posted
That is so sad - it gave me chills reading the posts.
I think we should make a donation on behalf of the SSOA. Could we set up a fund and pool our donations? Maybe one of the Executives of the SSOA can handle that.
posted
I am truly very sorry to hear of this tragedy and my heart, condolences, along with prayers go out to their families and friends. Very sad about hearing this. Posts: 2841 | From: Westland, MI | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
Hawkeye-why should SSOA acknowledge: 1. Street racing 2. Not wearing seatbelts 3. Drinking and driving ( as alledged in this case)
Yes, its a shame that people were killed, but only through their own stupidity. If SSOA should set up a fund, it should honor a worthwhile reason. If a bystander that wasn't involved needed help, then it would make sense.
Posts: 1163 | From: Rochester Hills, Mi | Registered: Feb 2000
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We all know our cars are fast, and it's a shame some people still need to prove it on the street.
Posts: 2359 | From: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
The innocents that were killed - they were not driving. They have grieving families.
I would not send anything to the driver - but - the passengers - who may have told him not to race - we'll never know, that's what I'm concerned about.
It's a voluntary thing for sure, but sending a bouqet and a food tray to the passengers families I thought would be a nice gesture from the group.
Not by any means to support to street racing, but to give support to the hurting, because right now I think they're suffering regardless how their loved ones lost their lives.
My thoughts.
Posts: 5558 | From: Windsor, Ontario. Canada | Registered: Feb 2000
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While I agree with the points JeffY raises I'd like to point out that:
I didn't see anything about alleged alcohol consumption by the driver ... only mandatory testing
quote: Pierce said Perry was transported to a local hospital for drug and alcohol testing, a requirement of Georgia law.
If I climbed into the backseat of a Camaro the last thing I would think is that the driver is looking for ballast to go drag racing
Funds collected are to help those who have lost their husband/father/fiancee.
That having been said I'd encourage everyone to contribute as they see fit to the fund that has been set up already. I would be more inclined to see the SSOA step in when it directly affects one of our members.
quote: "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her(him)." - Jesus
[ 26. May 2003, 08:47 AM: Message edited by: poSSum ]
Posts: 4222 | From: Winnipeg MB CA | Registered: Feb 2000
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quote:Originally posted by JeffY: Hawkeye-why should SSOA acknowledge: 1. Street racing 2. Not wearing seatbelts 3. Drinking and driving ( as alledged in this case)
Yes, its a shame that people were killed, but only through their own stupidity. If SSOA should set up a fund, it should honor a worthwhile reason. If a bystander that wasn't involved needed help, then it would make sense.
I have to disagree with JeffY on this one. The contribution should be for the families and certainly dedicated to a strong position against street racing - include a pledge by this membership not to - or something like that. I don't mean to sound hauty, so please don't take it that way, but they leave behind family including one child and one on the way, and I very much view them as innocent bystanders.
I just think it's a good time for this f-body family to take a position against street racing and help the the ones left behind, if only in a small way and show support.
I was amazed to read on some of the other boards no mention of a position against street racing, and some even talking about how to do it more safely.
Posts: 3403 | From: Woodcliff Lake, NJ, USA | Registered: Dec 2000
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Yes, I feel for their families - I just can't imagine the grief they must be feeling.
I guess I'm having difficulty coming to grips with the reason for, and the preventable circumstances surrounding, their deaths.
I'd rather see the SSOA name associated with a donation to MADD, the Atlanta PD, or some other vehicle safety related organization to promote preventing this type of accident in the future.
posted
I guess I'm just a hard-a**. There were comments in several of the stories about drinking going on-whether either driver was involved, remains to be seen. The people in the back seat chose not to wear seat belts-not whether or not to go racing.
As for Possum-I guess I can cast the first stone - I have never done any street racing, ever. They wouldn't let you do it in NYC on the subway and in Michigan, never had a need to.
Posts: 1163 | From: Rochester Hills, Mi | Registered: Feb 2000
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posted
very sad news , I agree with a little bit of what everyone has said so far . I feel bad for the familys and loved ones of those killed and hurt . I have owned race cars for most of my life , when I say race cars I had dirt Modifeds ( before I got into owning the Camaros) I am a firm BELIEVER that ALL racibg should be done at a track with rules and people running the show. Even with this racing is still a dangerous sport. Sorry didnt mean to get on a soap box , but thats my .02 cents My prayers are with the families of the tragidy
-------------------- ChuckSSter * 72 Z/28 Matching #s All Orig * 85 Z/28 All Orig * 99 Z28 Pewter T-Tops * 00 SS Black T-Tops SLP # 5873 Posts: 398 | From: Middletown NY | Registered: Jan 2003
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quote:Originally posted by DaddySS: I was amazed to read on some of the other boards no mention of a position against street racing, and some even talking about how to do it more safely. [/QB]
It just reaffirms the quality of this board and it's members.
Being able to express our opinions in an open and frank manner says a lot about people on this board.
Posts: 2359 | From: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Jeff - you raised some interesting issues, by all means - everyone - wear your seatbelts - this is a healthy discussion regarding just how dangerous street racing can be.
As for casting the first stone, I've raced before - as a youngster - and luckily nothing happened. I'll still go first and second if the right opportunity exits, but that's it.
These discussions should take place more often just to remind us of the frailty of the human body when involved in even a low speed crash.
Posts: 5558 | From: Windsor, Ontario. Canada | Registered: Feb 2000
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posted
This completely bummed me out. I am quite saddened by it. I must say I have no sympathy for the drivers involved or the two people who did not wear their seat belts. What were they thinking!!!
All my sympathies are for the loved ones they left behind. My prayers are for them.
Bill M 98 TA
PS: Scott: I hope you ARE bringing that video on wearing seat belts to Bowling Green again.
Posts: 383 | From: Oakville, Ontario Canada | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
I agree with JohnS that we should make a contribution to the Police Dept, or some similar organization, showing that we do care for their help...and that we do not support street racing. It will give us a better image as well, as camaro/firefird owners. Perhaps another collection for thos greiving and had no choice on the fate of those individuals who had died. It really is so sad. Just my opinion.
Take care and drive safely.
Posts: 2651 | From: Enola (Harrisburg Area), Pennsylvania | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
Very sad news...terrible... Posts: 388 | From: NJ | Registered: Dec 2002
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Fbodfather
They don't make songs about Volvos.
Member # 1119
posted
very very tragic....and very frustrating.
I showed crash tests last year and what happens when you are not wearing seat belts. ....don't know if these fellows were in the audience. Further, everyone was asked not to do burnouts and race...there was a dyno available.....
This incident certainly got some people's attention, so if anything good is to come out of this, I'm hoping the people who saw the accident will realize that street racing is not only illegal, it's a quick (and sometimes not so quick) way to die. Further, seatbelts are there for a reason.
Unfortunately the media picked up on it and it was very difficult to keep them at bay.
My prayers go out to the families and friends of our fellow enthusiasts who lost their lives. When I left Atlanta, we were not sure whether the driver was still alive.....
Posts: 749 | From: Detroit | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
The wierd thing is that just very recently ,Scott Settlemire had sent an article on the importance of wearing your seat belts.They must not have read this.I have been in a real bad 3 car accident where I was driving my 1971 402ci Monte Carlo and was hit head on by a drunk doing about 60 mph.I had my lap belt on but not the shoulder harness since it was a separate belt and buckle.I ended up hitting my legs on the underside of the dash,chest bounced off the steering wheel(colaspsing the column),face hit the rear view mirror and I ended up over the center floor console and under the right side of the dash ,still wearing that lap belt.Yes,I was sore,but really ok and thankful I always wore my seat belt since I was 16 years old. Posts: 5682 | From: Dearborn,Mi. | Registered: Feb 2002
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quote:Originally posted by DaddySS: I was amazed to read on some of the other boards no mention of a position against street racing, and some even talking about how to do it more safely.
It just reaffirms the quality of this board and it's members.
Being able to express our opinions in an open and frank manner says a lot about people on this board. [/QB]
I agree, everyone here has made stong points, and has not offended another member, I believe they call that respect...
Posts: 1201 | From: Medina,Ohio | Registered: Feb 2000
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posted
That is very sad indeed. My prayers go out to all the people involved.
I am with the local Fire Company and you wouldn't believe some of the accidents that I have seen, if some of the people had not been wearing thier seatbelt they wouldn't be here today, so please everyone but that thing on, they put it in the cars for a purpose.
Posts: 339 | From: Wallops Island, VA | Registered: Sep 2002
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posted
Re: Street Racing. It's not clear whether or not that was what was taking place. The media reports rumors and eyewitness statements as fact.
A formal investigation has not been completed and the media shouldn't report any more than the date/time of incident, the names of those involved and the status of their condition. If an investigation is completed that releases more information or details, then it's appropriate to report the findings in the public record.
[on soapbox] It makes me mad & sad that the driver(s) made a choice to participate and endanger their own lives, passengers, and peers, on a public road with horizontal &/or vertical curves (whether they were belted in or not), by speeding out of control (racing or not).
It confuses me that people get in a car without buckling up. They never know if the driver will mess up or another vehicle will hit the one they're in. It's irresponsible for a driver to put passengers in jeopardy. They don't have any control over the driver choosing to drive unsafely in an environment that doesn't warrant the action, so I feel the driver should be held responsible if he/she acts irresponsibly and it ends in injury or death.
It sucks that so many people are affected by this incident. Those who attended G7, message board participants, friends, family, etc. will carry this for a long time and some people are dead over bad choices.
It's all an unnecessary event that I hope we don't see repeated. [off soapbox]
posted
Here is the silver Z28's side of the story. It should clear up a few details.
i would like to make this short and not flame anybody and allow some facts to be straightened.....
quote:Originally posted by '95 z-28/ '00 montepace (on the SLP board) yes, it was. i am trying to get the facts out to everybody as soon as possible, so let me paste my post from Cz28.com i was the driver of the silver car. i was out on the road since i was doing some quick tuning to my car since it is running pig rich. i was not out there to race, i actually went to the freeway when i left so that nobody would follow me and try to race me on that road (like happened to me and so many others a couple other times that day). when i came back down the road i drove past the hotel and went to turn around when i spoke with a pewter truck (obviously the one that posted here) that flashed me and i backed up and spoke to him for a brief moment before seeing scott coming down the road. i backed up and scott turned around and told me that he was going to get some grub. scott and chikn were both members of my message forum that myself and Zeeya created. chikn was our webmaster. it was dark where scott and i were talking at the top of the hill and i could not see who was in the car with scott. i saw one person in the front and one in the rear. scott joked with me about racing me and i laughed it off because i thought he was joking. i took off, and scott gave chase. niether one of us had 'arranged' any race. i took off just as i was planning on doing before scott had showed up, and he followed suit. when we came towards the curve i put in the clutch and slowed down.....scott did not (unless he just did not slow down much). for those saying we were both going in excess of 100mph, i let the clutch out when i came out of the curve and was in 2nd gear....i do not let my clutch out in 2nd anywhere above 60mph. no idea how fast scott was going at this time. i saw scott in the corner of my eye as he went up the hill off the road. i immediately put the car in neutral and shut it down. i coasted all the way to the back of the hotel lot where my passenger and i tried to gather what had just happened. i walked back to the scene and told the police i was the driver of the other car. i was charged with street racing, failer to stop and render aid, and even though i blew a 0.0 breath test and passed sobriety tests they charged me with a DUI. they told me i had to have marijuana in my system because something with my eyes (i had been out in the sun since 7am sat till this time. i also have a lazy eye that could have been what they 'saw'. i am also a large protester of drugs, anybody that knows me knows i will not even go near drugs!)
basically, i lost 3 people that i was just talking to an hour prior to the wreck. i had just met wallace that weekend, and knew scott and chikn from our forums. chikn was somebody that i considered a friend. this has been the hardest thing i have ever had to deal with. the cars we were in were/are a passion to all of us. everybody that was at the gathering this year will never think about things the same again. will this stop everybody from street racing? no, but i guarantee the people there will definately have it on all of our minds the next time the opportunity arises.
in the end, the thing we need to think about here is the victims and their families. i know chikn left behind a wife, son, and son-to-be. the families of all 3 victims need all of our support. we have all made mistakes, most of us have street raced before....even if it was in an escort! these 3 people paid the untimate price for what we all take for granted. we need to stand behind their families and show them that the f body community is here to help it's brothers and sisters out. there is no need to flame the people involved or deceased, it is too late for that. what is done is done and we cannot focus on what happened, instead we need to look ahead at what we can do to prevent this from happening again.
the funeral dates will all be posted on our forum at www.SCFYB.com, we would like all that can attend to please do so and show your support and respects.
Edited by Admin: (To avoid confusion as to who the driver of the silver car was.)
[ 27. May 2003, 06:38 PM: Message edited by: HTWLSS ]
Posts: 97 | From: Tulsa, OK USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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We all want to be supportive of the victims, and we all sure hope that some good comes of this...whether it be increased use of seat belts, or a reduction in, or elimination of street racing.
Posts: 3403 | From: Woodcliff Lake, NJ, USA | Registered: Dec 2000
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posted
I've been trying to deal with this one myself as to how I feel about all of this. I am a member of the SCFYB club, and although I haven't met any of those involved with this tragedy personally, I've been on the message boards with most of them. Seemed like nice enough folks.
I cannot know how painful it must be to have actually been witness to this. It still sucks, regardless of the reason it happened. I've been doing everything possible to avoid dealing with the situation because I couldn't come to grips with how I really felt with it.
My heart goes out to all involved. A senseless and avoidable tragedy, although no matter who is at fault, it doesn't make it any less painful to bear. We can always Monday-morning quarterback these things, but what we SHOULD do is try to look ahead, at the times before we do something so stupid, and make the more prudent and reasonable choice. I admit, I've played with others on the roadways, but more along the lines of blipping the throttle and jockeying back and forth at lower speeds. I haven't street raced in over 25 years. I knew then it was stupid and I know it now.
On one hand, I feel that it was ultra-stupid and admonishing them for knowingly breaking the speed limit law is in order, and perhaps even reckless driving. But on the other hand, there is pain that lives were lost and so "close to home" so-to-speak that it makes it even more difficult to comprehend.
So, in the end, I have decided I will not demonize them. I don't believe there was any "racing" going on, more like flaunting of power, which if not restrained, we know the end result. I'm sure that they were not planning on any of this to happen. It's must be tragic enough for their families and surviving family members without us judging them. I just hope that their deaths are not in vain, and even if only one life can be saved because of what was learned from their mistakes, then and only then, would there be anything positive that would come out of the ashes of this terrible situation.
I'm really glad I finally have decided my own path forward in dealign with this. It's hard to see this situation from both sides of the fence.
Life is precious. We only get one. Make the most out of it. Next time you even THINK about doing something stupid in your car, think about how nice it would be to get up tomorrow and be with your loved ones.
Posts: 577 | From: Aiken, SC | Registered: May 2002
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