In my own backyard

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The driver who lost control during an off-road race in the California desert and killed eight people when he crashed his truck into a crowd "had no business" going as fast as he did, a witness said today.

Seriously? You were present at a race, where you were likely screaming for speed just like everyone else... and now you've got the nerve to gripe that there was speed in a RACE? Yeesh.

This is just a flat out tragedy. And 10-1 the driver feels like absolutely crap already. No reason to make them feel worse because you, and those eight people, CHOSE to come and watch -closely- a dangerous sport.

*sigh* Those poor families.
 
^Exactly.

One of the moms at the kids' school was en route to a PTA meeting when a kid (like 8? years old), dressed in BLACK, at like 8pm (after dark) tried to cut across four lanes of traffic. (No, the parents were not anywhere nearby they had to be hunted down) Speed limit is only 35 (and is strictly enforced so I/most go 32-34) and she slammed on her new car brakes, but she still ended up clipping him. Bumps and bruises, but he was fine. But she just kept saying (for weeks) I HIT A KID... she couldn't get past it. Even though she was NOT at fault at all. Seeing how torn up she was... I can only imagine what this guy is feeling when there were not only injuries, but deaths.

Sports like this, lives risked for a thrill as the participant... and crowds screaming for more and trying to get as close to the carnage as possible... I just do NOT understand it. Why would anyone want their 15 minutes of fame to be a report on their death?

My heart goes out to this guy, maybe he'll realize the true cost and choose another profession... one that won't risk his/others families.

And my heart goes out to the families of those hurt... to have someone taken so quickly, it's just not easy to deal with at all.
 
It's not easy to deal with. That place out there is a freakin nightmare too. They have one annual event that Ken goes to - not as a spectator, but driving a tow truck, and he spends most of his time pushing people back. I can't believe these people feel the NEED to get that close to a racing car!!! It is irrational to me.
 
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Exactly. I was about to say the stupid spectactors have themselves to blame...they must be right up close to the track. I saw a racer come off a 500 GP bike, hit the safety stops, bounce over and land on three people in the infield of the Daytona 500 one day. Not the rider's fault, not the bike's fault. Sit in the stands or stay back far enough you do not put your safety in jeopardy.

It is sad but I have very little compassion for the spectactors...they made their choice and they paid dearly for it.
 
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this speed limit is for when anyone is driving near the camping areas. my roommate is involved in desert racing. we have talked quite a bit about this. the spectators were supposed to be 100 feet away from the course, but they ignore this and try to touch the racing vehicles. the spectators choose places on the course where there is likely to be action. the vehicles only go around the 50 mile course 4 times, so people figure they need to do all they can to "experience" the race when the vehicles pass them. the racer did not drive recklessly. accidents happen on any race course. the spectators chose to ignore the rules.
 
Driver devistated? But he's alive!

Can't for the life of me understand one facet of it.

Gosh-- had a few comments-- realised that I just don't get it.

Why the race in the dessert? Doesn't running stuff like that destroy the soil/terrain?
BLM land? Why on public property?

Like I said I just don't get it.

Destructive, Dangerous, Unorganized, Unsafe

I bet they been racing like that for years and years. I also bet that this is not the first incedent of injury, maybe not even the first incedent of death.
 
the people involved in this kind of racing actually take great pains to protect the desert, spend huge amounts of time cleaning it up, paying the dump fees to undo the mess that others make. they are very aware that the desert needs protecting, probably more than most of us.

yes accidents do happen. accidents happen at Nascar races, too. that doesn't make it disorganized.

there are some wild assumptions being tossed around here. while I personally haven't attended any desert racing events, I can tell you that conversations with my roommate over several months would lead me to believe that the organizers and racers are not the ones being reckless.

the spectators made bad choices. the truck that overturned was still half on the course when it came to rest. it didn't careen wildly through the responsibly-situated spectators. the spectators were nearly ON the course. if someone was on the edge of a Nascar race, we would not think badly of the driver, but of the spectator who didn't stay a safe distance away from an activity that was inherently risky.
 
I grew up riding motorcyclines in the desert of very southern California. There were these "flats" that they would have impromptu races on. Basically tons of people would line up along a patch of sand and then people would race down the middle of it all. Heck, even I raced down it a bit.......it is informal and fun, therefore a teenager on a bike that would never win an actual race can go flying down against her own buddies. Anyways, it got more and more "popular" over the years and eventually did have actual RACING speeds. And I hated going there as I never felt safe standing along the edges of the "raceway". I distinctly remember a motorcyclist losing control and flipping their bike...they came off and their bike tumbled end over end over end and went straight into the crowd across the way. I don't think it killed anyone, but it did some real damage.

Don't blame the racer........blame the people standing there. It really is stupid to be that close.
 

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