A few weeks ago, some of you may have read a post that I wrote after we lost two young men in an unfortunate accident. This was not an isolated case. Every day, we lose friends, family, and loved ones to traffic accidents. I’d like to believe that we can reduce the number of accidents that occur every day, but with more vehicles on the road everyday…and the pressures of everyday life, I don’t see it in the cards.
I was truly amazed at the number of notes and emails I received after sending that email. I also received a few interesting phone calls from some friends that really felt a grassroots effort is needed to get people to start buckling their safety belts every time they get into their cars and trucks.
The first call was from my friends Rob and Gina Harrington (Camaro Legends – a local Camaro club out of Virginia Beach) They own Harrington Graphics and really wanted to get involved in a meaningful way of getting people to pledge that they would always buckle up…every time…no excuses. That people will agree not to drink and drive……and that we’ll “take it to the track” rather than street race. They offered to develop and produce decals and a pledge that could be distributed to Camaro and Firebird Clubs worldwide. The second call came thru the Harringtons. Joe Whitaker at Worldwide Camaro/Classic Chevy International felt that this effort was a great service to enthusiasts everywhere….and he agreed to develop a pledge and work with us on the project and offer any help he and his organization might be able to provide. The third call was from Andy and Sherrie Archer (Fbodygathering.com) and they offered to provide a website dedicated to this endeavor.
Please understand that this effort is only in its infancy…but we all hope Camaro and Firebird Clubs everywhere will embrace this idea….take the pledge….and help spread the word.
The website will be up and running in the very near future. You can find it at www.CamaroFirebirdNation.com. You’ll be able to download a graphics complete pledge and you’ll be able to request decals in club quantity within the next two to three weeks. We don’t have a method of fulfilling individual requests at the present time. (‘cause we’re going to stuff and address the envelopes as the requests come thru……and depending on how well the idea is received, it may be difficult to do individual requests at the beginning of the program……) The decal is about the size of a half-dollar and reads “Fbodies Arrive Alive” and includes the Camaro and Firebird Emblems. There is also a picture of a safetybelt being buckled….along with the web address.
We ask you to “take the pledge” (which I’m including at the end of this note) and in fact announced the program this past weekend simulateously at “Camaros at Carlisle.” as well as the Ontario Camaro Nationals.
Please…..take a moment at your next club meeting to discuss this idea. One of the real pleasures inherent in owning a Firebird or Camaro is the “forging of friendships” that naturally occurs between like-minded people. And because you are our Friend, we care about you and yours….and hope you’ll join us.
For those of you who think that the threat is not real or perhaps we are overreacting: National Statistics reveal that nearly 25% of you out there will be involved in a serious or fatal automobile accident in the future. That’s a pretty sobering statistic……..so let’s stack the deck in your favor.
I hope we’ll have your personal support.
Scott (aka Fbodfather aka RedPlanet)
“THE FBODIES ARRIVE ALIVE PLEDGE”
By acknowledging and signing this pledge, you are with us.
With us by always wearing your safety belt and insisting that your passengers wear them as well, every time, no excuses.
With us by never drinking and driving --- and taking the keys from those who try.
With us by grinning and shaking your head “no way” at the guy or gal at the redlight that wants to street race.
With us by realizing your car or truck can be a lethal weapon if you allow it to be.
[ 15. June 2003, 11:47 PM: Message edited by: Fbodfather ]
Posted by NATESS (Member # 982) on :
thanks for looking out for all of us Scott. you truely are our father. Posted by 67&02 (Member # 1570) on :
Words and a pledge to LIVE by! Posted by ss_rs_z (Member # 1888) on :
I agree totally with the above statements. I made a pledge to God mnay years ago when I almost flipped my car over while racing that if he got me out of that situation I would never race again.
To this day I haven't and won't race, I do not Drink alcohol at all, and I always wear my seatbelt.
Take the pledge everyone for yourself and your loved ones. Posted by Hawkeye (Member # 88) on :
Even if one life is saved - it's worth it!
We should not only take the pledge, we should pledge to spread the word.
Thanks Scott, and to all the others who's efforts are going into this program. We'll never know who's life you may save, but for sure lives will be saved, and injuries reduced - seat belts work!
Posted by 35TH ED/ed (Member # 1709) on :
This ties in with what we have been teaching our Son. Last Friday I had to pick up me son /the wife was at the ER with her mother and the son had been with her for 5 hours. Since I work on the same campus as the hospital I picked him up in the company van. The 1st thing that he did was to buckle up when I got in .
This comes from years to us mentioning to him and starting young to buckle up . This will be with him for years and we will have to worry less inlater years.
Posted by JohnS (Member # 1073) on :
Got my decals on the weekend.
I included one of them in this picture (kinda small) below the instrumant overlay. "Fbodies Arrive Alive" Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on :
quote:Originally posted by JohnS: Got my decals on the weekend.
I included one of them in this picture (kinda small) below the instrumant overlay. "Fbodies Arrive Alive"
Got mine also at the Ontario Camaro Nationals last weekend. Posted by HailUofM (Member # 1430) on :
Are they going to be passed out at Superfest?
Posted by amy00ss (Member # 106) on :
Will the SSOA be getting the decals?
Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on :
quote:Originally posted by HailUofM: Are they going to be passed out at Superfest?
I will find out at tonights club meeting. Posted by DaddySS (Member # 848) on :
Excellent!
Thanks Scott, and I agree with Hawkeye - let's not only take the pledge, but pledge to spread the word! Posted by HTWLSS (Member # 117) on :
I will be working on this for our SSOA members. My first task will be to get these stickers/decals for our new member packets.
Posted by edg35SSLE (Member # 1381) on :
Looking forward to "spreading the word"....Again well done Scott. Also thanks for spending time with us at Carlisle....Ed
Posted by amy00ss (Member # 106) on :
quote:Originally posted by HTWLSS: I will be working on this for our SSOA members. My first task will be to get these stickers/decals for our new member packets.
I know I have not been a whole lot of help lately...but I would be willing to help. Once you get it worked out, if you send me some addresses and the decals, I can send them out to the current membership.
Posted by RagSS (Member # 1127) on :
I have copies of the pledge and decals (limited supply)that I received from Rob and Gina in Carlisle. If anyone is in the Hudson Valley (NY) area, I will gladly get them to you. As Scott mentioned, they will probably be available shortly through the website, ...but just in case.
Thanks, Kevin
Posted by JohnS (Member # 1073) on :
Here's a link to a better pic of the F-bodies Arrive Alive logo.
Posted by ss_rs_z (Member # 1888) on :
Great idea Teri. Posted by HTWLSS (Member # 117) on :
quote:Originally posted by amy00ss:
quote:Originally posted by HTWLSS: I will be working on this for our SSOA members. My first task will be to get these stickers/decals for our new member packets.
I know I have not been a whole lot of help lately...but I would be willing to help. Once you get it worked out, if you send me some addresses and the decals, I can send them out to the current membership.
Very nice, Amy. I will take you up on that. We'll need at least 1000 stickers to cover the existing membership and have a few left over for new member packets. I'll be in touch with Andy and find out any cost involved. Once we get them, I'll send you postage, envelopes and addresses.
Posted by 99 HOSS (Member # 109) on :
Unfortunately, this is a sad fact within todays society. Our young people (kids) are convinced that they are invincible.
With the reducing of education funding and the dropping of drivers ed, the absolute numbers of places to race safely, it just doesn't add up to a viable solution.
Maybe people could work with local law enforcement to find a location that would be suited to grudge racing (1/8 mile). An industrial area, an old or existing airport. Sign a waiver and race under a watchful eye. Have the volunteer fire dept there, they'll enjoy it, and let'em learn.
That was what happened back in the late 60's early 70's. The L.A. Street Racers, under the watchfull eye of 'BIG' Willie Robinson, tore it up on the streets for years. We had CB radios and police scanners. All they found was burnt rubber in the street when they arrived. Ultimately he wised up and in working with the Police Dept and the city, got a big area in the L.A. harbor area to use for 'grudge racing'. Today it's the LAPDs vehicle training area in San Pedro.
Posted by DaddySS (Member # 848) on :
quote:Originally posted by RagSS: I have copies of the pledge and decals (limited supply)that I received from Rob and Gina in Carlisle. If anyone is in the Hudson Valley (NY) area, I will gladly get them to you. As Scott mentioned, they will probably be available shortly through the website, ...but just in case.
Thanks, Kevin
Put me down for one...I know we'll meet up....eventually.....still haven't sent the brackets Posted by DaddySS (Member # 848) on :
quote:Originally posted by 99 HOSS: Unfortunately, this is a sad fact within todays society. Our young people (kids) are convinced that they are invincible.
With the reducing of education funding and the dropping of drivers ed, the absolute numbers of places to race safely, it just doesn't add up to a viable solution.
Maybe people could work with local law enforcement to find a location that would be suited to grudge racing (1/8 mile). An industrial area, an old or existing airport. Sign a waiver and race under a watchful eye. Have the volunteer fire dept there, they'll enjoy it, and let'em learn.
That was what happened back in the late 60's early 70's. The L.A. Street Racers, under the watchfull eye of 'BIG' Willie Robinson, tore it up on the streets for years. We had CB radios and police scanners. All they found was burnt rubber in the street when they arrived. Ultimately he wised up and in working with the Police Dept and the city, got a big area in the L.A. harbor area to use for 'grudge racing'. Today it's the LAPDs vehicle training area in San Pedro.
It's unfortunate that so much of this neighborhood involvement has disappeared - I suspect in large part due to fear of lawsuits, insurance, etc.
Posted by tbyrne (Member # 424) on :
quote:Unfortunately, this is a sad fact within todays society. Our young people (kids) are convinced that they are invincible.
I think alot of us were like that when we were younger but start to stray away from those things as the years start to go by. I remember doing alot of "stupid things" when I was 20 and wouldn't even consider trying them on the road now. Plus the words "what if" always go through my mind while traveling at 3 digit speeds.
As for seatbelts I've always wore one. A friend in high school would have been seriously hurt or killed if she wasn't wearing her seat belt when a drunk driver ran a stop sign. After that it always gets clicked as I drive away. Wearing a seat belt is like starting the car. Those are the two things that have to be done to drive.
Be safe!
Tom
Posted by Showgun (Member # 1930) on :
I would also like one of the stickers and the pledge
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