Ronald F. Marcum, 52, a sportsman drag racer from La Habra, Ca., was killed on Saturday morning at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, when the transmission on his dragster engaged during a routine test and hurtled the vehicle into a parked trailer. Ktla.com reported that Marcum struck a parked trailer in excess of 100 miles per hour.

Earlier in the morning, in preparation of the day’s racing activities, Marcum was seated in his dragster testing his trans-brake, this according to a report quoting CHP Officer Jeff Briggs. The NHRA requires the test to be conducted with the vehicle’s tires off of the ground. According to the Ktla.com, Marcum didn’t follow the procedure.

Trans-Brake Mishap Causes Dragster to Crash Into Trailer

Ronald F. Marcum, 52, a sportsman drag racer from La Habra, Ca., was killed on Saturday morning at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, when the transmission on his dragster engaged during a routine test and hurtled the vehicle into a parked trailer. Ktla.com reported that Marcum struck a parked trailer in excess of 100 miles per hour.

Earlier in the morning, in preparation of the day’s racing activities, Marcum was seated in his dragster testing his trans-brake, this according to a report quoting CHP Officer Jeff Briggs. The NHRA requires the test to be conducted with the vehicle’s tires off of the ground. According to the Ktla.com, Marcum didn’t follow the procedure.

Briggs told Ktla.com only that Marcum sustained fatal injuries in the crash. According to reports, no one else was injured in the crash.

Marcum was one of a group of Southern California races who helped start the Pro Gas class in the early 1980s that later morphed into the current Super Gas category. Marcum was the 1981 champion in the Southern California Pro Gas Association. Two weeks ago, Val Torres Jr. drove Marcum's 67 Nova to the Super Gas victory at the Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals in Sonoma, Calif.

CompetitionPlus.com extends deepest sympathies to the Marcum Family. 

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