Fbodfather
SLP Member

Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Grosse Pointe, MI

Reflections on a Tragedy...please read
A whole bunch of people looked forward to this Memorial Day weekend …many of them spending it in Atlanta with fellow Fcar enthusiasts.

A few young men I’m sure were looking forward to driving in from the Carolinas.

It was a great show….hundreds of Firebirds and Camaros lovingly maintained/restored/modified. A great tour of GMMG. Some great vendor displays. A Beach Party. A weekend built around a way to remember our veterans and those who gave their lives for our country.

But a tragedy happened early Sunday morning.

We (as well as most manufacturers) build performance cars. We build them with many, many safety features. We try to anticipate human error. But some things can’t be anticipated. And it’s especially hard to engineer around bad judgement on the part of the driver.

We put safety belts in all of our cars and trucks.
No…we don’t deserve a gold medal for this…it’s the law…..a GOOD law. It’s also the law in most states that you are supposed to put them on when you get in the vehicle. I guess we don’t know whether or not the fellows in the back seat of the Camaro SS on Windy Hill road would have survived had they had put the belts on.

Windy Hill Road in suburban Atlanta has curves and elevations. It has as I recall, a 35 mph speed limit. It was not designed for cars to travel at twice or three times that speed.

In some ways, I guess I was fortunate. I was in my hotel room. It was late…it was a long day………I had a great time meeting a lot of great people and spending time with some old friends. So I retired around 1 am and went to sleep. I didn’t have to witness the heartbreaking catastrophe firsthand.

I wasn’t prepared to hear the news the next morning. I, as I’m sure many others are -- am still in shock. And I pray for the families and friends of all involved.

I guess at this point in time, I can only hope that amidst this terrible, terrible tragedy that perhaps those who attended the Gathering…….those of you reading this…….and those who read the newspapers/websites and watched TV will think twice before getting into a car or truck and not putting the safety belt on ---PROPERLY --- each and every time. Second: If you want to race, take it to the track guys and gals. Or to the dyno. (the dyno doesn’t involve driver error…….)

Simply put: We know these cars are powerful. I like burnouts as much as the next guy or gal………but there is a time and place for that…..and it isn’t in a parking lot or on the street. It’s at the track under controlled conditions.

I don’t ever want to see a street race. I don’t ever want to see another burnout in a parking lot.

And I don’t EVER want to hear about one or more of my fellow enthusiasts……who I care a great deal for…….. being killed in one of our cars or trucks. Is it avoidable? I sure wish it were.

So how ‘bout we make sure we ‘stack the deck’ in our favor?

How ‘bout we make a commitment to each other RIGHT NOW…….that we pledge never to street race – ever………… (And I don’t care HOW many other motorists are egging you on…….)

How ‘bout we make a commitment to each other RIGHT NOW that we will ALWAYS wear a safety belt…and that goes for everyone in the car or truck with us…………………..

How ‘bout we make a commitment to each other RIGHT NOW that we will tell our loved ones how much they mean to us…….and that we DEMAND that they wear a safety belt………. Every time………no excuses.

(You think a safety belt is uncomfortable? Well how about this statistic: A 180 pound human being traveling in a car at 35 miles per hour that strikes a solid object will create THIRTY SIX HUNDRED POUNDS OF FORCE. Do you want that 3,600 pounds of force to be dissipated by a safety belt or do you want it dissipated by a steering wheel and windshield – or the pavement -----now…do you still think the seatbelt is uncomfortable???)

………… some of you may say “Scott…stop with the rant…it’s inappropriate at this time.” To you I say…” I care about you and my fellow enthusiasts and friends and loved ones. And I don’t want to attend your funeral or see you in a hospital due to an avoidable accident. So if I’m being inappropriate, it’s because I care.”

To the family and friends of those who lost their lives this weekend in Atlanta: You have my prayers. I don’t know that I or anyone else have the words to console you other than to say how very deeply saddened and sorry I am for your loss. And many of us will be thinking of you for a lot longer than you might imagine.

To the organizers (my very dear friends) of the Atlanta Fbody Gathering: You have worked so long and so hard to put such a great event together. This was not your fault. People come from many states to enjoy the passion that these cars generate. We are indebted to you for your hard work…and we hope we’ll be invited back again next year. Thank you for your hospitality – thank you for your friendship – and thank you for all the good things you do for the F-car community.

To the Associates at the Marriott Atlanta Northwest: Thank you for your kind understanding and for all you did to help everyone through this weekend. You are truly a class act.

In closing, Everyone: Wear your safety belts. No more street racing. Put the cell phone down when behind the wheel. Practice safe driving habits. If you’re going to drink, don’t drive. No one should lose his or her life needlessly. And remember….every time you get behind the wheel…..YOU are in charge. Don’t turn your vehicle into a lethal weapon.

Spread the word.




FYI This is from Scott Settlemire, past F-Body Chief at GM.

 

It is sad to see some one go like that

 

That sucks

 

My condolences. I went 30 feet over a cliff into 12 feet of water in the Okanogan lake outside Kelowna in 97. My 95 TA was totalled, but more importantly my friend and I survived. Broken bones and stitches and almost drowned. Had too many drinks and the co-pilot was pushing me to go all out on corners with elevation. I know my limit now, hopefully. After we swam to shore I asked my buddy if that was fast enough for him. But seriously, be careful all you f-body dudes. Your as* end will come around before you new what hit you. No traction control in the 95 TA but I don't think it would have made any differance. Safety first and peace out.

 

Thought provoking words from Scott.

 

It's sad that it often takes a firsthand mistake before a human being learns a lesson - and in many cases, that mistake is fatal.

Its sad that people often cannot learn the right way to do things before they run into trouble rather than after.

 

Very sad to hear, But I cannot make any commitments to not street race. It's something that is there and to hard to avoid especially with peer preasure, you crum bums know who you are.

All I can say is we need to be carefull and pick the right place at the right time in the right conditions.

 

Race him!