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Author Topic: Forney, TX sprint car racer, Travis Rilat severely burned in shop explosion  (Read 810 times)
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« on: July 19, 2010, 06:34:52 AM »

2003 ASCS National Champion, Travis Rilat and a shop worker/team member were severely injured in an explosion at Shark Racing Engines in Sedro Woolley, WA on Sunday.  Both are in Harborview Hospital in Seattle, WA.  I do not know their listed condition, but have been told it is not good.  This is my tribute to Travis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uFChOzg8Uw
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« Reply #1 on: July 19, 2010, 01:47:17 PM »

Have now been informed that the second person injured was Tyson Perez and that the explosion did NOT occur in the SHARK facility, but at a shop next door.
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« Reply #2 on: July 19, 2010, 03:30:18 PM »

SEDRO-WOOLLEY — Two men were seriously injured Sunday evening in an explosion while trying to “barrel ride” in the parking lot of a shop that builds and services race cars, said Sedro-Woolley Fire Chief Dean Klinger.
The men, from out of the state, had placed about four gallons of methanol in a 55 gallon barrel, sat on top of it, then lit it on fire, Klinger said.
“Apparently it was supposed to slide across the parking lot like a rocket,” Klinger said. “Instead it blew up.”
One of the ends of the barrel flew 120 feet outside of Funk Racing at 631 Sunset Park Drive, Klinger said.
The men were severely burned in the explosion, but were responsive when paramedics and firefighters arrived just before 9 p.m.
The fire had already been extinguished.
They were taken to United General Hospital then flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Klinger did not have the ages or identities of the men or their medical conditions.
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« Reply #3 on: July 19, 2010, 10:24:20 PM »

Official update from ASCS:

TULSA, Okla. (July 19, 2010) – Just as positive reports were spreading of successful surgery for Wayne Johnson following a wild ride in Lucas Oil ASCS National action at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, WA, on Saturday night, word broke on Sunday evening of a fellow past ASCS National champion and one of his crew members involved in a serious shop accident on Sunday night in Washington.

Travis Rilat, the 2003 ASCS National champion hailing from Forney, TX, and Australian crew member Tyson Perez both suffered severe burns when a methanol barrel exploded on Sunday evening. Rilat and Perez were transported to a Seattle hospital, where they remain in critical condition.

Early indications are that both Rilat and Perez will remain in the Harborview burn unit for at least two to three months.

Tom Lorenz of Smiley’s Racing Products has established a fund for Rilat and Perez. Contributions to the Travis Rilat/Tyson Perez fund may be made by calling the First State Bank in Mesquite, TX, at 972-285-6311.

Less than 24 hours earlier, 2000 ASCS National champion Wayne Johnson was transported to the same Harborview Hospital in Seattle after suffering severe leg injuries in a lap two “A” Main crash at Grays Harbor Raceway’s Fourth Annual Fred Brownfield Memorial.

Johnson, a native of Oklahoma City, OK, currently residing in Knoxville, IA, underwent what was deemed a successful surgery early Sunday and will undergo a second surgery later in the week to finalize cleanup of the wounds. A full recovery is expected for Johnson.
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« Reply #4 on: July 21, 2010, 03:48:01 PM »

Tyson Perez passed away this morning at 9:29am in Seattle, WA.  This SUCKS!
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