Some sad news that I have put off for long enough.

[rdorman]

Originally posted by Double Venom


I'd put a target on my Cobra and drive all the freeways until I caught the SOB.

By the way DV, I will ride shotgun. I am one he!! of a shot. Qualified expert!

Rick

[Todd Baumann]

DV,
I will abide with your current decision, but I will say that I do not like it one bit.
This is why I live here in these United States, I refuse to let anyone push me around or change my habits just because of one lunitic wants to be a copy cat. Those are my rights.

Anyways, How about bringing it up north of the border, I think that we could easily create some of the type of venues that we had last year here in Michigan. We have Milan for drag racing, enough schools and large parking lots for auto crossing and there are some really nice parks around here for things like a BBQ.
Plenty of hotels also.

We cannot let this special event be destroyed by one sick individual the littles ones still need our help.

Thanks,
Todd

[Double Venom]

Rick,
I'm sorry to be so blunt...but you are missing the point! Do you think this nut cares if it called the Fling or not? It's the cars..period. Taget of opportunity. The publicity, hell half the state was going to know of the Fling. Do you think he wont come out if we change the dates? My gawd man, think for a second. He is moving all over the central Ohio area right now. Yes..they spotted a small black car. Well by golly that narrows it down to 127,853 +/- cars in Franklin County alone. The fact is, they do NOT know if it was black, let alone know if it was even him.

Let it go. If they catch the guy in time, I will be the first one screaming.."it's on."

DV..this aint easy folks, it really isn't.

[Wade Chamberlain]

Damn, Ed, that's not good news at all. My vote would be to hold the course a while longer, but I'm not in your shoes either. I'd respect whatever decision you make.

[HIQ]

DV doesn't want to be responsible for holding an event with this going on. Can you blame him? While many here would not mind taking this chance, DV would have to live with the consequences if something goes wrong.

How can anyone blame him?

[klayfish]

I couldn't stop thinking about it as I was driving home from work.

DV, I respect your decision. You're right, nobodys' life is worth knowingly risking if there is some madman out there looking to shoot people. But I agree maybe you should set a GO/NO GO date and see if they catch him. London is a perfect town for the Fling.

But the Fling means so much to so many people. Not to mention the $100,000+ that was raised for Team Jenny. We can't cheat Team Jenny out of that desperately needed research money.

If the Fling has to be relocated for just one year, then so be it. I will offer to try to host it here in the Philadelphia area if need be. I have a wonderful support group of local Cobra owners here who could help pull it off. But it would only be IF the sniper is not found and IF we have to move it for this year. I do not want to sound selfish at all, I just want the Fling to happen for so many reason. The Fling was born in Ohio, and needs to stay in Ohio.

So DV, I offer my services to you. This is your baby. But I would be honored and proud to assist you in putting it on in another venue. The offer is out there.

Steve

[Cobra20646]

Don't like the idea of giving in either! But I'm not going to cancel my plans...... I figure this ass wipe will be history by June.

Forever optimistic,

- Jim -

[Double Venom]

5:15 PM 18-FEB., 2004
The unknown "sniper" just struck again, hitting a mini-van traveling SB on U.S. 23 out of Columbus. First time he has shot at a car not traveling on the freeways!
DV...

[sierramadre45]

DV, I respect your opinion and decision. Thanks for all you continue to do for our little fraternity. I look forward to meeting you in person the next time we get together.

[petek]

DV,

Tough decision ... but I also observe that you have a background and continual contact with the men in the thin blue line that few of us have. If you say we shouldn't, then we shouldn't ... in Ohio.

There is nothing that says we can't have tens if not hundreds of mini-Flings across the country! I'm already thinking about something we can do in the KC area (although I'm sure there are folks in MACC that are going to beat me to the punch)!

Heck, I might even drive out to a couple of other states to visit mini-Flings ... what-cha folks in Texas up to? Nebraska? Kansas?

... and don't forget Jenny!

[Excaliber]

I have family in Ohio, no not DV and Jay, my OTHER family.

I must say I have been worried about this guy spreading out. The whole situation makes me very nervous.

I don't see any other choice. So many Cobras together in one place would make a prime target. It is almost sure to attract the sniper. I worry about my family enough all ready, let alone "visitors" too!

Ernie

[rdorman]

We need to take this off line. PLEASE call me soon, (614) 447-0405.

I have left a message at the shop as well.

Rick

[starwolf56]

I had a feeling that this would happen. I have been looking forward to the Fling since my first one last year. Even will have car finished this time. DV is right about the risks; but......there must be some way around this! Somewhere,somehow,we cannot live our lives in fear. Life is too short to allow anyone to take away this event. Great cars,good people,having a fantastic time and raising funds to support a very worthy cause. It does't get any better than that in my opinion.
I hope they get this SOB soon and make an example of him!
This is NOT the way americans live.
Charlie Robbins

[rdorman]

Originally posted by Double Venom


5:15 PM 18-FEB., 2004
The unknown "sniper" just struck again, hitting a mini-van traveling SB on U.S. 23 out of Columbus. First time he has shot at a car not traveling on the freeways!
DV...

Sorry DV. At least five on route 23, at least two of these have been positively tied, and at least five more not on interstates and again at least three tied by ballistics.

I REALLY hate to contradict DV escpecially in public but the facts need to be known. All have been in southern columbus, and south of there, only one east. Fling is west. Lets not add to panic but be known that this guy does not appear to be interested in killing but rather a statement. Lord knows what that is. One, very tragic death in all the shootings. The DC area guys where out for blood. Who knows what this one is after or how long it will be.

DOES NOT MEAN THERE IS NOT A THREAT NOR THAT DV IS WRONG IN THIS. Only time can tell that. JUST a statement of fact. Source NBC Columbus. http://www.nbc4columbus.com/news/2698997/detail.html


DV decision at this point has merit, even I who want it to go on in the face of adversity beleive that. Just don't want to aid un-necessary panic and establish fact.

Thanks
Rick

[TheSaint71]

Yeahh this guy is just a terrorist wanting people to live in fear and I can't do that either...

HOWEVER, Im young and single and I have nothing to loose..If I had family I wouldn't but since I don't I'd drive, and would make sure to get a concealed weapons permit and shoot back if need be! My friends are snipers for the Army and Marines and I can often outshoot them thanks to thyeir good teaching abilities, anyway this buTT head needs to meet a real sniper or something. I feel bad for all those poor people getting shot it..

hope they get this punk!

[Double Venom]

Rick,
There is no need to take this off line. If it wasn't clear before, let me make it clear now...The Fling IS canceled. If I find a viable solution, if they catch this guy, if a lot of things, then we will continue on.

Your right...Channel 4 is correct on most parts. Do you or Ch4 have any idea on how many reports were never made public before the one involving the fatality? No you don't and nor do they. I'll give you a little hint though, I retired in September of 1997, it was years before that I actually worked the "streets". Way back then "We" were taking reports on "Malicious Destruction of Property", gunshot damage to cars. No one ever paid any attention until they became more frequent, and deadly. Is this the same guy? Are these shootings all tied together over the last ten years? Is he really that bad a shot that he has only hit one person, and a passanger no less? Who knows?

Panic? Those roads are driven every day by thousands of people, just not publicized parades and in Cobras with no tops. I don't see any panic, just common sense.

Like I said there is a lot more to this than you know.

I will call and I have been but me thinks you have teenage girls at home? I will continue trying.
DV

[Mike Braatz]

ED-- WE HAVE HAD OFFERS TO RELOCATE THIS YEAR--
I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE MORE INFO THAN OTHERS--I RESPECT YOUR DECISION. AS I HAVE WORKED WITH POLICE AND OTHERS IN THIS AREA AND THEY HAVE THE NITTY GRITTY.
WOULD YOU OBJECT IF WE LOOKED AT CLEVELAND OR ANOTHER AREA. ONE GUY SUGGESTED THE PA. AREA OR IN THE DETROIT, JUST FOR ONE YEAR.
PERSONALLY, I DON'T THINK YOU MADE THIS DECISION LIGHTLY.
BUT INSTEAD OF FLAT OUT SAYING "IT'S A DONE DEAL" MAYBE WE HAVE OTHER OPTIONS.
THIS MAYBE AN OPPORTUINTY TO SEE WHO STEPS UP TO THE PLATE-- HOW ABOUT IN FLORIDA--???
MIKE

[Dwight]

OK ED. I UNDERSTAND, BUT IF THEY CATCH THIS NUT, I WILL DRIVE UP FOR SOME STRAWBERRIES.

[rdorman]

Originally posted by Double Venom


Rick,
There is no need to take this off line. If it wasn't clear before, let me make it clear now...The Fling IS canceled. If I find a viable solution, if they catch this guy, if a lot of things, then we will continue on.

Your right...Channel 4 is correct on most parts. Do you or Ch4 have any idea on how many reports were never made public before the one involving the fatality? No you don't and nor do they. I'll give you a little hint though, I retired in September of 1997, it was years before that I actually worked the "streets". Way back then "We" were taking reports on "Malicious Destruction of Property", gunshot damage to cars. No one ever paid any attention until they became more frequent, and deadly. Is this the same guy? Are these shootings all tied together over the last ten years? Is he really that bad a shot that he has only hit one person, and a passanger no less? Who knows?

Panic? Those roads are driven every day by thousands of people, just not publicized parades and in Cobras with no tops. I don't see any panic, just common sense.

Like I said there is a lot more to this than you know.

I will call and I have been but me thinks you have teenage girls at home? I will continue trying.
DV

[Double Venom]

Guys,
For heavons sake, ANYONE, ANYWHERE that wants to host our "Family Picnic" by all means do so! I just think it should not be here this year. I have had offers from California, Michigan, Ohio, Penn. ,etc., to host the event. By all or any means a Fling should happen.

I just got off the phone with Rick. We're both so cranked over this idiot that either one of us is ready to go out hunting.

A lot of comments about this terroist, nutcake was not going to change our lives. Please let me tell you what this does to me. As I told Rick, I volunteered for the Army in 1967, (not that my draft number was low or anything, I think is was 33), I then volunteered for the Airborne- got the 101st. Then I volunteered for Viet Name, THEN and only then did I get smart and quit volunteering for anything! Then I joined the police department. All because I loved to "hunt" down butt holes like this! Now this butt hole is changing my life? I don't like it anymore than you do.

One of the things Rick and I discussed was the, what if aspect. What if they catch this guy the night before Fling IV was to start?
Then by golly the IV would go on, even if their were only two of us. Maybe a small picnic and parade but it would be something!

DV...an open thread for sure