BOAT CRASHES vs CAR CRASHES (Pro)
 

I left Sundays race with a sick feeling in my stomach. Why do I feel different about watching an offshore boat crash than when I see pro car crashes?

How do you guys feel?

Maximus

Ah, a couple more and you'll get used to it. - I'm kidding.

Answer is..... Boats aren't supposed to hit each other.

Survival rate?

Hey Max,
I think you feel the way you feel becaues you run a cat
on a regular basis in that same area. I drive a sports car on a regular basis but don't drive on Talledega on a regular basis. But when you watch that Nascar race you know there is going to be a pretty bad crash sooner or later. I watched everyone come down that start shoot in St Pete and said someone is going to end up on there roof in that first turn. Just a gut feeling I guess? :rolleyes:

Maximus,
I know how you feel.

Try taking a trip to the Reno Air Races sometime. Part of our racing team is an individual who races a biplane in Reno.

Every couple of years a pilot goes down, and you never get used to it.

When the Reliable rolled and Brioshi hit the pier, I had the same feeling as when Gary Levitz went down a few years back in Reno.

We raced cars for 20+ years and had a few horrific accidents and never once did my wife think I would die. She did mandate that I race only canopy boats as she does not want to see me fished out and has been around racing long enough to know, wrecking is not an if, it is a when.

We race with full time air and per the wife, my employer and my life insurance are not allowed to race without it. In fact this weekend we installed our gear in a boat we were racing to add this extra level of safety.

I really believe the canopy boats are getting safer and the survival rate appears to be on the rise with the canopies.

Rick

I couldn't agree more, Troutly.

Also, by the nature of this board, I would venture to guess that most, if not all of us, run out boats a little harder than out on-road vehicles, perhaps. It's always in the back of your mind when you're on the edge.


Max,
I know what you mean, I had knots in my gut, too.

Ive been involved in some sort of racing (cars motorcycles, skiing) for 45 of my 60 years, and its kinda like combat, eventually your mind gets numb to it. You see a stock car hit a wall at 150 or a top fuel dragster blow over at 250 and chances are hes gonna walk away or sustain minor injuries. But when I saw our boat roll at the Sarasota race it wasnt If someone was gonna be hurt, I KNEW someone was and it was the worst feeling I ever had at a race. The first thing you think of is, is someone dead. Thats why I get anal about boat racing safety. If anyone ever has the misfortune of having that feeling you'll know what I mean.

Dan

cus if you survive the accident you still might down. plus "lazy loops" don't ahppen in race boat. In a car when you go eve rteh edge the is a margin of error. You can still try to ctahin it and if you dont; athts what run off area is for. Most boat wrecks are all or nothign, whena baot goes over thr eis no cathcing it.

Additionally race teams spend millions doing crash tetsing in an attempt to protect there drivers. Has a boat ever been intentionally crash tested?

some people
 

Go to Nascar or CART/Indy to see the crashes. when they happen it's almost part of the entertainment. I don't feel that way with boat racing. maybe because I'm closer it than I am car racing, maybe because I know a number of the racers maybe because i could see myself in the drivers seat and know what its like piloting a fast boat (and when it get's away from you). Could be because I have a desire to race and the reality of the danger hits me.

Maximus

accidents suck period. in a car you always have a assh&le cut you off and your instinct is to avoid a hit, it's human nature . in a boat there is no brake petal.just close your eyes and hope that when it's over nobodies hurt .everyone is built the same,we all have red blood.

It`s alot like motorcycling you try not to think of the negatives,cause the rush far outweighs the danger,but you still have to respect the machine. I would love to learn to race supercats. The fear of dying is out there in everything we do,you just don`t dwell on it cause when it happens you`ll have no control of whats about to change your life. LIVE AND HAVE NO REGRETS!!!!

hey guy when you loose it on the track in a car you can't "hit the brakes" or your genenrally way more ****ed than you were to begin with. YOu can try to catch it but nasty track wrecks aren;t fun.

FYI i did this going like 60 (crawling, copmared to other turns in the track) up at watkins a few weeks ago.

In the past, I've worked several years with the APBA Gold Cup Unlimited Hydro rescue teams in Detroit. I also work at Michigan International Speedway, and serve as Chief Physician of G.L.O.P.R.A. Often run as pace/rescue boat in the Great Lakes Silver Cup Series and I have seen several incidents over the years. Fortunately, there have been no devastating injuries or deaths directly related to racing in our series and we hope for that to continue. Several other individuals volunteer and are committed to the safety of the series. They are greatly appreciated by the racers. I always hope for a race where I am not needed!

Tony Renna died today testing at Indy. He was taking Tomas Schecters place at Ganassi's. Sad day at Indy.
I remember being at Phoenix for a race and seeing my first real wreck when I was five. It is something I will never forget.
I have seen some bad wrecks since that. My dad used to call Nascar (the castiron bullfight) nothing has changed but there have been some good improvements.
I have been in some very fast boats and did not feel comfortable. I have tried to make changes in design to make that eerie feeling go away.(being in way over your head) I feel that there can be some changes made to boats to make them safer but it will be a double edge sword. The safer the boat the higher the speeds will go. Keeping the speed in check is not hard in racing but it is in the pleasure market.
Seeing a wreck in person is a lot tougher than seeing it on TV because of the whole picture.
The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. I still love racing. I just wish that politics and big business would not stand in the way of progress.
pat W

Regarding prevention of recreational boating accidents, I suggest always checking for a loose nut on the steering wheel first!