shit.

Between the SFVISBF and this, it's not turning out to be a good year for Hoonage.

Godspeed man, hope there's no shortage of $500 racecars where you're headed.

With great courage sometimes great tragedies can occur.
RIP

News Item from Live Message Board, nothing really new:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Gulf colors Volvo crashed hard into a wall, apparently with fatal results. A lifeflight helicopter was dispatched but turned away before landing. Police arrived on the scene and began an investigation into the incident. The race has been called off for at least the rest of the day and race organizers have collected the transponder units from the teams.

Oh my god... i don't know what to say :(

Their guy has left to go help pack up too.

Sad, sad, sad.

Man, we had Wes Siler take a nasty spill (he IS on the mend, thank goodness), and now this fatality at LeMons in Altamont... Why has California become so motoring-hostile...? Not to sound disrespectful or flippant, but today's events have been a total buzz-kill.

My light-hearted weekend boozing is now far more likely to end as a morose sloppy stupor at home. I'm bummed out beyond words.

And as I said at the last post, my heartfelt condolences go out to those in attendance and to the deceased's loved ones.

What are these transponders that were collected from the teams? I read that over on that over site, but I have no idea what they are.

PS: Thanks for getting rid of that terrible image you had up initially.

Does anyone know who was on the team of the Gulf Volvo? Anyone that posts here?

Transponders send info depending on what they are programmed to do. I don't know what they would be programmed for here.

terrible news... i really don't know what to say in these situations.

@TheGuinnessTooth: they probably have electronic timing/scoring, which uses "timing loops" embedded in the track that are triggered by the transponders (electronic device that put out a signal would probably be a good definition) attached to the cars.

To the freinds and family of this person: all of us here have a huge amount of respect for him for living the dream.

There are very few pure authentic pursuits in life, and now there will be one less.

LeMons will continue in name, but not in spirit. Massively safety preped cars in the tens of thousands range will nominally wear the body panels of a $500 dollar car.

Everyone that was able to partcipate up to this point was able to have a very rare, very amazing experience, including this person.

@TheGuinnessTooth: Don't know specifically about this event, but they're probably the car ID units for the timing and scoring system.

@TheGuinnessTooth: Murilee knows they're sponsored by a place down the street from where he lives.

Christ. Goes to show that racing is still dangerous, even/especially with $500 beaters with their tongues firmly in cheek.

My condolences to the driver's family and friends, can't imagine what kind of dour spirit the rest of the race will carry on with.

I've personally witness too many deaths at race-tracks. My thoughts go out to the families.

But, in all seriousness, this was literally a accident waiting to happen. Even in well-prepared, strictly run sanctioned, professional racing injuries and death occur. The idea of $500 cars trashing around at slow speeds might have been fun. But the LeMons evolved (devolved?) to this.

This isn't meant to be at all flippant, but at least he died doing what he truly enjoyed. I've been a little too close to this exact spot for my family to endure, again.

This is so much 'better' than putting in endless years of work only to be regretting it in old age.

Oh man, fuck. That's awful... for the driver, his family and friends, the rest of the team, the Volvo itself, and potentially for the entire spirit of LeMons racing.

@Kelly: Completely agreed. There's no better way to go out, in my mind, than racing a sub-$500 242 Turbo.

I was always worried about Altamont, because of the way the track is designed. I suggest only using tracks with gravel beds and used tire catchment areas in the future. There are ways to make tracks less of an issue.

"...the V8olvo - which also happened to be right behind the 242 Turbo when it crashed. We're told it went into the wall at speed which made our team think perhaps something happened before the crash to the driver."

Just a gentle reminder that we Jalops must resist the temptation to speculate too soon, as Team Black Metal V8olvo will probably have instrumental observations to provide to the authorities in the official investigation, and we would not want to do anything that may be perceived as a premature conclusion that would taint the outcome of the official investigation (the above quote does not cross any line, but I would discourage us as an online community from pursuing any further speculation prematurely).

I'll give a shout out to the big man up top.

Christ, and the day before Mother's day as well.

: (

I dont know what to say. Its been a hoot following this form of everyman racing and will be so again I am sure. For now tho, thoughts and prayers to family and friends of this racer.

Very sorry to hear.

I also don't remember any other time in my life when I've looked at a 200 series brick Volvo and said "Damn, that's a sweet looking car."

*pours some out*

This could have been me. Or you. Keep that in mind, and send a message down the line that reflects our collective intelligence.

I don't know what to say. Feels unreal.

@charles_barrett:

I have to agree with this. None of us has any idea what happened, other than something very bad. Let's not make fools out of ourselves on an issue like this...

@FierySphere: At this point it may have everything to do with an unfortunate and unavoidable health issue rather than driver error or an issue with the set-up and/or nature of LeMons. If you learn about the LeMans guys, you'll see they are absolutely professional and vigilent about safety. This isn't some county fair demolotion derby.
Let's not jump to conclusions.

:(

Rest in peace.
And stay safe out there, guys.

:(

My deepest condolences to the teammates, friends and family of the driver.

As previously noted, racing always has its risks; at least the last moments was enjoying something.

This is a tragic accident, and im in sort of a daze after hearing this. I was gearing up for some excellent Lemon coverage, but now. . this tragedy just hangs over like a dark cloud, a grim shadow.

I will wait tensely for an update in the driver's status.

@Novaload:
Point taken. But I do have some knowledge of the LeMons races, and how we got to this point. However, county fair ground demo derbies are slow speed. The driver skill level, safety requirements, and vehicle prep rules are probably a better match than LeMons has become.

my condolences to the family. i suppose if it is any help, the driver was doing something they enjoyed, as many have suggested.

@Novaload: That is pure speculation either way.

@charles_barrett: Agreed, which is why we kept speculation to a minimum and I encourage others here to do the same. Unless you were there, please don't try to expand beyond what we know or beyond specific evidence we've presented.

@FierySphere: I was out there today. Based on your comments, you weren't.

These cars are $500 crapcans *before* all the safety equipment required for wheel to wheel racing is installed. LeMons is every bit as serious about safety as a racing organization should be. These are fully caged cars with proper harnesses, and I saw a lot of HANS devices and window nets.

This tragic event has nothing to do with the otherwise comedic nature of LeMons.

My deepest condolences to the family, friends, and teammates of this driver.

@charles_barrett: agreed re: speculation.

Sad news, indeed.

@no_slushbox: The $500 limit has never been for anything related to driver safety. Teams have an unlimited budget for safety equipment.

Every driver in the event knew the risks -- let's also not forget that.

@Ray Wert: Of course not, though that is no reason why we should not be mournful over such a loss, as I'm sure you know.

This is terrible. My sympathies go out to family and friends.

Although tragic I hope this doesnt stop the Lemons. We are just as likely to die crossing the street as the track. Maybe the $500 dollar limit should be on the car and drivetrain and have not on safety equipment. (if that isn't already the case)
Events like this make racing accessible to everyday Joe Schmo and I hope some day I can participate. We all risk our lives by walking out the front door in the morning. I could think of no better way to go than doing something I loved.

that is very sad. my condolences.

I do hope the race can go on and be a tribute to the fallen driver.

Death should not get the last word.

Altamont, Altamont, another dark mark for Altamont. No doubt you guys in CA have lots of different associations with it--but on the other coast/non regular face followers Altamont = bad vibe.

@Ethan Allison: You answered my question.

Very sad news, it is the most sad aspect of racing unfortunately.

@Zandr:

I agree.

Many of these cars use rollcages designed for $25,000 race cars with razor-sharp handling and powerful engines, not $500 jalopies lucky to reach highway speed at all.

There is, however, one serious flaw with the popular 5-point harness: The inability for the driver to move in his seat. In an ordinary car, if the top or side of the car is collapsed the occupant is able to move away from the impact. However, in a harness, you are held in place as the metal crushes you.

Of course, if you have a rollcage, the chance of your vehicle becoming crushed is close to nil. However, an improperly constructed rollcage - one in which there was not a great big bar across the doors - makes it very dangerous indeed.

While this may be a severe problem in a Golf or CRX, this was a Volvo - Clarkson crashed one into a brick wall with no more damage than a sprained wrist. Although the pictures I have are not the best, there appears to be no damage at all on the driver's side door, making my hypothesis extremely unlikely.

Even without Team V8olvo's comments, the lack of apparent damage to this very safe vehicle lead one to wonder if some race-unrelated cause - perhaps a stroke? - caused the death.

What a tragic turn of events. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone he k