View Full Version : Northwest Nationals, and why you were lucky to miss them.


Jeffytune
29th August 2005, 04:56
Hi All.

Most here know that I have a warped since of humor by now, and how I wish this was in that vane, but I am going to report this to you strait up, no jokes....because this ain't funny.

The day(Sunday)started out clear and sunny, with just a light breeze, perfect for racing. I was to meet up with Y2K and PlanB, but neither showed. No biggie, I met up with some of my other friends, I even got to watch from the top of the tower.(great view)
The brackets were going as planed, even got to see some Sporty's blow off some v-rods.About 3:30, as happens here in the northwest, a storm front came in with clouds and wind gust to about 50, and these were going cross-track, just as the top fuel brackets were starting. We had a local guy(Steve Dorn) I guy I do know running against one of the Vans & Hines guys, well steve lost, but the V&H guys got blown into his lane, and disqualified, So Steve won.
But this caused both riders to go off the track into the sand pits.
No major damage and no injuries(Thank God).
After the track was cleaned up, and we got ready to go again, the wind was coming and going, but they still felt that it was safe to run.The next run was pro gas, and went ok, normal.
But that was the last one that was Normal.
The next run had a guy for Sac. Calif, who was late getting here because he blew the clutch in his truck on the way here, being that he missed qualifying, he was running outlaw.
The run started good, both riders got a good holeshot, but at the 660 mark, the wind gusted again, as he crossed the line, at 105.73mph, the bike went into the concrete barrier, throwing him from the bike, over the wall, cartwheeling in the dirt along track.
Emergency teams rushed to his aid, Paramedics were called and lifeflight was put on standby, but was not need to be called, he died on Impact and was in the hands of God.
The Rescue teams did the best to try and save him, there was just nothing that could be done.

Woodburn and the AHDRA have asked that his name be withheld at this time pending proper notification of his family, and I will comply.

By Oregon state law, and fatal accident require the road be shut down and a full investigation be conducted, so the track was closed at that point.

This link will give you more info...
http://www.ahdra.com/ahdrauser/news.htm


All in all, I had fun, met some old friends, got to meet some very nice drag racers, it just didn't end the way I hoped it would.

aswracing
29th August 2005, 05:15
Heard about this earlier, got on the phone to our guy (Dan Norlin, HS #4) and was relieved when he answered it.

Really sucks.

A guy was killed at the salt flats a few weeks ago too.

This stuff is dangerous, don't kid yourself.

GOTWA
29th August 2005, 05:29
This stuff is dangerous, don't kid yourself.

No doubt about it.

Thanks for the report Jeff. I'm sure Y2K was there somewhere as he said he had to take care of sponsor business. Must have missed each other some how.

Jeffytune
29th August 2005, 05:43
Well, I was wearing my xlforum t-shirt.
I fat middle aged guy wearing a black shirt?
I was so conspicuous.

Y2K
29th August 2005, 17:25
Hey guys,I was there on Saturday most of the day but wound up in Bend Saturday night after a nice ride through Mt.Angel,Silverton,Stayton,Lebanon,Sweet Home and Sisters.
Needless to say we wound up too far away to come back for the runs on Sunday.That's a reall bummer the weather turned foul and a guy paid with his life :(
It was hot in Central Oregon,90's all day Sunday.
We left Bend and headed East to Burns and then North to John Day.
Just about 20 miles North of Mt.Vernon on 395 some moron in a big rig tried to turn around in the middle of the road and got stuck blocking traffic both directions.We had to back track to Mt.Vernon and take 26 West to Day City then 19 up thru Spray and Fossil.That cost us time and we didn't get home till 9:30 last night :rolleyes:
Sorry I missed you guys but summer ain't over yet,we'll hook up soon 'eh.
On a lighter note my glide flipped 100,000 miles just 5 miles from home last night.5 years,7 months,13 days,3hours and 35 minutes=100,000 miles :D

Jeffytune
30th August 2005, 03:14
Hi all.

Ok, they have finally released the info on the rider, His Name was Elmo Rockefeller form Sacramento, he was 49 years old.

There is more info on this tragedy at AHDRA's web talk room.

Link....
http://www.ahdra.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads-5-5-1/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=AHRDA&Number=18666&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=

Jeffytune
30th August 2005, 06:14
Bump :bump :sofa

Narley
1st September 2005, 18:05
Sad isnt it...you want to say he went doin what he loves ,but that is no comfort....
odd though..it doesnt faze us...we still keep racing .....hmmmm....makes me wonder what drives us.....I think we need therapy.
fatalities are rare and of course we all still hang on to the belief that "it will never happen to us"