IHRA: Tocher recovering from Rockingham crash

On April 9, five-time IHRA champion Ronnie "The King" Davis was killed at Rockingham Dragway when he lost control of his Chevrolet Corvette. It made a hard right turn into the wall, then came apart.

Unfortunately, writer and photographer Ian Tocher, a longtime friend of Davis', was in the path of the debris, and was seriously injured.

According to an update from Drag Illustrated, Tocher's primary outlet, he is recovering after skin grafts and plastic surgery on his legs, which were severely injured. His pelvis was also badly broken.

Drag Illustrated also reports that chassis builder Jerry Bickel, constructor of numerous Pro Modified doorslammers, has challenged other chassis builders to join him in making a donation to Ian Tocher's recovery fund.

Bickel made a $1,000 donation to Tocher's GoFundMe page to assist the Tocher family with expenses.

"Unfortunately, these things happen in drag racing and all forms of motorsports," said Bickel. "Luckily they don't happen often but when they do as a community, we ought to pull together. These kinds of tragedies affect lots of people's lives. I think we should do the best we can to help one another in these times.

"I think all of us as chassis builders should also step up and help do what we can for this family. I hope this community can accept the challenge and do the same."