Gary Powell and Jeff Schuster died from injuries sustained in two separate crashes during an N2 Track Days event held on Friday, August 12 at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, in Wampum, Pennsylvania.
Both riders were transported from the track to local hospitals by helicopters and succumbed to their injuries in the following days.
Track-day rider Powell, age 52, from Richmond, Virginia, crashed in a single-bike accident after locking the front brakes and going over the handlebars entering Turn One. He was not hit by his bike and did not impact a wall, according to N2 officials, and he died on August 20th. Roadracingworld.com has not been able to obtain information regarding survivors.
Schuster crashed after what an N2 official described as a minor side-to-side collision that sent two riders off track, and tumbled after falling; he did not impact a wall and was not hit by his bike after crashing. He died on August 22, after his organs were donated to other patients in need. A resident of Georgetown, Ohio, Schuster was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and a welder who had retired from working for General Electric. Schuster was an active Expert racer with WERA and had competed with WERA as far back as 2016. He was 62 years old.
Schuster is survived by his wife Karen, mother Joyce Miller, brother Larry Schuster, and sisters Jennifer Burk and Tracy Tensing. A celebration of Jeff Schuster’s life has been tentatively planned for October 8.
Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.
Godspeed to them both, and may they rest in peace.