Catch that "8 People killed in off road baja truck race" on the news?

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 10:13 am

Google it, cell phone camera videos all over the place. Baja style desert off road racing, some of the crowd standing right on this downhill part of the track...very narrow, as the 4x4 trucks come flying over the crest of the hill, down the backside (where bystanders are...nearly close enough to reach out and touch the trucks as they fly by). One of the trucks apparently landed in a way that made him lose control and flip into the crowd, sending bodies flying.

With all the rules 'n regs 'n safety stuff these days...hard to believe the crowd is allowed to stand right at the edge of the dirt track, especially in a rather blind spot. The poor driver of the truck...I can't imagine how bad he must feel, but sheesh...not his fault.

Dan · Post by **Dan** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 10:21 am

ya,saw it,crazy & sad,

and I agree the crowd was allowed way too close to the track.

De Plano · Post by **De Plano** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 6:47 pm

I have not seen the video, but to a certan extant I doubt it was the first truck to come over the hill and the folks knew the track. They chose to stand there. Rally competitions from around the world to a certan extant let people decide to watch from where they want.

If they had put everyone in wheelchairs at that spot than I would feel different.

Edit: Yeah it really sucks for the driver that people chose to be there. It would be crushing to have that haunting you

Prey521 · Post by **Prey521** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 8:15 pm

Huge lawsuit coming against the organizers of this event. I was reading earlier that the crowds are supposed to be at least 50' away from the track and these people were obviously much closer.

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 8:23 pm

just the other week watching some trophy truck videos on youtube and thought, man them people are crazy to be that close to them trucks, what a shame

JC · Post by JC » Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:08 pm

It's horrible what happened. I really feel for the family's and the deceased. With that said, I think personal responsibility is the main factor.

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:11 pm

JBrazen wrote:Huge lawsuit coming against the organizers of this event. I was reading earlier that the crowds are supposed to be at least 50' away from the track and these people were obviously much closer.

a lawsuit would be bs... those people knew exactly what they were doing when they got that close to FAST MOVING TRUCKS... I hate to see anyone get hurt but each and every single one of those that were involved knew the risks, knew the dangers and should have had enough common sense to keep back a decent safe distance from the FAST MOVING TRUCKS. You can investigate it til the cows come home, end of the day the blame goes to the crowd for not listening to instructions to stay back. Hell, I heard some were so close so they could touch the rear ends of the trucks as they went by.. that's insane!!!

I support in the future at least some sort of wire setup to fence people back, but this sort of thing has been going on for years with a great track record for safety. People just need to listen and have enough sense to keep back.

JC · Post by JC » Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:33 pm

Sava700 wrote:a lawsuit would be bs... those people knew exactly what they were doing when they got that close to FAST MOVING TRUCKS... I hate to see anyone get hurt but each and every single one of those that were involved knew the risks, knew the dangers and should have had enough common sense to keep back a decent safe distance from the FAST MOVING TRUCKS. You can investigate it til the cows come home, end of the day the blame goes to the crowd for not listening to instructions to stay back. Hell, I heard some were so close so they could touch the rear ends of the trucks as they went by.. that's insane!!!

I support in the future at least some sort of wire setup to fence people back, but this sort of thing has been going on for years with a great track record for safety. People just need to listen and have enough sense to keep back.

^^^^^

Dan · Post by **Dan** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:43 pm

yep ! and it looks like almost every one of them had a beer in their hand !

De Plano · Post by **De Plano** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 2:19 am

I still don't know if they should put up a fence. Hell they used to let you get as close as you want at The Corkscrew at Laguna Seca. There is something to be said for natural selection and making your own decisions

I am still for that idea that you make your own decisions, especially at a race, on a boat, or just in life. I feel really bad for the driver, as I would for the conductor of a train that had someone that stepped in front of it

Easto · Post by **Easto** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 10:40 am

It's been all over the TV and radio here. Those people were stupid close to the action. Although it's sad to see people dying, they need to take some personal responsibility and police themselves. I really don't see the thrill being 3 feet away from a truck doing 40mph on a dirt road other than you get the feeling you're cheating death.

RoundEye · Post by **RoundEye** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 8:38 pm

I was watching the Paris-Dakar rally on TV a while back and I just not could believe how close the people were getting to the track.

I can’t find a better picture but the Russian drivers of this Kamaz truck were catching some major air. I think if one of these trucks hit you at speed there would be little left to bury.

This looks like the making of a bad day.

I feel sorry for all those involved and their families but they can’t really expect them to put up a safety fence along a 1000 mile course in the desert somewhere.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 8:47 pm

RoundEye wrote:I was watching the Paris-Dakar rally on TV a while back and I just not could believe how close the people were getting to the track.

I can’t find a better picture but the Russian drivers of this Kamaz truck were catching some major air. I think if one of these trucks hit you at speed there would be little left to bury..

They let people race in Russia?
That think is whack...looks like a 2/3 size off road school bus.

RoundEye · Post by **RoundEye** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 9:39 pm

I don’t know about Russian events but they start in Paris, race across the African continent and end in Dakar. It’s the grandest off-road race of them all. If you’re in a roomful of offroaders bullsh*ting, and you mention you won the Paris-Dakar, you just elevated yourself to God status.

De Plano · Post by **De Plano** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 3:01 pm

I believe they moved the Djakar race to S. America due to instabillity and crime in too many parts of Africa. I might be wrong...

RoundEye · Post by **RoundEye** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 5:17 pm

I think they moved the race recently. Why? I don’t know.

Bastid · Post by **Bastid** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 10:38 am

YeOldeStonecat wrote:They let people race in Russia?
That think is whack...looks like a 2/3 size off road school bus.

Unimog [tim taylor noises/]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRqXAFEOads

http://www.google.com/search?q=unimog%2 ... =en&tab=wv