Can't buy brains--JV Lake Bed Disaster

[inVERt'D]

Just ran across this over at Pirate. Some guy in a killer buggy almost killed himself on the lake bed. I'm sure we all do dumb stuff from time to time (I know I do, anyway). Unfortunately, all it takes is once to get yourself or others killed. Hopefully this guy will pull through.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=855361

[Schmo]

What a shame, looked like a really sweet buggy. Not wearing a helmet or seatbelt/harness while doing 70 MPH across the desert . . . what was this guy thinking :dunno: Hope he pulls thru and walks away with his life.

[JeepGal]

The first time I drove across the lakebed at JV, I nearly ended up in one of those holes as well, and I was only going around 25mph. They sneak up on you, you cant see them until your on top of them.

If you dont know they are there, and you add to that a bit of speed and complacency, its a recipe for disaster.

I read that the driver was released from the hospital that night. He was quoted as saying "I knew better". Hes a very lucky man.

Tam

[inVERt'D]

Yeah, I read the updates too. He says he's still planning to compete in KOH--quite a cowboy, and I guess this isn't his first rodeo. Jimmy's 4x4, who built his rig, is already busy fixing it up.

Before I ever dreamed about rock crawling, going fast was my favorite thing to do off road...and on road, for that matter. Sometimes it still takes a lot of self-discipline to slow down, despite the close calls and wake-up calls I've had. Seeing stuff like this helps keep me sober-minded about it, cuz stuff can go sideways in an instant.

[chris142]

The first time I drove across the lakebed at JV, I nearly ended up in one of those holes as well, and I was only going around 25mph. They sneak up on you, you cant see them until your on top of them.

Ya I accidentally launched a 1976 Dodge Ramcharger out of one of those bomb craters back in the early 90's.

[womb raider 940]

yup those are easy to get into.

that sucks big time.

[platnumb4x]

6-8 times...looks like the cage did it's job. Hopefully he will have a full recovery.

[kirkandsylvia]

Hopefully this guy recovers fully from this accident. It's sad to see such a minor mistake, or unseen hazard results in this but I'm sure we have all seen or had experience in this. Hazards in the desert are no joke, no matter what speed we go.
I am still trying to understand why a person with the resources to afford such a vehicle, the knowlege of the capabilities of that vehicle, and having a brand new helmet in the trailer would decide to even test, warm up, or merely "play" without his safety gear. Number one rule, especially in off road racing is, suit up with all your safety equip. before even turning the ignition on. Just because it's not a race event doesn't mean that the dangers aren't there.

[inVERt'D]

Yeah, he had everything he needed to stay in one piece, but he didn't use it. Like he said, he knew better. We're all subject to lapses, and if not for "natural causes," I think we'd all end up killing ourselves sooner or later.

Apparently he was an experienced sprint car racer, but that may have added to a sense of complacency; his sprint car experience probably didn't prepare him for big holes in the middle of the "track."

I learned a long time ago, for example, that most accidents with chainsaws--fatalities, even--don't involve novices or even the jackasses I have sometimes cringed to watch, but rather the seasoned professionals whose familiarity with the tool and the work turns to complacency and catches up to them.

[nwoods]

My friend was one of the first responders and helped dress his head wound before the EMT's got there. He said he had never seen so much blood. Head wounds are not cool.