This probably won't end well. This is California after all, a place where you can successfully sue a county because you traveled through a wildlife park and the wild life attacked you. Personal responsibility doesn't much exist here, tragic accidents have a way of turning into a profit motivated witch hunts. Also a shame that some jackasses in the crowd went after the driver, as if it's his fault for pushing himself during a race. Kinda thought that was the point. I guarantee that those same people were wanting to see the drivers push the limits through that section, they didn't pick that spot to watch because it was safe and boring. They wanted to get close to the action and they did, too close... their choice, their responsibility. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW4HWWoIrS4 I fear the detriment this will have on off-road racing. Sad day in more ways that one. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0816-offroad-crash-20100816,0,7066335.story
Ya i've been following this on race dezert, its just terrible for everyone, the sport included. The driver must be messed up in the head after something like this. I saw the video clip of the truck crashing in the distance, all you see is dust and hundreds of people 5-10' from where the trucks were flying by. Really stupid to stand so close to a racing event...I race short course offroad, and there are strict rules on barrier fences and spectators. I expect to see some changes after this.
Signs were up to tell people to stand back at least 125 feet from the course. Might have had a chance at that distance. Those are BLM rules for these events.
Yes really crappy outcome. Just one of those things that people never think will happen. Its sad but thats what happens when people are that close to a race course.
It sucks it happened and I feel bad for everyone but I'm surprised we don't see more of this. I see those pix of trucks flying over crowds at Baja and other races and just shake my head. Heck even at the MX nationals I am amazed how close to the track you can stand. Someone looses control of a bike and people are going to get hurt. RIP.
Very sad. The same day that happened, at a local track in Marysville, CA. A rider had a heart attack while riding and died. Something we just dont have control of. Very Sad
This could be the end of truck off road racing period. I don't think any organization is going to want to accept the responsibility of spectators. I already heard they were thinking of banning this type of racing in California.
yep, awful and sad in so many ways ... the dead are gone too quickly and we are left here to sort it out ... Risk analysis is very important ...everyday , everywhere ...
Who didn't see this coming: Environmental groups say they've been warning for years about the need for more closely controlled events, sparring constantly with the BLM over lax permitting and oversight. "People die up there every year, not usually eight at a time, but usually one at a time. This happens every year," said Kieran Suckling, executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity. In addition to the danger to humans, races take a toll on the fragile desert ecosystem, he said. His organization has three lawsuits against the BLM pending in federal court over off-road racing issues. "I think the BLM has still not fully turned the corner to recognize what a damaging activity this is," Suckling said.
Enviro-nuts are the worst at blowing things out of proportion. They are already being proven wrong about the severity of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for protecting our natural resources. Heck, I even worked for an environmental consultant for years. I just base my logic on far more common sense than these people. They give mother nature very little credit and yet nature is the most powerful force on earth. The only defense we have is to support groups like the Blue Ribbon Coalition and the AMA.
Two things... Saying events like this hurt the dez in any sort of meaningful way in the scope of the real world is ridiculous. We are just small fish / EZ target. People need to take personal responsibility at events like this. I'm sorry people died, it sucks, but they went to an event where trucks are flying by at crazy speeds, you have to make choices where you spectate from and be smart. IMHO no one else is to blame. You can't control crowds of people in the dez. Things should not be stopped because people made bad choices. No i do not know the circumstances but it is pretty obvious watching on TV and knowing people get killed every year you need to take personal responsibility if you are going to roll the dice and stand 20 feet from a race truck at full blast.
Standing on either side of the landing of a 60mph jump offroad? I hate to say it but Darwins natural selection is at work here. Its terrible that it happened, but for F' Sakes.....how dumb do you have to be? Imagine standing on either side of a higways middle lane right on the dotted lines watching cars go by at 65?
This area is 45 minutes from my house. I know Johnson Valley and especially the "Rock Pile". Most of the video that was on national TV cuts out the first few seconds of this tragic accident. The first truck through was on his horn the whole time. That means get out of the F'n way. I have raced off road cars and bikes for years. This accident could have been avoided if the spectators had a clue. You can't see at this time of day with the dust and sun going down in your face. I have hoped this wouldn't happen but IMO it is amazing it hasn't happened sooner. The spectators have gotten more and more brave over the years. You can't fix Stupid. This is the turning point for off road racing and the flatbill/DGAF'ers. Maybe they will go away now. Now the repurcussions are going to affect a whole lot of racing. Be it bikes or cars on Federal land. This is not going to be a localized thing here in Kali. It will be nationwide. What really pisses me off is the CBD and Sierra Club denouncing this accident while the bodies are still warm. Sorry for my rant, RIP to the folks who didn't make it home from the "Rock Pile" alive.
I feel sad for those who lost their lives....god speed Racing and fans go hand in hand...... Anyone who has raced knows when you first start out your a rookie and probably slow but the racer gets a big kick out of the whole thing....but the fans dont get anything from him after a while the racer gets better.. but more focused...then the racer gets a kick out of it and the fans get a kick out of it.... But...as time goes on...if the racers any good he is so focused...he doesnt get anything out of it...and the fans get everything But the fans get so focused that they forget that although these racers look like they can walk on water..they are riding/driving a very tight line..as racers we know this...just a brake tap or steering correction from veering off line...or worse It amazes me watching spectators standing close or...ON THE OUTSIDE OF CORNERS...some stand so close the drivers cant see the track till the spectators jump off the line there will have to be some intervention for safety...it will come at a cost though
I feel bad for the driver. It wasn't his fault, but he has to live with the fact that he killed all of those people. This is why we have to pay high insurance premiums when we put on off road races. If we continue to allow spectators to think for themselves, their won't be any type of off road races because none of the groups will be able to afford the insurance.
