Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: AKDejaVu on February 18, 2001, 05:45:00 PM
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What shocking news. It never ceases to amaze me how fast some racing legends disappear from the face of the earth.
Condolences to the Earnhard family (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
AKDejaVu
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I'm shocked!
(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
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Was watching the race on TV and saw it happen.
According to the Trauma Physician in charge at the Speedway, he was not breathing and had no pulse when the paramedics reached the car. He appeared to have massive head trauma, similar to the injuries of Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin Jr.
Something tells me that the HANS device will soon be required in all Nascar vehicles.
R.I.P.
[This message has been edited by banana (edited 02-18-2001).]
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no way, your kiding
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Not to show disrespect but...
in last month 3 earthquakes have destroyed half El Salvador, and many thousands of lives have been lost.
More than a million people from el Salvador have lost their homes.
And I havent seen a single thread about it...yet a car driver dies doing what he likes (to drive), and instantly a thread is posted about him.
I know I will be flamed as hell for this, but I think that this kind of things are very very sad.
and shameful. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
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Nope no kidding (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif) (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif) (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
NASCAR has just lost its greatest driver ever.
I can tell you one thing, I will hate Sterling Marlin for the rest of his career now.
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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
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banana it's the HANS device, and I wonder if the open-face helmet wasn't a factor too. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
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Truly a very sad day for NASCAR and racing fans everywhere (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
Don't blame Marlin, door handle-to-door handle racing at 185 mph is dangerous. Period. It's not certain that Marlin could avoid Earnhardt's car at this point anyway.
Earnhardt was a "hard-charger", a fierce competitor, and died doing what he loved doing most. And he did it well.
After it's all said and done, what else can you ask for from life???
Cabby
[This message has been edited by cabby (edited 02-18-2001).]
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Take your favorite soccer star, imagine he is murdered by a crazy fan. Spanish papers wouldn't carry that, and you wouldn't post a thread here about it?
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I missed the final 40 laps of the race, so I missed the massive wrecks (thankfully).
But I DID see most of it, and watched as the cars constantly rammed and bumped each other like I haven't seen in my lifetime. Even the anouncer was talking about how with this kind of racing something HAD to give.
And it did, in a big way.
I find it sadly ironic that Dale Sr. died at the very end of the Daytona 500---the jinxed part of his jinxed race.
At the same time I know he didn't suffer any, havig myself been through an accident that resulted in my having a broken neck (I am sooooo lucky to still be here, and fully functional).
J_A_B
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Originally posted by Kieren:
Take your favorite soccer star, imagine he is murdered by a crazy fan. Spanish papers wouldn't carry that, and you wouldn't post a thread here about it?
I dont like to start threads about people dying, kieren. I did it once, when a bus full of kids crashed on spain last summer killing 40 of them, and immediatly I felt bad about it.
Its a thing I wont do again. And is the reason why I didnt post myself about El Salvador.
Now, I undestand your feelings about this guy. I understand that people post about it.
I simply say that it is sad that immediatly after this happens someone posts it, while one month with three earthquakes have received no attention at all even when its effects affect to millions of human beings in centro america.
I will let it down now, I dont pretend to show disrespect for the death of this driver.
[This message has been edited by RAM (edited 02-18-2001).]
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RAM your point clearly brings to light something that has always disturbed me about humans. Even people who have never heard of Dale Earnhardt will weep at the media coverage of his death. What a disgrace. Yet they are the same folks who immediately will turn the channel when headline news starts the segment on thousands who have died in a recent earthquake.
fscott
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The greatest Nascar driver has died today, and it was heart wrenching to watch. Dale Sr. was the king indeed. Millions of fans will greatly miss him. When Dale Jr. ran out to the car I feared the worst.
I'll never forget driving back from Taladega and still 50 miles from the track people were waving 3 fingers out of their windows cheering after his win there. It's just not going to be the same there this year, or any years to come.
It's a terrible thing, but they all drivers assume the risk, and die doing what they love.
He would not have been in that position if not trying to race the other cars to give his son and teammate the chance to win the Daytona 500.
Here's to the Intimidator... going to miss him.
[This message has been edited by Creamo (edited 02-18-2001).]
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RAM...perhaps people don't post anything on the El Salvador quake because...
50 million people didn't watch them die on live TV.
It is a LOT easier to deal with something you didn't directly witness--which is why I'm glad I didn't witness this particular event.
Either way, the El Salvador quake DID recieve plenty of attention; ALL life is important.
J_A_B
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Growing up in the south, 40 miles from Talladega, I know how big Earnhardt is in nascar. I've been in the stands at the 500, when late in the race, the #3 car would nose out ahead, and the whole place would wave their hats and stand and cheer, unlike they would do for any other driver.
Earnhardt was old school, who had such drive that he could succeed in todays winston cup races. I saw Dale sr. down at Daytona in November. We were down for a car show in the infield, and up comes Earnhardt walking around looking at cars. Just a friendly, regular guy off the track.
What also sux is seeing how Michael Waltrip pulled off an emotional first victory with big brother Darrell as one of the announcers. I really like Darrell Waltrip, and felt good for those guys as Michael crossed the finish, not knowing Earnhardt was already lifeless in his car. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
Terrible stuff.
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Originally posted by cabby:
Truly a very sad day for NASCAR and racing fans everywhere (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
Don't blame Marlin, door handle-to-door handle racing at 185 mph is dangerous. Period. It's not certain that Marlin could avoid Earnhardt's car at this point anyway.
Earnhardt was a "hard-charger", a fierce competitor, and died doing what he loved doing most. And he did it well.
After it's all said and done, what else can you ask for from life???
Cabby
[This message has been edited by cabby (edited 02-18-2001).]
You got it cabby. Dale knew the risks. No driver out there would purposely do this to another. It's a hazard of the job. I just hope that when I go I can be doing something that I enjoy. <S> Mr. Earnhard. Don't weep for him. He was doing exactly what he had wanted to do his whole life. So few people can say that. It is a gift in my opinion. We will all go but under what circumstances. I lots my father to cancer. It wasn't nearly as quick, easy, or gallant. My grandmother went with Alzheimer's. It wasn't pretty and it took a very kind and intelligent woman. Be very happy for him it could have been so much worse. As was said so many lose there lives all over the world in horrible circumstances. Starvation, war, natural disasters, disease. They are honored at best with a news cast showing the dead bodies.
[This message has been edited by Jimdandy (edited 02-18-2001).]
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RAM, just because we don't post a thread about every tragedy that happens in the world, that doesn't mean that it doesn't affect us.
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Gotta stop responding to you, Ram. Think what you want, say what you want. I just never met a person with such a penchant for saying exactly the wrong thing at exactly the wrong time. A few people express grief over the loss of a prominent celebrity sports figure, and you have to turn it into a morality lesson. What's worse, you end it by attempting to make us feel guilty for apparently not noticing 3 earthquakes that have happened in the last year, and the subsequent loss of life. If those events cause you grief, by all means post on the topic. Allow others to discuss what they want- is that so much to ask?
[This message has been edited by Kieren (edited 02-18-2001).]
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It was a hell of a race with 50 lead changes and tons of close calls and heart stopping three wide racing. Had Earnhardt not died it would have been one of the best in recent memory. The last 10 laps were incredible and Earnhardt and Marlin got together a few times.
Dale moved down to try to protect the bottom and Marlin had nowhere else to go. Any NASCAR fan knows that there aint a driver on the track who would have eased up on the throttle on the last lap, and if the roles were reversed I'm sure Earnhardt would NOT have eased up either. I also think that with the new "Aero" package cars were getting a good draft and it may have been a factor. Ever since restrictor plates were introduced the thing too do was to pull in front of the guy trying to pass you and let him push you.
It will be a very different race without the "Intimidator"
PS--- RAM......shaddup! (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/mad.gif)
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RAM, I remember that post. You posted it in the general forum just after HT posted about the loss of his brother and family.
It merrited the response it got.
We see the news, we hear the numbers. All the people killed in India and South America are not lost on us.
But realize, we were just discussing Dale Earnhardt on this forum as recently as two days ago. The topic was merrited. Your input was not.
AKDejaVu
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This marks the first time I actually gotten mad reading someones post ever, and am holding my tongue. Please get back on topic.
Unbelievable...
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Normally I'm a huge NASCAR fan, but I couldn't catch the race today. Alas groceries are more important than TV, especially when you're out of food. Someone mind telling me what happened? I know Dale loved to hug the white line like a rail, especially on the last few laps.
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Flakbait [Delta6]
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Put the P-61B in Aces High
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through the smoke rode the Four Wurgers of the Apocalypse.
And on their canopies was tattooed the number of the Beast, and the
number was 190." Jedi, Verse Five, Capter Two, The Book of Dweeb
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"Earnhardt's death was the biggest blow to auto racing since three-time Formula One champion Ayrton Senna was killed in the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, in 1994"
a Shock for the whole Racing world (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
Gh0stFT
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I'll probably get flamed for this too, but I just remember all the times Dale Earnheart Sr. knocked other drivers out of races on the last lap or two, and almost costed them their lives. It is fortunate that all of those crashes didn't result in those drivers deaths, and it is also unfortunate that Dale Earnheart Sr. died on this race, but I'm not going to cry. He was the kind of driver that would do anything to win, and sometimes that meant hitting below the belt. He didn't deserve to die, but as I remember it, he exhibited some bad judgement in the past, and i think it finally caught up to him.
and yeah, there is a lot more death to worry about than some driver that was having a blast doing what he loved to do. A lot of people that never put themselves in harms way that are being hammered by all kinds of forces that are beyond their control.
Just a few thoughts...
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God writes right, over wrong lines...
(I dont know how to spell it in english but i tryed...)
If its happened, its better this way. (to who believe in God).
But still sux.
I can understand what do u guys feel, coz i felt really really sad when Ayrton Senna died by head traumas too...
(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
Pirado
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Sad to hear of this.
Such are the risks of the sport, and that was probably part of what appealed to him. Some guys just need danger in order to fully live.
While I am sure he did not have a death wish, and it is a poor consolation, he died doing what he loved.
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Baron Claus "StSanta" Von Ribbentroppen
9./JG 54 "Grünherz"
"All your base/are belong to us"
http://www.thefever.com/AYB2.swf
Keep up the momentum!
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As long as you brought it up, CJ, I'm sure most will agree with you. Earnhardt certainly played dirty at times, as did other drivers. That's how he got the reputation as "The Intimidator".
I'm a John Andretti fan who always loved to hate Earnhardt. I would love to see Earnhardt get spun around and taken out of a race, but I never liked to see anyone get injured. I'm sad this happened, as sad as when Greg Moore died at Fonatana in 1999, and when Jeff Krosnoff died in Toronto in 1996. I saw all of those deaths live on TV.
Earnhardt died what he liked doing most, and every driver knows the risks involved in the sport.
Verm, I don't see why you're upset with Sterling Marlin. We've seen that kind of contact between Earnhardt and Marlin before. In fact, that kind of contact is commonplace in Nascar racing. This time, however, the worst happened. You can't blame Marlin anymore than you could blame anyone else for what happened.
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Big <S> to one of my heros. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
I don't blame Sterling Marlin. As his spotter called "inside inside inside" Dale continued to pull down, hoping Sterling would back off. I know Dale wouldn't have backed off, had their places been reversed. Besides, there is nothing anyone could ever do to Sterling Marlin that would be worse than what he'll do to himself trying to live with this. It's a racing accident, but I'm sure he'll feel terrible for a long time.
The shock is not that a racing driver died... racing is dangerous. I raced a local short-track circuit for several years, and believe me the risk of injury or death is something that goes with the job. Every racing driver knows it's part of the deal. The shock is that it was Dale Earnhart that died. This man has been the king of rough-and-tumble racing. He's been in some horrible crashes, and has recovered. I don't know how to explain it, but it's a much bigger shock that it was Dale. Maybe it's that he was a living legend... like Superman, we all believed nothing could hurt him.
My condolences go out to Teresa Earnhart and her Dale's four children. He will be missed.
I do agree with whoever said "At least he died doing what he loved." That is the only bright spot I can see. He could have been hit by a bus, or struck down by cancer. Sure, a long illness would have been easier for US to deal with, but for Dale Earnhart racing was the thing he lived for, and if he had to die now, at least he died driving a race car.
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Lephturn - Aces High Chief Trainer
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"Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know." - Michel Eyquem, seigneur de Montaigne. (1533–1592)
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I've been following winston cup all my life, and have never wanted to see somebody get spun out on the track. In my opinion, a true racing fan doesn't want to see that sort of thing happen. I'd rather see some good, close, door to door green flag racing with my guy getting the checkered flag in the end.
Earnhardt wasn't as loose a cannon as some of you think. True, in the earlier part of his driving career he made some people mad. But I think he has gained more respect in the last several years, as being more of a hard charger than anything else.
Steve Grissom was in our shop a couple years back, when asked about Earnhardt, he looked with a half grin and said "You better respect him" (I beleive those were his exact words) I think most drivers did.
An example of the drivers respect for each other...
You guys remember at Talladega a few years back, Earnhardt and Wallace were fighting for position on the last lap, Wallace spun, had a terrible wreck, Earnhardt won the race I think, then drove back to see about Wallace. They were buddies, on and off the track.
All this WWF hate for this driver or that driver, isn't really part of whats going on, just something injected by the fans.
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I thought that crash happend at Daytona where Earnhardt ran out to check on Wallace.
Earnhardt was not my favorite driver either but in the past few years I can't say I have a favorite anymore. You almost feel like you get to know these guys especially if you follow the sport and as each driver takes the lead I can't say I ever Boo'd a single guy...
If Dale walked away from the crash he would have simply called it "one of those deals........."
[This message has been edited by skernsk (edited 02-19-2001).]
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Might have been Daytona skernsk, I just remember it being a trioval, and Earnhardt giving Wallaces crew his driving gloves.
I think you're right about what Earnhardt would have said. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
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Originally posted by Vermillion:
Nope no kidding (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif) (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif) (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
NASCAR has just lost its greatest driver ever.
I can tell you one thing, I will hate Sterling Marlin for the rest of his career now.
Its a racing accident. You cant blame Sterling Marlin for getting loose especially with all the jostling going on that last lap.
What shocks me is how in the world Tony Stewart walked away from his wreck which seemed 10 times worse than Dales.
Now did anyone see the IROC race from Saturday? If Dale's death resulted from that move on the last lap by Eddie Cheever where he ran him off into the grass, THEN I could see hating a driver the rest of his soon to be shortened career. Moves like that get you banned RIGHT quick.
-Ding
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I haven't seen a single racer, friend or family member that blamed anyone for this crash.
Deep down, everyone knows that Dale died doing what he did best, bumping in the final corner.
AKDejaVu
[This message has been edited by AKDejaVu (edited 02-19-2001).]
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Well...me and my best friend are gonna take my brother's Buick and we're gonna cut donuts on our football practice field ala Dale at Daytona in '98.
(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif) (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif) (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif) (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
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Dale was a hero to many and as with many 'stars', a lot of us felt like we kinda knew him. As for myself, I grew up watching him race and so his death hits harder than the tragedy of earth quakes, etc.
It may not seem fair but it's an emotional response for losing someone that was a part of our lives... albeit second-hand.
I don't think this in any way degrades the deaths of others... it's simply closer to the heart.
I'll miss watching him race.
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"Earnhardt's death was the biggest blow to auto racing since three-time Formula One champion Ayrton Senna was killed in the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, in 1994"
Ghost.. whomever said this was almost spot on. F1 is bigger throught the world. But as far as impact to each league goes... they were equal. Senna's death as well as Earnhardt's meant both sports lossed perhaps the best drivers to race in them.
I was watching that race when Senna died (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif) I still miss seeing him and Prost go at it. Just as I'll miss seeing a race with Dale on behind and inside on a corner and knowing that the driver in front of him is looking in the review mirror more than he is looking forward. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
AKDejaVu
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Here's my attitude...I wasn't a racing fan (nor did I even know Ernhart was 'king of Nascar') and I don't live in S.A....so I don't comment on either in threads, and I say a silent prayer for both when I read about them.
I'm old fashioned and adhere to old concepts the best that I can... "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all..."
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===>Frosty
====>Exposure2k.com
=====>Frosty@exposure2k.com
[This message has been edited by Frosty1 (edited 02-19-2001).]
[This message has been edited by Frosty1 (edited 02-19-2001).]
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Nice one frosty. We don't know Dale well enough to mourn his death, but you know him well enough to call him an amazinhunk. We don't know Dale well enough to mourn his death, but you know him well enough to say "I'm glad he's dead".
Can't help but note the irony.
I hope nobody really pays you any more attention than this.
AKDejaVu
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===>Frosty
====>Exposure2k.com
=====>Frosty@exposure2k.com
[This message has been edited by Frosty1 (edited 02-19-2001).]
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I do believe I got it more right than you would like to admit.
AKDejaVu
..done with you.
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===>Frosty
====>Exposure2k.com
=====>Frosty@exposure2k.com
[This message has been edited by Frosty1 (edited 02-19-2001).]
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Well fortunately his messed up and got himself killed for it.
How's that for twisting your words around? Or don't you listen to you either? (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)
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BTW, glad I got the quote in before you edited it out. Nice try, Frosty. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)
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===>Frosty
====>Exposure2k.com
=====>Frosty@exposure2k.com
[This message has been edited by Frosty1 (edited 02-19-2001).]
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Wow, Frosty1 is a true internet badass. That takes lots of talent, let me tell ya. Pretend to be tough guy on the web.
If we were all sitting around having drinks at the club, would you be this cavalier? Prolly not. Your prolly some 150 lb. wuss who gets kicks on pretending to be toughguy on the web...
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.squelch Frosty1
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Heya Frosty,
shuddup.
/edit - if you look further into Frostydom, you'll see the sterotypical 16 year old quake dweeb. Just check the names and info across his network and ICQ.
*sigh* Brings a bad name to the teenagers who try to act with some sort of maturity here.
[This message has been edited by Moose11 (edited 02-19-2001).]
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Even with his edited message, notice how it still says
"I'm glad he's not racing anymore"
Same idea. Sad, sad indeed.
J_A_B
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Frosty.... read Ripsnort's quote above. Remember it.
If you walked into your local bar and spouted this line of BS, somebody would have likely re-arranged your face.
Somebody needs to teach you some respect.
Lephturn
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===>Frosty
====>Exposure2k.com
=====>Frosty@exposure2k.com
[This message has been edited by Frosty1 (edited 02-19-2001).]
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Moose11 hit it on the head:
if you look further into Frostydom, you'll see the sterotypical 16 year old quake dweeb.
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Ram, Even for you, that was crass.
Frosty, <finger> MORON!
Hblair, flame F@#$ty all ya want, but 150lbs don't make a wuss, it's all attitude.
All; My 5 year old nephew was watching the race, he's a die-hard Dale fan, He's extermely traumatized right now.
People die every minute of every day, but people in the public eye affect us simply because they're in the public eye.
The best tribute to Dale comes from the movie "Days of Thunder"
"He hit me!" "No son, he rubbed you, an' rubbin's racing"
Gonna miss that man (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
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pzvg- "5 years and I still can't shoot"
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I apologize to Frosty,
Whether he is a 16 year old, a quake dweeb or not, it still should matter little.
One thing this board has shown just about everyone is that age matters little when it comes to maturity.
I still think it was a cruddy comment to make but I've voiced my opinions on the matter privately to him. (and not with threats, either)
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I put Dale Earnhardt in the same class as guys like Joe Montana. I hated them when they were beating my favorites...but that doesnt mean that I dont respect what they did for thier sports. It is a sad day for NASCAR....and its going to be a sad season. My prayers go out to the Earnhardt family for their loss.
I found this over on the ESPN.com site....sums up what I am trying to say.
"It has been repeated many times in regard to Dale Earnhardt that you either love him or you hate him. I can certainly say that I did not love Dale Earnhardt. On Sundays, if my favorite driver could not win, I rooted for A.B.E. -- Anybody But Earnhardt.
I cried tonight.
Gary Purcella
Albuquerque, N.M."
And Frosty....bah! Nevermind.....
[This message has been edited by sling322 (edited 02-19-2001).]
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Aaaah, so this is why RAM quit (again).
I don't know much about Earnhard but it's sad that he died. I do watch NASCAR occasionally.
But he knew the risks, and probably wouldn't want to go through life any other way. Like Senna or Clark or any other great driver who died on the track.
But the group RAM bashing in this thread smacks of the "appropiate emotional response" brigade, who were out in force when Diana, Princess of Wales died.
I don't think what RAM said was that insensitive - it's not as though he proclaimed his joy at the guy dying like that frosty idiot. He was making a valid point - celebrity is more important than anonymity. We see it everyday, but it becomes more apparent when death is involved.
Just my opinion, feel free to flame.
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After talking with Moose I feel I owe an apology to anyone I have affected. I'll keep my comments to myself if they're nasty next time. So here it is: I apologize for being an arse about this and it won't happen again. Hopefully we can put this behind us and move on. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
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===>Frosty
====>Exposure2k.com
=====>Frosty@exposure2k.com
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Apology accepted at this end, if I had a dime for every time I expressed my feelings in company that I should have not..well, Gates move over. <S>
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You're absolutely right pzvg, I had steam blowing out my ears when I typed that. 150 lbs. doesn't make a wuss, thats fer sure.
I think frosty may be too young to realize the seriousness of this. You just don't make comments like that in a situation likr this. Did I know Dale Earnhardt? No
But I've been watching winston cup racing since I was a little boy. I remember going to Talladega in the mid '70's for time trials. I distinctly remember seeing Richard Petty's orange and blue car roaring ( when you're 8 yrs. old they roar) through the high banks from the infield. Dad bought me an STP (Richard Petty) cap that I wore all the time (even to bed, LOL). I was there in '85 when Bill Elliott lapped the entire field and ran 212 mph (fastest ever in winston cup history). I was also there on a few occasions when Earnhardt would pull ahead of the field late in the race. The fans went absolutely nuts whenever Earnhardt took the lead. Words can't express the thunder and emotion of seeing that big train of cars rip past you at those speeds.
Watching these guys over the years makes you feel close to them, even if you never met them.
To see somebody happy that one of them died in a tragic accident makes you sick.
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<S> Frosty for realizing your error and admitting a mistake.
Lephturn
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Originally posted by Dowding:
Aaaah, so this is why RAM quit (again).
Dowding...you need to go back and reread the thread bro. They weren't bashing RAM but rather some very offensive comments made by Frosty.
-Ding
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Aye Dingy. But in the 'RAM quits' thread people were critising the guy for being offensive here.
Guess that wasn't everyone. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif) I think my 'skimming' skills need an overhaul.
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Well, he's got guts anyway. WTG Frosty, would have been easier to snub your nose but you didn't...
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Though not an Earnhart fan I will miss him.
(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif) I watch the part of the race where hecrashes a hundred times atleast I realy think that the air was removed from his rear spoiler by the other cars and he got realy light in the rear, I thin he was loose before the contact with Marlin. I am not a Marlin fan either but cont feel blame on him is right. It was good hard Racing.
May all our prayers go out to his Family and his Team, those he owned and Richard Childress Racing also, He will be Sadly missed.
<S> 3
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Dowding-
Ram was out of line wrt the timing of his comments. If he had waited a day or so to say such a thing I doubt anyone would have noticed. A mere 1 1/2 hours after the thread started we are into "we should be ashamed we aren't looking at these (earthquake victims') deaths". I would have been very upset to have been in a hospital room or funeral parlor and heard such talk, wouldn't you?
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Sure Kieren, I understand.
But you weren't in a funeral parlour, you're not related to the deceased and you didn't even know him. So I think the slamming was a little OTT.
If he had said "I'm glad that banana is dead", then I'd expect the reaction. But I guess RAM isn't exactly popular around here to begin with.
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And as I said to Ram, this is as close to a funeral visitation as we are likely to have.
The irony of the situation is that, by calling humanitarian attention to the earthquake victims Ram managed to reduce an individual's humanity.
My guilt in this is that I thought I could communicate why he was offensive. That was an obvious failure. I should have just ignored him like so many others do.
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I don't follow NASCAR but I can imagine how you guys feel, because it's probably a lot like when Senna died. Senna came on the scene when I was first getting into racing in the early 80's and he was the closest thing I had to a "teen idol" when I was in junior high and high school. For him to die in front of my eyes on live TV was a lot more saddening than I would have expected, and I can imagine NASCAR fans felt the same way yesterday. My prayers go out to Dale's family. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
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I saw the accident on tv a few hours back. I certainly hope there'll be an inquiry; that crash didn't look very bad.
Something has to have malfunctioned (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
Didn't know his name, but when I saw his pic I instantly recognized him from Eurosport. A great loss.
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Baron Claus "StSanta" Von Ribbentroppen
9./JG 54 "Grünherz"
"All your base/are belong to us"
http://www.thefever.com/AYB2.swf
Keep up the momentum!
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I saw the accident on tv a few hours back. I certainly hope there'll be an inquiry; that crash didn't look very bad.
The accident didn't look that bad because parts did not fly all over the place. Watch it again and you'll see why it would have been fatal to virtually anyone in any car... he went from 180mph to 0 in 1 foot. The car beside him hit him in the side and made it look more like he glanced off of the wall. He didn't.. he hit it almost head on. There did not appear to be a malfunction.
That said, there will be an investigation on how to prevent fatalities from happening in similar situations.. but it is by far and away the toughest to protect against. We just might head restraint systems similar to Indy and F1 added to the NASCAR vehicles.
I think Senna's accident and the ensuing investigations/alligations may be popping into the minds of many F1 fans right now. It really is a different situation. Though, I nearly got ill when I heard of the details of Senna's injuries and subsequent death.
AKDejaVu
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He was my favorite...I watched him throughout his career. The only consolation is that like some of you posted...he died doing what he loved to do. If he had rotted in a hospital bed of cancer, he would have died long before his pulse stopped.
Ram...
I understand what your saying and agree...people suffer everyday while we gripe and complain about such things as fight models and gunnery. Just try and understand that to Americans, we have lost sort of a hero in many respects...a person who was part of many of our childhoods and someone who we had grown to know thru the media for some 20yrs.
We're just trying to express how we feel about this issue...not other issues of which there are too many to mention here...doesn't mean we only care about NASCAR...intiendes?
Ice
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Yeah... you can't blame Marlin at all. Earnhardt spent the last 5 laps trying to hold Marlin back in an obviously faster car. By the look of it, Marlin had nowhere to go when Earnhardt came down on his line and clipped bumpers.
I was stunned to hear Earnhardt died. I saw both crashes and the eighteen car pile up was a spectacle to behold. Tony Stewart (I think) rolling in the air in the middle of the track while cars went underneath him. Was amazing that no one was seriously injured.
I guess television just can't convey the sense of speed these cars are traveling. Earnhardt may have slowed considerably, but still hitting the wall at 150MPH+ isn't good for your health.
It's a lousy way to start off the season... Earnhardt will be sorely missed, this year and the years to come.
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Earnhardt died doing what he loved..
tradin' paint at 180+ mph.
No one is to blame.. it was an accident.
I'll toast one to the 'Intimidator' !
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From what I saw and heard no neck brace or his open faceplate would have made a difference to the crash- Dale was given life ending injuries almost from the second his car hit that wall. Horrible but Dale always made it clear that when the chips drop excessive safety equipment made it harder to avoid accidents at the cost of protecting you from them (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
That being said this was the second most horrific loss I have ever had happen in my lifetime (sorry F1 fans- the first was Greg Moore who was born and raised in BC where I live and when was 16 was competing against me in a sprint car sponored by his father here on Vancouver Island).
The true sadness is that this is due to the single minded insanity of NASCAR to bring races closer and closer.. restrictor plates et al. have contributed to making the machines too similar- and races TOO DAMN CLOSE. If Petty had been driving a restrictor in the sixties and seventies who the hell would have cared about the Hemi he won with? Bring the races back to the cars and quit making drivers cut each others throats to win....
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I truly enjoyed watching Greg Moore drive. He was the only one squirrely enough to go into the "marbles" on a pass. I was watching that race too. That was almost more of a shock to me simply because I knew the moment it happened that Indy had lost a young talent.
The announcers did too. They replayed it once to see what happened and didn't replay it again. They then asked people not to jump to conclusions.
Man (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
AKDejaVu
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Yeah Dejavu, Jeff Krosnoff's death in Toronto in 1996 was the same as Greg Moore's. You knew it was fatal after seeing the replay just once. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
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Again, from the 'Nurse' who has seen EVERYTHING from the ER room to the Burn intensive care unit ...she said "Nothing will prevent a head injury such as his when you go from 180 mph to 0 in less than a second".
The only safety precaution one could possibly use is not to race.
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Yeah Dejavu, Jeff Krosnoff's death in Toronto in 1996 was the same as Greg Moore's. You knew it was fatal after seeing the replay just once.
He's the one that hit the post 15 feet off the ground? If so.. I was watching that race too. And I agree with you... not much doubt.
AKDejaVu
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Soft-wall technology will continue to evolve, and I predict they will eventually be used in nascar. Just 4 feet of soft barrier in front of the concrete would have a significant effect on the decceleration of the car, as well as the drivers head. Couple this with the head-and-neck safety device, and hopefully these head-ons into the wall won't be so catastrophic.
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Soft walls can significantly help reduce the force of a crash....but it will need to be drastically changed.
I remember an IROC race at INDY where I believe Fittipaldi hit the barrier at turn 4 and catapulted accross the track. That was a scary incident. Also if a car brushes the wall it usually "rides" it.....what happens if it hits the "airbag"?
I can't see any EXISTING track make significant changes without modifying what is already built....in a big way.
There is also a few stories out there that gravel traps are not effective at slowing down cars on road courses....I'm not sure what is needed but I hate watching people die on live TV.
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I watched a piece on TV the other night that showed the latest technology, it really has come a long way. The most impressive one I saw was a design where the face of the soft wall was rigid, allowing a car striking at a glancing angle to deflect like a regular concrete barrier, but hit head-on, the wall collapsed. They said this design could take 3 hard hits before it had to be replaced...
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Sunday's race was the first NASCAR event I've watched in many years. I wrote off Dale's crash as minor, and was even a bit annoyed at the anouncer's concern. When I learned of Dale Earnhard's death the following morning, I was shocked, ashamed, and surprisingly saddened.
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Jack.....many times it's the innocent looking wreck that causes major injury. The reason is that the driver takes 1 BIG hit. Tony Stewart's ride looked serious and had the potential for serious injury....the difference was evry time his car rolled it lost energy and instead of 1 BIG hit like Earnhardt took it was many smaller hits. Also I saw Dale's crash for the first time without the slow motion replay and it looks a hell of a lot worse at speed.
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You think he was wild watching those corners? try driving against him. Little bugger was cleaning our clocks on our own track before he could even drink beer.
That said, even thinking about him makes me very very sad, to know personally what an incredible driver he was makes knowing he is dead even harder.
And, like I said, it is amazing how people are looking at making close dangerous racing safer- instead of opening it up and letting it be a race again. If you want them to all perform the same Nascar- make them drive the same f*cking car.
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I really don't know what to say.
It's just now sort of starting to sink in.
I've been rooting against Dale Earnhardt for years. I liked the comment about rooting for "A.B.E.", Anybody But Earnhardt.
I've watched him spin more people out than Doan's has little pills.
One of my favorites was Jeremy Mayfield. Spun him into the inside wall at, oh, I think it was Rockingham.
For some reason, the broadcasters thought it would be a great idea to tune into Jeremy's radio frequency as his car came to a stop on the infield wall.
"That MOTHERF*CKER!" was broadcast live across the nation. My wild guess is that he was referring to you-know-who.
Then there's Labonte at Bristol. No, the first time. At least Terry got to get across the finish line first, albeit sideways...at least he got across the line first.
Then, more recently, it was into the wall with the finish line in sight, only this time Earnhardt crossed it first. Some mumbling in the post-race from the mustache about "racin' hard", and stuff like that. Boy, I was PO'd. Couldn't believe it. I kept waiting for Terry to go over to the No. 3 trailer with a tire iron.
But it gets worse than that. Dale could also make you like him, almost feel sorry for him at times, and actually wind up making you root for him.
I remember him trying to make it all the way through the Brickyard after tumbling at Talledega.
He was racing with what, a broken collarbone and sternum? Had electrical impulse things on his chest, trying to deaden the pain of the relatively flat corners.
Finally he had to get out. The Man in Black just couldn't pull it off. Knowing him, he was probably actually starting to lose consciousness from pain.
At first, he wouldn't talk to Jerry Punch. After about five minutes he must have relented, because they cut to J.P. with Dale, and he said, "Champ, it must have been tough to get out of that car."
Earnhardt kind of paused. And by God, you could tell that he was getting ready to cry. He was getting choked up. All he could say was, "Dad-gum it Jerry...racin's mah life..." and he turned and walked away.
I actually started getting choked up myself. That bastard.
And who didn't secretly, deep-down inside, start rooting for him near the end of the '98 500?
And who didn't get a little choked up as every single member of every single pit crew lined up to give him five as he drove towards victory lane? I can't remember if it was before or after cutting the donuts on the infield...I just remember everyone coming out to congratulate someone they probably cursed on a regular basis, because for some silly reason, this "Intimidator" attracted respect from people like white on rice...even those that didn't particularly cheer him on.
I watched the 500 on Sunday, and spent the last 15 laps on my hands and knees, in front of the TV, screaming "Go Michael! Stay low! No, no, go high! There! Stay there! Now go low!" It was one of the most exciting race conclusions I had ever seen, probably because of the drama of Michael, Jr., and Sr. as the leading triumvrant.
When Dale hit the wall, I really didn't think a whole lot about it. On TV, it looked like a good hit, but it didn't seem as head-on as it was in real life, and I knew he didn't hit on the driver's side, and I knew Kenny hadn't hit him on the driver's side.
I was absolutely drained from such a good race, and dozed off in my chair.
A little later my daughter came downstairs, and said that my father had called, and did I know that Dale Earnhardt was dead.
I think all I could say was, "What? You've got to be kidding."
I started flipping through channels, and kept seeing the picture of Dale with "1951 - 2001" below it.
I was sure there was some mistake, and kept flipping the channels, thinking that somewhere, someone would get it right. But it was not to be. Dale Earnhardt, the soul of NASCAR, was dead. Killed in the last lap of the Daytona 500, two weeks before his 50th birthday.
I think it's been said before in this thread, but just for those that don't know, Dale Earnhardt wasn't supposed to die.
In NASCAR, that's what I think kept a lot of people going. "Well hell, if Dale can do it, I can do it." He just flat-out, wasn't supposed to die.
And I'd like to amend the "loved him or hated him" statement.
I think more accurately, you either loved him, or you loved to hate him...whichever way you felt about him, he induced an extremely passionate response. He was always there, a prescense, a force to be reckoned with, one way or the other.
And yes, he was the greatest NASCAR driver of all time. No disrespect to anyone...there have been a lot, and of course Richard won 7 national championships.
But no one, no one ever, was as competitive as he was, in the time period that his career encompassed.
He could win in the old school, and he could win with the modern set-ups and cars in today's NASCAR, against kids half his age.
It's going to take a while for me to sort all this out. I'm sure it's going to be harder for all the teams that have to show up at Rockingham, start qualifying, and just go about their business of racing, and trying to win.
Or maybe it will be easier, because they can lose themselves in their work, and the times that they do look out at the track, and see a vision of a black car with a white number 3 on the side going high in the corners and swooping down to the inside of the track, they can think, "Yep. This is the way Dale would have wanted it."
Goodbye, Dale. I'm going to miss you.
Mk
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Good post MK, helped me understand you race fans perspective.
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Damn MK.. excellent post! <S>
AKDejaVu
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I watched the 500 on Sunday, and spent the last 15 laps on my hands and knees, in front of the TV, screaming "Go Michael! Stay low! No, no, go high! There! Stay there! Now go low!" It was one of the most exciting race conclusions I had ever seen, probably because of the drama of Michael, Jr., and Sr. as the leading triumvrant.
I was doing the same thing, along with my 8 yr old daughter, and 5 and 6 yr old sons. I explained to them the situation, the man in the lead had never won a race before, and the man in the black car hired him because he believed in him, my kids were really into it, cheering for "dale" to "keep 'em blocked". We were thrilled at the finish, best finish I've seen in a long time. Turn on the TV a couple hours later and that "dale" guy is dead. Explaining that one to the kids was tough.
BTW, very nice post.
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Excellent post, Mk10. It should be published somewhere.
The Great Ones only come along once in a generation. I still can't believe we won't see that black =3= car this weekend.
Cabby