The lives of two Sunshine Coast mates were cut short by an accident at Queensland Raceway in Ipswich on Saturday night, when their car crashed into a wall and burst into flames.
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Kurt Bull, 32, was behind the wheel when his yellow Holden CV8 Monaro Turbo left the track and crashed into a wall about 8.40pm, killing the father-of-two and his close friend, Daniel King, 41.
According to police, the powerful vehicle kept going at speed after crossing the finish line, heading off the track, over the gravel safety run-off and smashing into the concrete barrier.
The car caught fire and despite emergency services pulling the two men from the wreckage, both were declared dead at the scene.
Family friend Saul Geffen said Mr Bull was a natural sportsman who won amateur surfing competitions as a child and "could have gone pro".
He was also a successful businessman, running an earthmoving company, and cars were "a serious hobby".
"The family are devastated, Kurt was a good guy and he had so much to live for," Mr Geffen said.
"Kurt was a genuine, Sunny Coast knockabout bloke and a naturally talented kid.
"He posted on Facebook that his house was open for anyone who had evacuated from their homes during the recent bushfire on the Sunshine Coast, that was the kind of bloke he was.
"His family are very grateful to the emergency services who worked for an hour or so after the crash to try and save Kurt, and there is no blame being attached to anyone for this terrible accident."
Tributes for Mr King described him as a "top bloke" and a "legend", while his long-term partner, Carolyn Yates, told News Corp he had a huge heart.
"He raised money for families in need and would give the shirt off his back," she said.
"He was a great father and loved his kids."
Mr King's friend, Jay Weiss, told the publisher the car's throttle was stuck and the brakes couldn't bring it to a stop before it hit the wall.
Mr Bull's family released a statement on Sunday saying Kurt would be "sorely missed by all that knew him". He leaves behind his wife Janelle, and two young daughters Khloe and Kayla.
???"Kurt was a wonderful husband, father, son, brother and everyone's best mate," the statement said.
"He was born-and-bred Sunshine Coast ... (and) renowned for his natural sporting talent.
"Kurt loved surfing, wakeboarding, kite surfing - anything on and around the water.
"He also had a passion for fast cars, loved his family more than anything and, of course, chocolate."
Mr Geffen has set up a GoFundMe page, with all proceeds going straight to the family. It had raised more than $40,000 in six hours on Sunday afternoon, while a fundraiser for Mr King had raised more than $6000.
