OT Bad pre runner race accident in California!

[1971ford]

Simple but true, that sport just had an axe shoved in it's heart. That organization will be sued out of existance or at the very least the BLM won't allow another race without the correct management. Yes 100 miles of safety fence and enough flagmen to control the race and stop it if something unsafe happens is expensive but you just can't trust a herd of 20 somethings to do intellegent things

Jamie

Most likely, yes, MDR is probably a gonner. That was a big organization that put on a lot of good races down there.
SCORE has already changed some rules for their next race, more 15mph zones than usual.

I'm going to the Vegas to Reno race Friday, it will be interesting to see any change in rules or where people stand by the course...

[Ranchero50]

The BLM issued a statement saying safety was the responsibility of the race organizer, South El Monte-based Mojave Desert Racing. MDR's permit required racers to travel 15 mph or less when they were within 50 feet of fans, and allowed no more than 300 spectators for the event, the agency said.

I'm curious how that was interpreted in the dirvers meeting or if it even was...

I also wonder if this was a paying to view event or a go and show event for the crowds?

Jamie

[fbomb100]

My roommate son was ask by his cusins to go buy he stay here ,it was a good thing ,becuase there one of the ones that got hurt and two of there friends die
I have seen a youtube clip on it and yes every one was right by the road they where all dumb a$$is I just glad the room mate sons stayed home!!

many say it was the organizer faut ,, bullsh^t it was all the ones standing that close to the track!!
heres thr youtube clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzsLKuiSzP4

[brandon.k]

Soooo, people are going to take legal action against the race organizers for their own stupidity ? And the driver had to run because of angry people throwing rocks at him ?
Just how stupid can people really be?

[1971ford]

Soooo, people are going to take legal action against the race organizers for their own stupidity ? And the driver had to run because of angry people throwing rocks at him ?
Just how stupid can people really be?

No rocks were thrown at the driver.

90% of what every news station is saying is DEAD WRONG. Don't believe anything the media says. I don't watch the news, but I had nothing against it until now, I will never believe anything they say.

[Ranchero50]

Darn toot'n... The enviroweenies have been waging war on these events for years. Read some of the comments under the yahoo story. Those people don't care about anything except their own agenda. Will the BLM issue permits as easily, never again.

Will that spawn illegal midnight dashes from GPS point to GPS point across the desert?

Jamie

[fireguywtc]

90% of what every news station is saying is DEAD WRONG. Don't believe anything the media says. I don't watch the news, but I had nothing against it until now, I will never believe anything they say.

Thank You!!! I wish more people would realize this. There is always a sliver of truth with what the news reports, but we must always remember that news regularly twists and manipulates stories to keep up their ratings. They say things like "reporst of people allegedly throwing rocks..." allow the news to report juicy rumors without liability of false reproting or any other problems that are not covered under the freedom of the press. Bottom line is everyone must be very cynical when listeing to the news all the time and carefully form opinions from the facts, not the news reports.

[1971ford]

Will that spawn illegal midnight dashes from GPS point to GPS point across the desert?

Jamie

Very good point.
It's almost as if they have taken the drag strip away, so drag racers then turn to the streets even more... could this happen with desert racing if you take away the legal land? Who knows... I know that people who put $10,000 into their truck in off-road parts are not just going to stop driving them on dirt...
I'm going to bring this up on the off-road forum, just another thing to include in the letters to BLM we're all sending.

[bb429power]

Yeah I was told that everyone started throwing stones at the driver when he got out. WTF? He didn't do it on purpose, yeah its bad but I'm sure he feels horrible. To an extent it kind of is the crowds fault, they shouldn't EVER be that close to the track. They need to back the fences up a good 300', that would be good enough so that they don't get hurt. Yeah its sad, but where the crowd is located is stupid. Its an accident, people don't use their heads.

[OldRedFord]

Soooo, people are going to take legal action against the race organizers for their own stupidity ? And the driver had to run because of angry people throwing rocks at him ?
Just how stupid can people really be?

X2 You should be aware of the risks attending a event like that. What do they think is going to happen standing that close?

Reminds me of the drag racing accident that happened near me back in 1969. People too close to the track then too. Car lost control and went into the crowd. Took the lives of 12 and injured 40.

[1971ford]

For those that want to know the truth and not the news bs, have a listen while browsing fordification. unfortunately he didn't get everything in he wanted but he still straightened out many things.

http://soundcloud.com/absolutmotoxxx/fi ... r-mdr-race

Cliff notes of the stuff he was able to cover
-15mph speed limit mentioned is for the SPECTATORS not the RACERS. That was a big one.
-300 limit on people is believed to be (however not yet for sure) for amount of racers in the race, NOT spectators. How could they possibly regulate an open desert.
-MDR DID have signs staked into the ground telling spectators to step back over 100 feet.

One that he didn't get to is the crowd throwing rocks which didn't happen.

Also, I found out today that a buddy of mine that lives a couple minutes away and has a very nice built f150, is best friends with the driver of the truck. He can't get a hold of him but i'm sure it's because his phone is blown up with calls and messages. He posted on facebook that he is sorry and devestated.
Simply what needs to happen is the spectators need to step back 100 feet. That would give them enough time to move if things hit the fan again.

[1971ford]

Reminds me of the drag racing accident that happened near me back in 1969. People too close to the track then too. Car lost control and went into the crowd. Took the lives of 12 and injured 40.

Yet there is still drag racing.

Why take away desert racing.

[fbomb100]

For those that want to know the truth and not the news bs, have a listen while browsing fordification. unfortunately he didn't get everything in he wanted but he still straightened out many things.

http://soundcloud.com/absolutmotoxxx/fi ... r-mdr-race

Cliff notes of the stuff he was able to cover
-15mph speed limit mentioned is for the SPECTATORS not the RACERS. That was a big one.
-300 limit on people is believed to be (however not yet for sure) for amount of racers in the race, NOT spectators. How could they possibly regulate an open desert.
-MDR DID have signs staked into the ground telling spectators to step back over 100 feet.

One that he didn't get to is the crowd throwing rocks which didn't happen.

Also, I found out today that a buddy of mine that lives a couple minutes away and has a very nice built f150, is best friends with the driver of the truck. He can't get a hold of him but i'm sure it's because his phone is blown up with calls and messages. He posted on facebook that he is sorry and devestated.
Simply what needs to happen is the spectators need to step back 100 feet. That would give them enough time to move if things hit the fan again.

thx for that sound bite

[basketcase0302]

Glad to know you're ok Ryan!
My condolences to the pour souls families that lost lives there.

[mlheppl]

Reminds me of the drag racing accident that happened near me back in 1969. People too close to the track then too. Car lost control and went into the crowd. Took the lives of 12 and injured 40.

Yet there is still drag racing.

Why take away desert racing.

The biggest difference is most drag racing events are held on privately owned tracks. Tracks like the race last weekend cover at least in part if not entirely on public land. That being said, desert racing has an uphill battle. Very few private land owners own enough land to host a race. Fewer still would open their land up to a race. Racing organizations like MDR don't have the money to purchase enough land and then develop it so that they can control where spectators stand. Who knows, this fact could possibly play in the favor of MDR when the inevitable lawsuits start flying. How can they regulate where a person is allowed to go/stand on BLM land (even if it means endangering their own fool lives)? Do they close the grand canyon when a fool stands too close to the edge and falls over?