably have help,it absorbs impact.Clips were changed from 120 wall to 083 and they eased the blow.Also racing seats then held you around the ribs, not shoulders allowing your body to roll over the sides, turning your ribs into knives. Where do you f.ing people come from. Dont use a death to plug a company, raceworks.mods then were too fast forthe safety equiptment then

[Romero101]

I stated my prefered modified chassis. I didn't use death to plug any company or anything of that matter. You have no idea who you're talking to. Stop acting like you're Joe Modified and take your shit talking somewhere else.

[CHASSISBLD]

Well romero why dont you tell me who I'm talking to! I'm not Joe modified, lots I dont know. Just was up to my eyeballs in them for too long.Had lunch with Billy Nascewicz the other day. Suppose he's Joe mod too!!! How many national championships...9

[Romero101]

Congrats??

[CHASSISBLD]

sorry if I offended you. Just a very sensative spot with me I guess

[keithrivet]

Anyone remember when Corky crashed into the stands at Stafford back in the early 80's??? I was there and his car landed about 5 feet to my left.

[AlfRazzell]

I was there also, saw it from the infield. Two cars went through the fence, i saw someone carrying a girl maybe 8 years old, through the hole in the fence, as the rescue vehicles were lined up on the track. I thought she was dead, at the time. A miracle no one was killed, as the stands were packed.

[ironspendleton]

I was there, sitting near start/finish line.

Lap 8 I think.

Unbelievable.

[ChevyChas]

BTW thanks for posting.

[ChevyChas]

I was there that night in mid July of '87 when it happened.Very sad night indeed as it was dedicated to the memory of the Modified Legend Charlie Jarzombek who died earlier in the spring at Martinsville VA.Fatalities hit modified racing very hard in the '80s.I was also at Stafford Springs when Tony Jankowiac,a promising upstate NY driver lost his life hitting the first turn wall in 1990.

[3fan4eva]

Didnt this crash happen within a year or two of Richie Evans crash?

[mengers06]

yep. he died in '85 i think.

[dawrr]

That's crazy. I live 1 mile from there and I never knew about that!

[99boyz]

tom bladwin was killed their in 2004

[123efg2]

wow i never new any1 died there i live 5 mins from speedway and i went a couple of days ago to the demo derby and at the end someone got stabbed

[daytonafan8]

Another case of just a bad angle to hit at. Very sad to know he died that day. I saw it on SportsCenter the day he crashed...

[chip4949]

Does anyone remember the giant sand piles in the corners up there? MAN OH MAN. My father went into the turn 1 sand pile while driving his Curtis Craft midget (he got his bell rung & and the car was toast). On the other hand Thompson was home to the greatest Modified shows ever. I remember how the crowd went ape shit when they caught the first glimpse of Richie Evan's Orange roof as they began to line up at the pit gate. Those were the days alright.

[maybrook1]

Eastern States Weekend Orange County Fair Speedway Middletown, NY , best show on DIRT.

[Romero101]

Hell yeah I do, my grandfather got backed into there before. Not pretty lol

[racerx2201923]

My uncle Dave Peterson was killed in a modified when he hit the light pole in the 70s. I cant believe they has taken this many deaths. Are the light poles still there ?

[kornjdmfds]

I just went today.... It was the best racin I have ever seen.... Can't belive how manny lives were lost there though... thats too bad... They otta put safer barriers on the track now....

[sgloude46]

A good racecar has a strong stiff chassis. A safe racecar absorbs contact. If the car is too strong the energy of the crash is felt by the driver causing injuries or worse. Was a bad period in time for modifieds. Guys would die and cars would show minor damage. This one looks pretty ugly though. Race drivers are brave dumb or a mixture of the two depending on who you ask.

[BigJimW]

He died at the same exact same spot that Fred Dessaro died. Third turn.

I worked at Thompson and knew both Cookman and Desarro. God bleess both of them. :(

[bgxc29]

Don't forget about Tom Baldwin Sr. The third turn got him too. I was there that night, luckily I missed the accident because I left early. I can still remember seeing him in the pits that night, sitting on the tire of his car. It's sad, it really is.

[tqmidget85]

yea, but it wasn't the wall that got him...stupid light post

[XC0688]

yes but remember too. in 1978 there was a dirt wall at thompson. desaro went up and over and landed in the water which was for some stupid reason was on the other side.

[Brando997]

That Crash Looks Pretty Bad.