Fbodfather
They don't make songs about Volvos.
Member # 1119
posted
A whole bunch of people looked forward to this Memorial Day weekend …many of them spending it in Atlanta with fellow Fcar enthusiasts.
A few young men I’m sure were looking forward to driving in from the Carolinas.
It was a great show….hundreds of Firebirds and Camaros lovingly maintained/restored/modified. A great tour of GMMG. Some great vendor displays. A Beach Party. A weekend built around a way to remember our veterans and those who gave their lives for our country.
But a tragedy happened early Sunday morning.
We (as well as most manufacturers) build performance cars. We build them with many, many safety features. We try to anticipate human error. But some things can’t be anticipated. And it’s especially hard to engineer around bad judgement on the part of the driver.
We put safety belts in all of our cars and trucks. No…we don’t deserve a gold medal for this…it’s the law…..a GOOD law. It’s also the law in most states that you are supposed to put them on when you get in the vehicle. I guess we don’t know whether or not the fellows in the back seat of the Camaro SS on Windy Hill road would have survived had they had put the belts on.
Windy Hill Road in suburban Atlanta has curves and elevations. It has as I recall, a 35 mph speed limit. It was not designed for cars to travel at twice or three times that speed.
In some ways, I guess I was fortunate. I was in my hotel room. It was late…it was a long day………I had a great time meeting a lot of great people and spending time with some old friends. So I retired around 1 am and went to sleep. I didn’t have to witness the heartbreaking catastrophe firsthand.
I wasn’t prepared to hear the news the next morning. I, as I’m sure many others are -- am still in shock. And I pray for the families and friends of all involved.
I guess at this point in time, I can only hope that amidst this terrible, terrible tragedy that perhaps those who attended the Gathering…….those of you reading this…….and those who read the newspapers/websites and watched TV will think twice before getting into a car or truck and not putting the safety belt on ---PROPERLY --- each and every time. Second: If you want to race, take it to the track guys and gals. Or to the dyno. (the dyno doesn’t involve driver error…….)
Simply put: We know these cars are powerful. I like burnouts as much as the next guy or gal………but there is a time and place for that…..and it isn’t in a parking lot or on the street. It’s at the track under controlled conditions.
I don’t ever want to see a street race. I don’t ever want to see another burnout in a parking lot.
And I don’t EVER want to hear about one or more of my fellow enthusiasts……who I care a great deal for…….. being killed in one of our cars or trucks. Is it avoidable? I sure wish it were.
So how ‘bout we make sure we ‘stack the deck’ in our favor?
How ‘bout we make a commitment to each other RIGHT NOW…….that we pledge never to street race – ever………… (And I don’t care HOW many other motorists are egging you on…….)
How ‘bout we make a commitment to each other RIGHT NOW that we will ALWAYS wear a safety belt…and that goes for everyone in the car or truck with us…………………..
How ‘bout we make a commitment to each other RIGHT NOW that we will tell our loved ones how much they mean to us…….and that we DEMAND that they wear a safety belt………. Every time………no excuses.
(You think a safety belt is uncomfortable? Well how about this statistic: A 180 pound human being traveling in a car at 35 miles per hour that strikes a solid object will create THIRTY SIX HUNDRED POUNDS OF FORCE. Do you want that 3,600 pounds of force to be dissipated by a safety belt or do you want it dissipated by a steering wheel and windshield – or the pavement -----now…do you still think the seatbelt is uncomfortable???)
………… some of you may say “Scott…stop with the rant…it’s inappropriate at this time.” To you I say…” I care about you and my fellow enthusiasts and friends and loved ones. And I don’t want to attend your funeral or see you in a hospital due to an avoidable accident. So if I’m being inappropriate, it’s because I care.”
To the family and friends of those who lost their lives this weekend in Atlanta: You have my prayers. I don’t know that I or anyone else have the words to console you other than to say how very deeply saddened and sorry I am for your loss. And many of us will be thinking of you for a lot longer than you might imagine.
To the organizers (my very dear friends) of the Atlanta Fbody Gathering: You have worked so long and so hard to put such a great event together. This was not your fault. People come from many states to enjoy the passion that these cars generate. We are indebted to you for your hard work…and we hope we’ll be invited back again next year. Thank you for your hospitality – thank you for your friendship – and thank you for all the good things you do for the F-car community.
To the Associates at the Marriott Atlanta Northwest: Thank you for your kind understanding and for all you did to help everyone through this weekend. You are truly a class act.
In closing, Everyone: Wear your safety belts. No more street racing. Put the cell phone down when behind the wheel. Practice safe driving habits. If you’re going to drink, don’t drive. No one should lose his or her life needlessly. And remember….every time you get behind the wheel…..YOU are in charge. Don’t turn your vehicle into a lethal weapon.
Spread the word.
-------------------- Posts: 749 | From: Detroit | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
Being a Michigan State Trooper, I see alot of bad crashes and I'm here to tell you, SEAT BELTS SAVE LIVES! Time and time again I'm the first one on scene where one of the occupants has been ejected from there vehicle. The force of being ejected is so tremendous, one can not imagine the trauma that is inflicted upon the human body when its pushed out a side window or t-top. I've also been to the same type of crashes where people have had on their seat belts on and you thought they would be dead, but only have minor injuries. Please buckle up. One of the worse things a cop has to do is to deliver a death message to love ones. Be safe and have responsible fun with your car.
Posts: 48 | From: Ida, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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Scott, thanks for taking time to reflect on this past weekend. Hopefully your comments will save someone from making a similar mistake in the future.
Posts: 32 | From: Birmingham, Alabama | Registered: Aug 2002
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I commend you FBodFather for your heartfelt comments. Your point is well founded and should make everyone think before acting on any racing in the future. It is a shame that it took a tragedy of this magnitude to open our eyes about racing. I for one gave it up years ago when I almost flipped my car over drag racing a friend of mine on a dirt road. My car spun as I hit the brakes and I hit the paved road sideways and went up on two wheels. Luckily the passenger side of the car came back down and as I prayed to God to get me through this I promised him I would never race again. And to this day I haven't and have worn my seatbelts since I was taught to drive.
WIth your permission, I would like to include your message in our June club newsletter. All of us need to be reminded from time to time about our ultimate responsibility every time we get behind the wheel.
Posts: 49 | From: Wesley Chapel, FL | Registered: May 2000
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Scott, Very very well stated. In your words, you've (eloquently) touched on the emotions many of us are feeling right now. I wasn't there, I didn't know these people, but I'm deeply saddened by this event. It hits just too close to home... I completely agree with and COMMIT to your idea of these PLEDGES.
Furthermore, WE (as members of the many clubs, like the SSOA) ALL should make these pledges. Additionally that we ensure other members follow them as well. If we are serious enough about SAFE and RESPONSIBLE driving habits for ourselves, ...then it is just as important (if not more) that we remind our friends to do the same. How's the saying go? ..."Friends don't let friends go street racing"
I've met a lot of good people through this club, ...I would truely hate to see something happen to them.
...My prayers go out to the family and friends of those lost...
Posts: 1046 | From: Pine Bush, NY USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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Greeat message I always wear the belts in the car at work though its a different story.
Away from work the car dosent start untill everyone is buckeled up. At work though we get in and out of the truck so much its easy to loose track of putting them on. As anybody knows a large University campus has a lot of buildings on it and it might only take us a minute ir two to get to the next job.But Scott is right Its the Law and we all must wear them.
Posts: 3091 | From: Canton Mi. | Registered: Oct 2002
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Fbodfather
They don't make songs about Volvos.
Member # 1119
posted
quote:Originally posted by jkeene: Scott,
WIth your permission, I would like to include your message in our June club newsletter. All of us need to be reminded from time to time about our ultimate responsibility every time we get behind the wheel.
Jim...it is my hope that everyone will put this message in their newsletters....and send it on to everyone in their address books. I thought long and hard before posting it....but realized that if it saves the life of one person...it is well worth it. Thanks for your note...and please, by all means, print it!
Posts: 749 | From: Detroit | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
Thanks for such a meaningful message, Scott.
On a personal note. My dad was the head of my home town's police traffic department. His job included being the chief investigating officer at all fatal traffic acccidents, attending the autopsies for all traffic fatalities, and personnally advising the next of kin of each death. I admired his strength, and also his compassion for the families involved, even when all the accidents could have been prevented. He was (and still is in retirement after 35 years on the force) actively involved in lobbying the government on vehicle safety related matters including the introduction of seatbelts.
I've been a hot rodder for longer than I wish to remember, and over the years my dad and I have talked at length about the vehicle safety, the causes of accidents, and accident prevention. He drilled the following into me again and again; - most fatalities could have been prevented if the person was wearing his or her seat belt. - speed kills - race at the track, not on the street. - and of course, don't drink and drive.
I've tried very hard to follow my father's advice, sometimes with limited success. But, I always wear my seatbelt and require my passengers to do the same (from the time I bolted after market belts in my '64 Malibu), and I never street race.
If anyone thinks they do not need to wear their seatbelt, and that street racing is cool, they are just plain wrong.
Posts: 2359 | From: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 2001
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Well said, Scott. Thanks for taking the time and effort.
We often take our beautiful rides out and pamper, maintain, wash, dry, Zaino and drive them, deriving some of the greatest pleasures we experience in the course of our lives... We see these and other cars as works of art. Unfortunately, they often become four wheel caskets. If we keep playing that casket image in our minds instead of the work-of-art image, we all will be better for it.
Lead by example. As drivers of high performance vehicles, we are role models to young drivers... believe me, they are watching. They see us coming a mile away in these cars. Take responsibility and be a good role model. Teach by doing it right.
And remember, gorgeous car one minute, casket the next. We are going to die some day, but our cars don't have to. I challenge everyone here, especially all of us wackos-about-our-cars, to will it to someone when you can't drive any more. Make it your legacy. May our SS's outlive us all.
-------------------- '00 SS #6522 Black on Black T-Top MN6
Have You Forgotten How You Felt That Day? Never Forget 9/11/01. Posts: 184 | From: Harleysville, Pennsylvania | Registered: May 2000
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