6 dead at offroad race in california

RatLabGuy said:
Brad I know this is a problem given the terrain. Note, 50 mi loop = 25 mi or less between start and anyother point, and thats via track, not straight line. All you need is 3 EMS positions and any EMS is 8 miles or less away from any point.
it said that's how long to reach the track - not the crash site.
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Dude... 8 miles in the desert is at least 30 mins away in anything resembling an emergency vehicle. And that's not counting the time it takes for them to actually figure out where the accident is. They can call in and say its near RM35, but that's still over a mile of track you have to search.
 
i just wanted to clarify about the paramedics... according to an interview on FOX this morning paramedics hired by the event and off duty fire fighters (EMS trained) were on sight almost immediately. the 30 min comments were referring to outside ambulances and helicopters from a local town
 
andrewhove said:
i just wanted to clarify about the paramedics... according to an interview on FOX this morning paramedics hired by the event and off duty fire fighters (EMS trained) were on sight almost immediately. the 30 min comments were referring to outside ambulances and helicopters from a local town
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well there you go. Thanks.
 
this is nothing new in racing. they've been dealing with this shit for years in the European rally racing. People hanging out on the curves where a driver is most likely to loose it.

If you ask me, it's Darwin at work. Hell I stand back when the bus/train pull into stop, not see how close I can get to it.
 
mbalbritton said:
this is nothing new in racing. they've been dealing with this shit for years in the European rally racing. People hanging out on the curves where a driver is most likely to loose it.

If you ask me, it's Darwin at work. Hell I stand back when the bus/train pull into stop, not see how close I can get to it.
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This was cited as the downfall for the "B" Class rallies years ago... at one point it was the drivers refusing to race due the crowds
 
That is total BS, but I sent him a "stay strong" type message too. Sucks that he is in that situation, probably getting slammed by people as well.
 
This type of thing happened in the local NC mud racing circuit like maybe 6-7 years ago that resulted in alot of common sense rules and reg's. I followed the mud race circuit (as a spectator) like 5-6 years before the big mishap that changed things just to check out all the tracks and the only track that had the common sense kicked in was the one in Sanford. Everyone else had hardly nothing if anything to protect the crowd. And my local track in Willow Spring was the biggest wake-up-call. The next event had spectator barriers and limitations where you could go and absolutely no one at the end of the track.
Sad it takes a tragedy before safety is a concern.
 
burrellsjeep said:
Sorry not CBS but CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/08/16/california.racing.deaths/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn
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IMO

I love following the news. Either good or bad, I just find it interesting and educational. But CNN has always come across to me as being all out biased towards the presidentcy no matter the topic and very withheld to what information they give and try to watch every word they say not to hurt their relationship with the presidentcy. I for one am into ALL events and not to take sides to better myself, but to have open discussion and learn from the past. It's clear the crowd was the ones at fault, if not the event producers theirselves for not regulating the safety distances. How the hell can anyone hold the driver responsible here? I feel this one will open eyes towards CNN and whoever else took sides against the driver.:shaking:
 
andrewhove said:
I wonder if this will change how people spectate at KOH. Haven't ever been but from pictures I have seen people get pretty close on the rock sections
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mbalbritton said:
this is nothing new in racing. they've been dealing with this shit for years in the European rally racing. People hanging out on the curves where a driver is most likely to loose it.

If you ask me, it's Darwin at work. Hell I stand back when the bus/train pull into stop, not see how close I can get to it.
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It won't change spectators, trust me, if you let them they will stand right beside everything, I see it every weekend in every kind of sport. Honestly I'm always way to close for safety to the action with what I do announcing and running things, thank the lord I have been ok so far, but i have had several close call type situations already, and every spectator there will try to stand right next to me if I'd let em . . .

Iget fairly ticked off at spectators at a lot of these events, especially when you consistently tell them please don't cross there, please back up, etc, and of course they won't listen.

We had to completely stop a Sled Pull show with 1000 people in the crowd watching recently because spectators decided to all pile up standing around the end of the Pulling track right in front of the 1500+ horse diesel trucks pulling a 40,000+ pound sled right at them . . . and wouldn't move regardless of my asking them over the mic over and over again. So we just stopped the show all together and said until ya'll move we don't continue. Still took a good 10+ min or so before they would all move.



Its not too difficult with everything I do at all these different places (except the high Speed races) keeping people back and having barriers and whatnot (we are required to have a barrier and 15ft separation by our insurance for the mud/sled pulls/etc type events)

Problem is with this baja and distance racing stuff is theres no central point and too many people scattered too far apart, I don't think it'd be possible to hold them all back. You'd have to make an effort though with security and whatnot to appease the general public but in all honesty it would be just for show type deal.


Just hope this doesn't get too blown out of proportions, It could make things for us folks in the Event business much much more difficult, when its really a spectator issue all along . . .
 
morons

They cover the planet, and the government works to keep them alive.
 
I was listening to this on the news this morning while I was answering e-mails/checkin boards and wasnt payin close attn but I thought I heard them say their was a 15 MPH rule in areas w high spectators.I havent smoked any crack today but I'm about possitive I heard them say that but at the same time I cant believe they would even suggest such a rule in offroad racing.
 
People need to take some personal responsibility for their actions. They chose to spectate at a dangerous sport. No different than people who run with the bulls or hold their ping pong paddle wrong..


I was all but dumbfounded at the DPG Ecors race to see a dad/mom, kid,+kid in stroller making a run for it across the 2 lanes + pits in the front section. It was 100% fully taped off. I'm like WTF !!! They were mad at me telling them to not cross there. The looks and comment I got all day from many people both spectators and people from this site who just didn't get it, it was pretty discouraging. :shaking:
 
That sucks, but only for the young kids who couldn't have been expected to know better.

For the adults, they got what they asked for. They wanted to stand close by the trucks to get the adrenaline rush of being so close.. why would it give you a rush? Because it's a bit dangerous! Well, the danger proved to be a real one. No one put a gun to their head and told them to stand that close, and you're launching a vehicle on a low traction surface into the sky - could you really, seriously, have ANY expectation of safety?

This crap happens all the time overseas, but it's an accepted part of any form of racing where you can be that close to the action.
 
Rich said:
That sucks, but only for the young kids who couldn't have been expected to know better.

For the adults, they got what they asked for. They wanted to stand close by the trucks to get the adrenaline rush of being so close.. why would it give you a rush? Because it's a bit dangerous! Well, the danger proved to be a real one. No one put a gun to their head and told them to stand that close, and you're launching a vehicle on a low traction surface into the sky - could you really, seriously, have ANY expectation of safety?

This crap happens all the time overseas, but it's an accepted part of any form of racing where you can be that close to the action.
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Well said. I agree 100%.
 
The BLM also said it was reviewing future racing events in the California desert on a case by case basis to ensure all safety requirements can be met before authorizing them to go forward.....
 
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