Irresponsible behavior at the cruise.

CobraKelly · #1 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 02:31 PM

This is not posted by Kelly but rather, her husband, Frank

I’ve waited a few days to post this in order to let the well deserved messages of congratulations be passed along to DV and the crew for the fantastic job the did with DVSF III. Every positive thing said was, if anything, understated. Great job Ed! Thank you and everyone associate with DVSF for the tireless, good, and munificent work you all did.

That said, I think it worthwhile to bring up some behavior by a very small number of people at the cruise that should be discussed.

We were all asked to be careful when doing the burnout/cobra rides in London. Both my wife and myself gave rides with our car and we both did get into it and light them up. But we also were aware of where we were. On a city street that was lined with trees, houses and people on sidewalks etc.. Yes the street was wide but it was still a city street. Yes the police “said” it was ok but incumbent upon the driver was safety. Yet there were still people in the gas all the way to 4th gear. Some were clocked at over 100 mph. On a city street. That was not safe. THIS IS NO REFLECTION ON DV. HE ASKED US NOT TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT. We were lucky that no one was hurt. And the fact that no one was hurt proves nothing but luck. I would cringe as I watch the same people take these foolish risks with paying “civilians”. One jerk (yes I said it) had a child (under 10) in the car with him as he raced it through 4th gear (I bet it was one of those 100mph + runs). Yes it was a fast car, yes it was loud, yes it was exciting for the crowd but it was STUPID. Afterward the girl said she was scared to death. If I had been the “paying public” father of her and she had been hurt by that jerk I shutter to think of what I would have then done to him. But some people just would not listen to instructions. Like the people that were asked not to do runs during the band performance at London, but did them anyway. Which was both infuriating and embarrassing to DV. Or when people were trying to speak (including Kirkham) at the airport and some people just had to run their cars a few feet away drowning out what was being said. Rude behavior by some, stupidity by a few and luck were some of the themes of the weekend.

Yes we all had fun. But we were all lucky that the only damage was, as far as I know, a blown clutch, a cracked block and a bent up cobra.

I am not trying to start a flame war but we need to discuss this as a community. Perhaps, I am wrong and doing over 100mph on a city street with a kid in the car is really prudent, safe and intelligent. I know the organizers asked us not to do take stupid risks but I wonder if all of us are qualified to identify one.

Frank

casaleenie · #2 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 02:58 PM

I concur... I thought your posting was right on the money ..I saw people off on the right in front of the launch pad in London... It was just luck that no one was hurt... It only takes one accident to make all this worthless...
I had a great time but I walked away from the London Speedway.

al schafer

CowtownCobra · #3 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 03:23 PM

First let me say I wasn't there, so I don't know what happened.

But it seems surprising to me that the London PD did not step up and call a time out if there was truly a problem. If what you describe is a fact, then the LPD are the ones who lost it...

CobraKelly · #4 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 03:42 PM

I have no idea what the London PD was thinking or not thinking. I do know that the times I spoke of were from the LPD. (their radar gun) But that is not the point. The few loose nut(s) behind the wheel were the problem.

I hope that you don't mean the "Clinton" defense". (Right or Wrong is only determined by if you get away with it or not.)

Wrong is wrong and stupid is stupid if the LPD agrees or not.

Frank

CowtownCobra · #5 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 03:57 PM

Woah Frank,

No need to invoke the ugly "C" word. Like I said I wasn't there.

CobraKelly · #6 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 04:07 PM

CowtownCobra LOL. The "C" word! Good one!

What I don't want people to think is that only the police can or should be arbitrators of stupid behavior.

But sorry, CowtownCobra, if my response came across aggressive.

Frank

Hotfingrs · #7 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 04:39 PM

As far as I'm concerned there are so many holes in the first statement, that I don't know where to begin. First of all a child under 10 can't sign the waiver, their parent had to sign it, and I don't think that there was anyone that went for a ride that didn't know exactly what was going to happen. It's the father's responsibility to tell the driver exactly what kind of ride that he wanted the driver to give his daughter.

I've got a car that launches hard and straight and was also over 100 mph per hour.....but I guess since you think only a "few" ruined it.....then all the people that launched sideways, spinning tires, and doing donuts, and basically couldn't control their cars, were doing the right thing. There were far more people slipping and sliding at the starting line, where all the people were, than were going over 100.

I had people lined up 7 or 8 deep waiting for a ride....do you actually think that no one had a clue what they were in for?? Doing what I did, was the reason they were lined up.

The cars that were going fast, were actually the ones in the most control of the car...but according to your thinking....the slower drivers that spun all over the road the whole way, must have been the better drivers.

I've made hundreds upon hundreds of 1/4 runs at 130 plus in that car, I know exactly what the limits of the car are, how it handles, etc etc etc. I also raced SCCA for 13 yrs, so I'm also familiar with the concept of turning right and left....I would say my racing resume is better than most that were giving rides and probably not as good as others...

As far as Sunday goes....it was an accident, plain and simple. I run the 1/8th mile right at 6 seconds, I also put total concentration into driving the car, staying in the center, and watching the gauges.....just as I did on Saturday. I just plainly didn't see the cone, concentrating on the run, and by the time I realized that...I was out of runway.

Saturday the paying public got what they wanted, no one is going to pay to sit in a car and chirp the tires a little and putt putt down the highway of life at 50 mph, when they are driving that fast in their own car....at least I know I wasn't the one that gave the girl the ride, I've only got a 3 speed automatic, unless you're counting is like the rest of you're story......

Double Venom · #8 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 04:55 PM

Ok,
Frank, thank you, it had to be said. LPD cringes at these type of runs and so do I. But, the City of London truly loves this group so much, they simply bend over for us. Maybe to much. The Chief and I have already talked and we WILL be talking again.

Yes, we did tell everyone long ago to run it hard up to 2nd and even 3rd gear on occasion. (This was for those small block guys

)

Being totally honest, I never dreamed anyone would get to those speeds. On the other hand no one told him not to!

OK...if and I do mean IF we do this again we will set some kid of rules. (Jack you scared the He!! out of me Sunday! I am so thankfull you are OK. Not sure I would have come out of that one as cool and calm as you did!)

Bottom line is, yes we were damned lucky. No it will NOT happen again. Hear me people...it WILL NOT happen again! At that instant, I wished the DVSF had never gotten off the ground. I do not ever want to experience that gut wrenching feeling again, thinking that someone in our Cobra family was hurt.

Trust me on this one...If it IS done again, all "Flingers" will know my limits.

A cheap lesson for us, a damned expensive one for Jack.

DV...Anyone have an extra prosac? I'm back into the Fib mode!

Russ Dickey · #9 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 04:56 PM

Holy Smokes. I've been waiting for a thread like this. Where's Bolte? Brett J. Bolte?

RawCobra · #10 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 04:59 PM

Even the most attentive and skilled driver can lose it at 100mph due to tire or mechanical failure. I think Frank's point was that the 100mph runs shouldn't be done on public city streets. That kinda thing belongs on the track, where potential damage and injury is limited to driver and car.

As far as the kid in the Cobra...well...I gotta agree, the parents should take responsibility there, lay down the rules, and the driver should respect their wishes. Or the kid can just sit and watch.

DaveSemko · #11 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 05:02 PM

DV, by the time we finish the DVSF IV you'll be eating Prozac from a PEZ dispenser

What do you mean IF??? I already made my hotel reservations!

Hotfingrs · #12 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 05:11 PM

Right on Dave, The whole group that I was with made their reservations for next year, when we checked out.

DV...after that ride on Sunday, it started me thinking, I was doing exactly what the car was built to do....but is it worth it

Edley Rondinone · #13 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 05:15 PM

So, will there be "burnouts" and "drag starts" at a safer place, like the airport? I think those events are great crowd pleasers!

427Aggie · #14 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 05:29 PM

Not trying to get into things here guys I know this was about the fling. We watched a cobra go into the wall at 1/8 mile in Tulsa this last weekend...driver didn't have a 4 point just lap belts....

It was scary to watch how quick it got over the line in the other lane and the first reaction of the driver was to lift which brought him right into the wall.....

Please be careful...it brings a new reality to things to watch a cobra's hood go 10 - 20 feet in the air....the gentleman bent the steering wheel with his chest and broke the windshield with his face.

You won't see me on a dragstrip any time soon...things get out of control too fast for you to change the results

Lets be careful out there.

Matt

CowtownCobra · #15 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 05:53 PM

I for one can hardly wait to go to my first fling next year w/cobra. See you there

Jamo · #16 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 06:00 PM

Hey Hotfingers

Just one thing. We Middle Easterner men kiss each other out of brotherly love--like a handshake.

Don't be slipping me the tongue next time, will ya?

CSX 4039 · #17 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hotfingrs

#1
First of all a child under 10 can't sign the waiver, their parent had to sign it, and I don't think that there was anyone that went for a ride that didn't know exactly what was going to happen. It's the father's responsibility to tell the driver exactly what kind of ride that he wanted the driver to give his daughter.

#2
As far as Sunday goes....it was an accident, plain and simple.

#3
I've only got a 3 speed automatic, unless you're counting is like the rest of you're story...... [/b]

This is for Mr. Dickey....
I am glad you're not hurt Frank. Driving a car 0-100-0 mph (by a driver with unknown credentials and skills other than $35,000 for a car, large balls and a driver's license), with a paying (really stupid- even stupider to put your kid in the car) custumer as fast as you can down a city street lined with large tree trunks is not "what the car was built to do".

re: #1-
Had there been a injury, the "waiver" they signed would be worthless. A "permission slip" does not legally excuse manslaughter.

re#2
Gee, where have we read that before?

re#3
Nice personal attack.

I think the airport sounds like at least a safer venue. Wide open. Only way to get hurt is in a roll over.

Hotfingrs · #18 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 06:08 PM

Jamo.....was just trying to show you a little hospitality....besides that's how I was told Californians kiss

Hotfingrs · #19 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 06:21 PM

BJB...let me get this straight, you're saying that getting into a car, without knowing the driver, was stupid of all the people that paid for a ride....I guess with all the wide open spaces in Texas, no one has ever gotten killed hitting a tree or other object at let's say 50 mph or 35 mph....just exactly where is that line where you can hit the tree and another person and not kill them or yourself....

re #2 you can hear all you want....you weren't driving, so you don't have a friggin clue what I was thinking.

re #3 at least you can sometimes recognize a personal attack, to bad you couldn't recognize it in the first post...someone wants to open a can of worms, I'll keep fishin til the last worms gone....

mrmustang · #20 (**permalink**) 06-24-2003, 06:32 PM

Jack,

I am not going to take sides in this as I only saw the last part of your run on Sunday. However, it was up to you as the responsible owner and driver of the car to know the course before you made your run. Not placing blame, as you have already admitted to the accident. Just pointing out what has not come to light. Nothing more needs to be said................

Bill S.

Bill S.