Organized Event: KOH 2010 live

[OU812]

Just incase you are at work like me. Pirate has live coverage of the King of the Hammers race.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/king-of-the...-2010/live.php

[platnumb4x]

Cool thanks, not much goin on right now.

[Matt2001TJ]

Live at hammertown usa

Just incase you are at work like me. Pirate has live coverage of the King of the Hammers race.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/king-of-the...-2010/live.php

Live from hammertown at "King Of The Hammers" in Johnson valley,... me and Gp4play Dennis, Roger and a billion people on the lake bed having a great time. Todays race was bad ass and then some. Will post some pics tomarrow when I get home and on a faster connection.

[OU812]

Im not sure if anyone has heard about this. But I was talking to Bart Dixon's wife at work and she told me this story about the fire on aftershock during KOH. It happened right after the leaders crossed the finish line so no one was there to see it. No one except Joe Bunk.

Originally Posted by DocRocks (on pirate)
I'm alive and still kickin today thanks to my new best friend Joe Bunk. This story should be told.

It was a dumb roll, I've done a hundred of them. This one was different though.... I was pinned in the rig upside down and the belts would not release. I looked in the mirror and saw flames on the headers... no big deal. Well the fire grew so fast, suddenly I was in deep shit. I could not get out. I don't know why, but the left side of my harness was jammed and I tried like hell, but I was not able to get free. By this time the flames were coming inside the drivers compartment and I got on the radio and put out a desperate call for help.... I was upside down, on fire and pinned inside. I thought this was it. "car 770, I need help!"... response, "what's wrong", "I'm upside down and on fire!". problem was they were at the next pit and about 10 minutes away. I didn't have 10 minutes. I had less than 30 seconds.

Out of nowhere, here comes Joe Bunk. He was the ONLY one there. He came running down to help and by this time the flames were BIG. I wouldn't have blamed anyone for running away because for all we knew the thing was about to explode. Joe Bunk hang in there with me though and for that he is a true hero. I pulled the halon system handle and it did nothing.... the flames were huge and the tires were on fire and the fire was accelerating. Nothing was going to get it out at this point and I'm still inside. I could feel the heat through my fire suit and I knew I did not have much time left. I threw the fire extinguisher out to him and he tried it with no real affect on the fire. By this time I'm breathing in bad smoke and things are getting desperate. I said "dude" (I never say dude, lol!) " you gotta cut me out of here" he said he didn't have a knife" about this time I remember that I zip tied a leatherman within reach just to my left. I pulled it out and threw it out to him. I said "cut me out" by this time I didn't care if he cut my leg off, I needed out of there! He cut the belts and reached in and pulled me out. I didn't have any control of myself at this point and was just flailing trying to get away from the flames. I fell in a heap just outside the buggy and he said "dude (yea, I know, but I started it), you gotta get away from this thing". He helped me get to a safe distance and I looked back and it was totally engulfed in flames. Literally 10 seconds later. I'm not exaggerating any of this.

JOE BUNK SAVED MY LIFE.

He was just a spectator in the right place at the right time to make a difference in my life.

That's the story. Something I would like to think any one of us would do for another wheeler. But I will say Joe stayed there with me when things were really bad and I would not have blamed him for running away to save himself. It is only because he didn't and stayed there risking his own life that I am still here today to tell the story. I owe my life to Joe Bunk and only hope to be able to somehow pay the debt back someday. If Joe ever needs anything he can call me and I'll be there to help. Joe is a reluctant hero and does not even want to acknowledge just how extraordinary this act of true courage is that he displayed. I know though because I was there and I am still here because of it. I look forward to paying back someday. If not to Joe perhaps someone else who is in desperate trouble and needs a hand. We are a family of wheelers and it is good to know there are everyday heros out there. I know one today.

Joe Bunk is a true hero!

Ken "Doc" Mercer ....damn happy to be alive today!

They had noted a tranny leak earlier in the day. Theory is that after they rolled over the gear oil hit the headers.

[RubiKat]

Thanks for posting this...

I was over at Sledge Hammer with the rest of the 10,000 people, but I heard some of the calls on the radio for fire help and then the call for the helicopter to come and get the driver to medical ASAP. I did not know the rest of the story and I do not know either the driver or Joe Bunk. What I do know is that Joe is a hero, one because he was at the right place at the right time and two, because he did something to help.

In the short time I have owned my Jeep and met more and more off roaders this is the one thing that sticks out about most everyone I have met. They are some of the most helpful and most giving people I have ever met.

Thanks to Joe for his heroism, he is a shining example for all of us!

Katherin

[Matt2001TJ]

Thanks for posting this...

I was over at Sledge Hammer with the rest of the 10,000 people, but I heard some of the calls on the radio for fire help and then the call for the helicopter to come and get the driver to medical ASAP. I did not know the rest of the story and I do not know either the driver or Joe Bunk. What I do know is that Joe is a hero, one because he was at the right place at the right time and two, because he did something to help.

In the short time I have owned my Jeep and met more and more off roaders this is the one thing that sticks out about most everyone I have met. They are some of the most helpful and most giving people I have ever met.

Thanks to Joe for his heroism, he is a shining example for all of us!

Katherin

I agree,.. never have I met such a amazing clan of people than in off road four wheeling. Good Job Joe where ever you are.

[JeepGal]

Thanks for posting this...

I was over at Sledge Hammer with the rest of the 10,000 people, but I heard some of the calls on the radio for fire help and then the call for the helicopter to come and get the driver to medical ASAP. I did not know the rest of the story and I do not know either the driver or Joe Bunk. What I do know is that Joe is a hero, one because he was at the right place at the right time and two, because he did something to help.

In the short time I have owned my Jeep and met more and more off roaders this is the one thing that sticks out about most everyone I have met. They are some of the most helpful and most giving people I have ever met.

Thanks to Joe for his heroism, he is a shining example for all of us!

Katherin

Chris, Matt Pascoe and I were running the checkpoint on Aftershock. It was me who kept updating the status of the driver, car and calling for help.

We thank GOD that Joe was there...Chris and Matt were second on the scene. I shudder to think what they would have found if Joe werent there. The four fire extinguishers that were dumped onto that car were wasted. In the less then five minutes from the start of the fire, the vehicle was engulfed and a total loss.

Joe was a very modest hero. He sat with us awhile afterwards, decompressing and talking.

Tam