| Pages:
1
2 |
bajaandy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 769
Registered: 2-7-2004
Location: North County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Adventurous
|
|
Tragic Accident at MDR race in Lucerne Valley
Not Baja related, but certainly something that pertains to the "off-road" family.
Yesterday, eight young men and women were killed in a tragic accident at an off road race in Lucerne Valley.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100815/ap_on_sp_ot/us_off_road_...
Among them was a friend of mine, a talented young man, musician, fabricator, racer... now gone in the prime of his life. His only mistake was standing
in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Many, many people have been affected by this horrible accident. To that end, a fund has been set up to collect donations for the victims and their
families. If you feel so inclined, you can donate via PayPal. Specify that you want the donation to go to the "California 200" incident.
http://www.fast-aid.org/
subvert the dominant paradigm
"If you travel with a man, you must either fall out with him or make him your good friend."
JBL Noel
|
|
|
Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
Member Is Offline
Mood: undecided
|
|
The wrong place at the wrong time.
|
|
|
elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4332
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
Member Is Offline
|
|
Terrible.
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
|
|
|
Mexicorn
Senior Nomad
Posts: 772
Registered: 9-15-2009
Member Is Offline
|
|
It's on the 5PM news here in San Diego. Eight dead, all bystanders just watching the race- poor souls. Thoughts and prayers go out to the victims
family's.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64722
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Andy, I am sorry for the tragic loss of your friend and for the others who have lost or injured friends and family.
|
|
|
Woooosh
Banned
Posts: 5240
Registered: 1-28-2007
Location: Rosarito Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Luminescent Waves at Rosarito Beach
|
|
The driver was pelted with rocks after the crash. I understand people being upset at the scene, but wtf? Sometimes caca pasa, that's all. The
families who lost loved ones said the race was staged as safe as it could be. Nature of the beast.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
|
|
|
bonanza bucko
Senior Nomad
Posts: 587
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Airport Bum
|
|
It's gonna be a blot on the freedom of these events but it's deserved if the newsholes are correct in their reporting on it.....they said that there
was only 10 feet between the race course and the spectators and no barrier between the two...that's stupid.
BB
|
|
|
DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
So very sorry Andy for your loss and my thoughts are with the families of the victims. Sad, so very sad for all.
|
|
|
Curt63
Super Nomad
Posts: 1171
Registered: 3-28-2009
Location: San Diego, Ca.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Fish tacos and Tecate
|
|
My condolences
No worries
|
|
|
bajaandy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 769
Registered: 2-7-2004
Location: North County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Adventurous
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Woooosh
The driver was pelted with rocks after the crash. I understand people being upset at the scene, but wtf? Sometimes caca pasa, that's all. The
families who lost loved ones said the race was staged as safe as it could be. Nature of the beast. |
This version of the story was later recanted. Apparently no one was throwing rocks at the driver. He was (understandably) incredibly shook up. Who
wouldn't be?
subvert the dominant paradigm
"If you travel with a man, you must either fall out with him or make him your good friend."
JBL Noel
|
|
|
DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaandy
He was (understandably) incredibly shook up. Who wouldn't be? |
It is also very, very sad for him----
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18058
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by bonanza bucko
reporting on it.....they said that there was only 10 feet between the race course and the spectators and no barrier between the two...
|
in that case, the drivers were negligent for not slowing down. race situation does not excuse drivers from acting responsibly when they see a
dangerous situation of spectators too close.
|
|
|
E.D.R.Rick
Junior Nomad
Posts: 36
Registered: 2-24-2010
Location: sacramento/san felipe
Member Is Offline
|
|
every year my wife and I go north of San Felipe(2 poles)and watch the baja 250 race,everyone standing on the course watching the race and getting cool
pictures.I think I just learned my lesson.Thoughts and prayers.
|
|
|
Alan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1626
Registered: 4-6-2005
Location: Yucaipa, CA/La Paz
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
in that case, the drivers were negligent for not slowing down. race situation does not excuse drivers from acting responsibly when they see a
dangerous situation of spectators too close. |
I feel very sorry for those who lost their lives but are you
telling me that you really believe people have no responsibility for their own actions and this is the driver's fault? Standing on the outside of a
downhill curve at the bottom of a jump is just a poor decision that unfortunately they paid the ultimate price to learn. I'm sure the driver couldn't
even see them until he landed and by the news reports I have seen, he was on the brakes immediately once he did.
In Memory of E-57
|
|
|
akshadow
Nomad
Posts: 287
Registered: 2-1-2007
Member Is Offline
|
|
race deaths
Death and injury affects many more than just those injured or dead. Condolences to those affected.
BUT this was a race, purpose to win, spectators realize there is a danger . This event should NOT be used as reason for rules, barriers etc.
OFF ROAD racing is just those things, racing and off road. No one could be expected to build 50 or 1000 miles of barriers, or to assure there was
"crowd control" over the length of the race. Beginning and ending points usually have some ropes. In the San Felipe races, the only ones I have
attended, these ropes only define the track and certainly would not make a person safe in the case of a roll over accident;
| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
| Quote: | Originally posted by bonanza bucko
reporting on it.....they said that there was only 10 feet between the race course and the spectators and no barrier between the two...
|
in that case, the drivers were negligent for not slowing down. race situation does not excuse drivers from acting responsibly when they see a
dangerous situation of spectators too close. |
Ron San Felipe Oct, Nov. Feb. Mar. April. remainder in Juneau Ak
|
|
|
Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
|
|
akshadow, you are exactly right!
Barry
|
|
|
TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
I am sorry for the loss of life at the event. MDR runs an open race as opposed to a closed race run by SCORE in the US as well as BITD and SNORE. By
open I mean the public is allowed to be pretty much anywhere just like the SCORE and CODE races in Mexico. The promoter (MDR) does have rules that say
the public needs to be at least 100 feet from the race course and they also have a rule that says the driver must slow to 15mph when near (I think
it's 15 ft) of spectators. The problem is the spectators do get close to the race course and the drivers are racing. Add a few adult drinks and the
spectators get a little macho and move closer. Anyone who has been to the zoo road during a SCORE event knows this. In Baja especially it's a macho
thing to stand in front of a race vehicle until the last minute or to slap a race vehicle as it goes by. Why would anyone stand on the out side corner
next to a race course? Which is exactly what happened a few years ago at the Baja 500 race and I believe it was a Baldwin who rolled his truck into
the spectators. If I remember right a few were hurt and 1 or 2 killed and Jim Baldwin flew his son out of Baja for safe keeping. One of the spectators
who was not seriously hurt was Ivan's son.
People do stupid things and the more alcohol they consume the dumber they get. Even without the alcohol you need to think about what is going on.
That's a 2-3 ton truck hauling 50+mph don't be stupid back off and live.
I think the amazing thing is that there have not been more deaths like this in Off-Road Racing.
This accident will probably result in the end of open desert racing for cars in CA. Whether the promoter MDR will survive is anyones guess and only
time will tell.
[Edited on 8-16-2010 by TW]
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18058
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by akshadow
OFF ROAD racing is just those things, racing and off road. No one could be expected to build 50 or 1000 miles of barriers, or to assure there was
"crowd control" over the length of the race. |
in my industry all injuries are considered preventable, and all activities are planned to prevent injuries, and there is no such thing as an
"accident." injuries are considered preventable.
i doubt that the business of race promotion (and their insurers and the land owners) considers spectator injury/death an acceptable part of doing
business,... but it seeems that some of the fans are
|
|
|
akshadow
Nomad
Posts: 287
Registered: 2-1-2007
Member Is Offline
|
|
All injuries might be preventable,
But at what cost
What about personal responsibility?
I don't believe Government knows best.
It creates laws/rules to "Protect everyone" but the impact on all others outweighs the benefits.
| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
| Quote: | Originally posted by akshadow
OFF ROAD racing is just those things, racing and off road. No one could be expected to build 50 or 1000 miles of barriers, or to assure there was
"crowd control" over the length of the race. |
in my industry all injuries are considered preventable, and all activities are planned to prevent injuries, and there is no such thing as an
"accident." injuries are considered preventable.
i doubt that the business of race promotion (and their insurers and the land owners) considers spectator injury/death an acceptable part of doing
business,... but it seeems that some of the fans are |
Ron San Felipe Oct, Nov. Feb. Mar. April. remainder in Juneau Ak
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64722
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
It was a race... the truck that rolled was not the first race car of the event, so it was no mystery as to where the race course was. People watching
the race do so knowing it is a race and knew where the race cars were going. It is their responsibilty to stay far enough from the race course to be
safe should there be a roll over or skid.
People do get too close to the action, and it is not a surprise when they get hit... very sad, but true. The racers pay money to race their vehicles
as a test of man & machine vs. the terrain. They are NOT out there to entertain people who come to watch, as those people pay nothing to the
organization and thus no money goes to racers from the people along the course. Nobody wants anyone hurt, and if you don't want to get hurt, don't
stand next to a race course.
Several families' lives were destroyed, it is a sad, sad thing... but as said above... it was preventable.... preventable by those who went to watch a
race by staying the recommended safe distance from the course as posted by MDR... or by using common sense.
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
