A 21-year-old woman from New Jersey who was brave enough to put herself out there and take car racing lessons tragically died after her car hit a wall.
Amanda Gambacorto, a student at Stony Brook University, where she also worked as a marketing assistant and communications intern, was reportedly participating in a racing clinic at the Wall Stadium Speedway when the three-quarter midget car she was driving hit a wall on the second turn. Paramedics rushed the young woman to Jersey Shore Medical Center, where police say she later died.
It's unknown whether Amanda was a novice racer, but she was reportedly taking lessons from the Green Flag Driving Experience, which caters to beginner drivers. She slammed into the wall while following another vehicle on the track, according to reports. Her "midget" car was about 8 to 9 feet in length and weighed about 650 pounds. They can go faster than 90 mph on the track.
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This poor girl's mom is reportedly too distraught to speak about the accident that cost her little girl's life, and who can blame her. It seems like Amanda had goals and aspirations and was a responsible person who spent the last few summers shucking clams and tending bar to make extra money. According to friends who knew her, was a "bubbly and friendly" person. It's so sad to think she never had a chance to make her dreams come true.
I can understand wanting to blame car racing, as a sport, for what happened to Amanda. Personally, I'm no fan of racing. But there are risks involved in a lot of sports and hobbies -- from gymnastics and diving to football and even cheerleading. I think it's commendable that Amanda attempted to race and it's just unfortunate that she won't be able to use her gift of courage in other areas of life after this heartbreaking incident.
Do you think race car driving is too dangerous?
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