Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Jamie Hacking and his wife Rachel narrowly escaped injury in what could have been a very serious automobile accident Saturday night on the grounds of California Speedway.

“He’s glad to be alive,” Yamaha Team Manager Tom Halverson told Roadracingworld.com Sunday morning.

The Hackings were returning from dinner on a track perimeter road, headed to their motorcoach in the paddock, at about 8:00 p.m. local time.

In the midst of negotiating a right-left in front of the Speedway administration building, Hacking struck a metal parking gate that had been left unsecured and had swung out into the roadway.

According to Halverson, a metal pole from the gate went through the Hackings’ windshield, and the pole only missed Jamie Hacking’s head because he moved it at the last second. The pole then recoiled back over the top of Hacking’s head and came back out of the car.

California Speedway Public Relations Director Dennis Bickmeier confirmed the accident, but he did not know why the gate to Parking Lot One had been left unlatched. Bickmeier added that the Speedway’s medical director went to the scene and that no one was injured in the incident.

Halverson said Rachel Hacking was in shock at the scene.

Bickmeier also said the incident is being investigated by the Speedway and by San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department deputies, who were on the property as part of the race weekend security.