Irresponsible behavior at the cruise.

[BANDIT 1]

I don't think my car is more dangerous "running through the gears to 100 mph" than it is "roasting the tires", in fact I think it is less likely to get "out of control" doing the 0-100 mph run.

[Eddy K]

I usually don't do alot of posting on this group, but this particular thread is one that I felt I should comment on.

I was not in London for the Fling this year but I was last year and witnessed the street racing and rides that were given to the paying public. And no doubt about it, there was street racing between a couple of cars as I have it on tape here at home.

Over the last 30+ years I have drag raced various types of cars. From doorslammers to altereds to dragsters. One thing is common. No matter what kind of car you drive or how good you are or think that you are, accidents can and do happen. No one is immune.

I have seen fast cars crash and the drivers walk away without a scratch and I have seen slower cars crash and the drivers not be so lucky. Funny how that works but that is the way it is with racing.

To put a person in a high horsepower lightweight car like a Cobra and nail thru four gears on a city street with crowds standing all around is unwise at the very least.

A car like this with a short wheelbase and alot of horsepower can get out of shape very quickly and even with the best driver at the wheel can be a handful. It could get into the crowd in the wink of an eye.

Are the street rides fun to watch? Oh yes. Are they exciting for the riders? Very much so. Are they dangerous? Exceptionaly!!

Lets keep the high performance aspect on the track so that the DVSF can go on for years to come.

Eddy SPF 799

[Randall Thomas]

casaleenie, how is your negative sarcasm contructive to the health of the event? So far a lot of options and ideas have been put forth, however, you have not offered anything much that is constructive to the improvement of the event. It's easy to sit back and complain, but please, step forward and state what *you* think might be a good idea or ideas to consider for a future event. That is what we really need here, don't you think?

We need help here, not rants. We can get that type of negativity from anyone *against* an event of this kind, but we certainly don't need it from someone who says they "enjoyed" the event. We need positive criticism and ideas, please.

So,what exactly are your ideas and variations of what would make this safer in your mind?

casaleenie, your original point is well taken and the importance you place on this aspect is understood. However, let's get this back on track and in a more constructive mode for everyone's sake.

/Randall

[G.R.]

I've tried to not post anything on this--but

#1)the "burnout street" in London was not lined with people--at the starting line out to about fifty feet or so yes--people wanted pictures
#2)Yes there were a few drivers who got a little bent out of shape--they recovered and drove on

I happen to agree with Jamo--had everyone paid heed to DV's instructions and know your limits and your cars--

There were some excellent drivers out there, guys and gals with lots of experience and wheel time--a lot with far less,yet knew their limits--

I venture to guess that a very large portion of the total funds raised for Jenny came from the public paying to ride in these hi-performance autos, doing something they'll talk about and want to do again--even if they were the ones riding in the one that got away from the driver--

I talked to one gentleman with 2 young teens on SAT, all three of them rode in different cars three times each--Both the boy and girl wanted to ride in the "real" Cobra(Jamo's lol)---guess what they saw what could happen and on SUN were out at the airport and rode again--they did the same last year and were looking forward to next year

I think on Sunday helmets should have been mandatory, as well as having everyone strapped in in full harness(SAT also). I saw several Riders wearing only the lap belt as they were staging--
Helmets even if they were only MC type, sized for younger children should be used, better than nothing if, God forbid, something happened.

Before the accident on SUN the mini-cones at the shutdown area were hard to see from the staging area--the haybale stack made a difference---YET there were several drivers that were still accelerating hard after they passed--dumb!

I think people love this type of venue because they can actually get up close and personal with these cars--rather than being blocked off behind fences and barriers like so many other events--

Enough my .02 worth

[BO DUTCH]

Randall.

Well stated,



I read casaleenie's post a little different !!
I think it was a round-about way of volinteering himself and his Cobra for the intersection expo !!
If we could get 3 lawyers to join him, what a SHOW !! These 4 are the only ones who could afford the liability !!

Casaleenie, Your incharge of recruitment for the intersection crash session !!

Why DO people go to say, Nascar races ? To see crashes.
Thats what makes it spectacular. Fans Want to see crashes But, they don't want to see anybody get hurt. If a driver gets seriously injured, that casts a dark cloud over the entire event.

We don't want crashes, we want safe & Exciting events. In order to make them EXCITING we gotta raise the bar a little, over what is common everyday activities. Push the envelope a little so to speak !!


Bo

[southernfriedcj]

There are a lot of long time members posting one this thread with ultra low post counts. Why don't you guys come around more often?

[Jeff Hamilton]

A few of us at the Fling talked about (if it happened again next year) getting one of them radar signs you see along the road (You are going XX mph). If this was set up so many feet away from the starting line it would also be the shut down point. If you go past the shut down line on the go pedal you are done for the day. You could have a little friendly competition who could get the highest speed and still control the distance.
Just thinking out loud,
Jeff Hamilton

[computerworks]

Originally posted by Jeff Hamilton


A few of us at the Fling talked about (if it happened again next year) getting one of them radar signs you see along the road (You are going XX mph). If this was set up so many feet away from the starting line it would also be the shut down point. If you go past the shut down line on the go pedal you are done for the day

...a really GREAT idea!

[BO DUTCH]

Jeff

Good idea !!

1/8 mi. 1/4 mi. and 1/2 mi. strips !!

[Edley Rondinone]

Speeds were WAY too high in London at the drag strip/burn-out lane. Anyone remember the bicyclist casually pedalling across the road? The burn-outs were neat; the speeds at the far end was what was dangerous. Burn-outs should be first and second gears ONLY!! (Even then, the cars may be too fast for a residential street.) NO ONE, and I repeat NO ONE, has the ability to control their car if a mechanical mishap occurs. We were all very lucky that nothing happened, sending some car careening into someone's living room. (Did I mention that this will be a LONG thread?)

[rdorman]

Every year I hear the same comments. The only problems where people not doing as asked. Well, maybe not the only, the cones where to small.

DV asked people to be consious of who was in the car with you. How hard do they want to go.

DV asked to back off out of second in London, people where hitting fourth.

DV wanted people to have helmets on Sunday. Hardly anyone showed with them.

DV wanted people to get off of it at the end of the 1/8, people didn't.

DV asked that people stay back from the lauching areas and behind them, some people didn't.

I personally witnessed DV giving a few people a talking to about their behavior, some listened some didn't.

The run off room after the 1/8 was plenty. If it wasn't you didn't get out of it after wards, you need to work on your brakes, or you have a sub 9 seconds machine (just a guess!), you know which one fits.

So if the everyone did as they where asked, the event would have been more safe. Question is what is every one willing to do about those who don't do what they are asked OR what is every one willing to give up for those who don't do as asked?

Just my two bits!

Rick

[Turk]

First Year Hundreds of people 119 Cobras
ZERO Fatalities.....................ZERO Accidents..........ZERO Injuries

Second year Hundreds of people 200 plus Cobras
ZERO fatalities......................ZERO Accidents..........ZERO Injuries


Third Year, Maybe Thousand people 283 Cobras
Auto Cross, Drags, Burn Outs, High speed runs,Convoys
ZERO fatalities......................1 Accident (No risk to anyone other than the car).....................1 Injury (Brent's foot) I ran over it.


Yeah let's make it safer next year!
Or let's count on getting lucky again.

Obviously some people went over the line, more importantly OBVIOUSLY a lot went into making these events safe. It wasn't luck.

I suppose the straps on the dyno could have broken and the cars could have launched onto the spectators.

An Aircraft may not have noticed the AIRPORT CLOSED signs and have landed and killed thousands.

It didn't happen. Lucky is good, but all of this was NOT as a result of luck. It was probably as a result of lot of planning and careful driving.

Get of our backs!!

TURK

[rdorman]

'.'

[Excaliber]

0 to 60 and back to zero and throw a radar sign in there some where. Excellent!

Is there some place I could go a 100mph while were at it? I kinda like going that fast.........

Ernie

[CobraDan]

I know one women waited over an hour to get a ride in a Cobra and after that ride she got back in line for another ride. I can't beleave all these people that claim they own a Cobra and the only place that they have gotten on the gas pedal is at the race track. As Turk said get off my back or at least get real.
Dan

[klayfish]

I think it's all so simple. Great points are being brought up about safety and such, but when you look at this, I think Rick and Turk said all that needs to be said.

1. DV made it clear (at least in my opinion) what the ground rules for these events were. I do agree that helmets should have been mandatory on Sunday, but beyond that, we all knew what was asked of us. I thought his requests allowed for a lot of fun for driver and passenger, and kept safety at the top of the list. It's up to the driver to take responsibility for themselves. The vast majority did.

2. As Turk said, it was no coincidence or blind luck that, save for Jacks' accident, there were no problems. Because of the guidelines laid down by DV and because 95% of the people followed them and looked out for each other, everything went smoothly.

I kind of equate it to when I go to an autox or open track event. The organizers can and do everything within their power to make the event as safe and fun as possible. But if someone still insists on going out and killing themselves, they will. Same thing here. DV and crew did everything they probably could to make it fun and safe for us. For the most part, that happened. Plain and simple.

Steve

[casaleenie]

Lets see now,,,, Putting my list together for the "intersection run"

Hmm... Bandit, Randall, Bo, Craig - Remember this list is just a start.....and
I was beginning to wonder if some of you knew what sarcasm was...

The bottom line on this whole discussion is that you knew or should have known the rules that were laid down... There was a respect factor that was missing. You all claim to love the event, you love DV for putting it together.. I'm sure Ed Comb's life flashed before him when he saw the rules being bent or broken by several people...He vouched for the people at the Fling to the Cty of London. Why would you put a guy through that kind of misery when all you had to do was follow the rules set down by someone who worked so hard to put this together..
I pointed out some dangerous aspects to what took place in London.. According to you I'm also supposed to have the answers.. You guys know what the answers are... You're not stupid... Just don't do stupid things...

(actually, I can't take credit for pointing out the dangerous aspects,,, Frank of Cobrakelly had the guts to do that)
Jeff Hamilton came up with the first good recommendation... Start building there...

regards,
al schafer/casaleenie

[REAL 1]

Ed: If you are reading this read my last post. Anything beyond rides within the law and traffic regulations are flirting with disaster. Even then you better make sure everyone giving rides is properly licensed and has appropriate insurance and safety belts. $hit, you probably want to make sure the cars pass a safety inspection especially since you are "selling" rides.

Just some common sense thoughts.

[750hp]

Evan, if a mishap occured and some smartass wanted to sue the organisers for "Selling" rides --- TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHARITY -- I cannot imagine how I'd feel. For lawyers and money-hungry litigation-crazed civilians to take one dime away from "Team Jenny" would be an absolutely disgusting outcome.

I know it's your job to be mindful of events outside the law. I know that what happens in London isn't 100% within the law, but if it's toned down slightly then I think it should go on for many years to come.

Roll on next year!!!

[REAL 1]

Well its easy to paint the next guy as some money hungery litigation crazed civilian but if it was you or someone in your family that got hurt because of some irresponsible behavior I wonder if you might feel just a tad different about it.

Personally, if someone acted irresponsible and hurt someone in my family, Jenny or no Jenny they come first. Period.