Tributes to tragic racer Kasey Dixon-Grainger (From York Press)
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Tributes to tragic racer Kasey Dixon-Grainger
9:26am Saturday 1st September 2012 in News
A FATHER has spoken of the “incredibly moving” support shown to his family a year after the death of his son at a drag racing event.
Motor enthusiast Kasey Dixon-Grainger, 23, who had been drag racing for six years, died when his car flipped several times before exploding at York Raceway, near Pocklington, on August 28 last year. It was the first fatality at York Raceway since it opened 35 years ago.
At least 500 cars attended a cruise at Teesside Park, near Stockton, on Wednesday, in memory of Kasey, who was from Billingham. It followed a special race meeting at York Raceway last week in which a minute’s silence was held in his honour, and when his family provided a barbecue for 200 people.
His father, Paul Grainger, a keen drag racer who ran a garage with his son, described both events as incredibly moving and uplifting.
“It was a special thing to stand back and look at all the people who were there in memory of my son.
“Without the support of these people, right from day one... their help and support has been overwhelming.
“They have made a big difference to our being able to carry on.
“It was an excellent turnout. There were people from all over the North of England up to the Borders. It was excellent and very moving.”
Kasey’s mother, Tanya, also attended.
Many people focused their attention on a car specially modified by Mr Grainger.
The car contains the engine of his son’s last car, a purple 1966 Ford Cortina, and features a graphic image of Kasey.
There have been many hundreds of online tributes to the keen drag racer, who had a long-term girlfriend.
His parents have described him as a “happy-go-lucky guy who everybody loved”.
Kasey died almost instantly after his car, travelling at 131mph, veered off the track, rolled and caught fire.
An inquest heard that a fatigue crack where the axle was attached to the car, may have caused the vehicle to crash.
