2009 PPIHC: Crash! Good News - Bad News - Good News

-









After a very long day spectating at the Devil's Playground at 12,700 feet, Sistie finally gets to see for herself that Doug is okay. We had very little cell service and had to trust what we heard on the radio once we heard #358 had gone off into the woods.

Good News: Our driver, Doug Allen, #358, is okay.

Bad News: Around mile 2 of the race there were 2 people standing in the road right on Doug's line. He was going around 80 mph and had to decide to hit and likely kill them, or go off the road and risk his own life. Doug chose to go off the road and landed about 15 feet down a very steep embankment, crashing into aspen trees and cracking up the Mustang. Doug said around 15 people were there right away to assist him. I wasn't there but can tell you without a doubt in my mind that the 2 people that caused him to crash were NOT there to see if he was okay.

Less than a minute earlier another spectator had run across the road in front of Doug. He did not need to alter his course that time but was still amazed at their behavior.

Chip Johns, #385, in the 1964 Ford Rally Sprint lost his clutch and dropped out of the race at Devil's Playground. As we were pushing him off the road Chip was very upset about the mechanical failure but seemed to me to be even more upset that a woman ran across the road in front of them during the race.

Good News: Our driver, Doug Allen, #358, is okay.

I'm not really sure where to put the fact that those people that caused the crash are fine - in the good news or the bad news column. Yes, I know it is a good thing that no one got hurt and we are all grateful. But if you ask me to choose between Doug's life and the lives of the spectators crossing the road - I choose Doug.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Of course, the Kansas boy at the motel said, "What the !#*^. He should have chosen the spectators, of course!" :)
20 July, 2009
Gary Faules said…
Doug, Team California's Best send our warmest thoughts in that you are safe and well. You took one for the team and none of us will forget that. A man's man if ever there was one.

Gary Faules
20 July, 2009
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2007: One Less Grasshopper in Oaxaca

-
Image
We were among the first to arrive at the beautiful Victoria hotel overlooking Oaxaca. Though the cloud cover was low and we got rain off and on, I could see that we were in a large valley surrounded on all sides by imposing mountains. The dramatic view and the low clouds reminded me of Anchorage. This is a beautiful city! The beautiful Hotel Victoria overlooking the city of Oaxaca We got El Jefe off the trailer and fired her up. (I know she's got a man's name but it doesn't feel right to call a car a man......like, "He's running fine today.") The sound of El Jefe always gives me the chills when I first hear her throaty growl and feel the power. I drove her through the hotel grounds and was happy to have a handle on her again. Geezer and Rene showed me all the interior improvements from last year: the new and improved racing seats, repainted and sleeker interior, hooks behind the seats for our helmets, a better clipboard for the route book, a sturdier water bot
Read more

Vance F. Stewart, Jr. January 29, 1939 - February 5, 2022 !Viva Geezer!

-
Image
Vance F. Stewart, Jr. Obituary                 February 5, 2022 Vance F. Stewart, Jr. AKA “The Geezer,” of Burnsville, Minnesota and Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico, passed away peacefully on February 5, 2022, in Mexico.  He was a lanky, cowboy-booted, larger than life character who was witty and found humor everywhere. He had a persistent “can do” attitude, was a mentor and inspirational figure to many, and a legend on the Mexican vintage rally racing circuit.  He came from humble beginnings on the remote prairie of Lemmon, SD, born to Vance Stewart Sr. and Josie A. (Vatland) Stewart on January 29, 1939.  He graduated Lemmon High School in 1957 and earned his mechanical engineering degree from South Dakota Mines in 1962, where he was a member of Triangle Fraternity.  He married Margie Ray in 1962 and they went to France where he served 3 years in the U.S. Army and Vance III was born. Upon their return to the USA he worked in Denver, CO and La Crosse, WI, finally settling in the Minneapol
Read more

2013: La Carrera Panamericana BEST FINISH EVER for TBZ Racing

-
Image
Sorry for the lack of posts!  I am sure everyone got the good updates from the other awesome bloggers.  I will spend time when I get home writing the stories and posting the photos as usual. We got 3rd in class (Turismo Produccion) and 27th overall!!! We are so stoked! Felicidades a todo de TBZ Racing: Geezer, Vance III, Rene, Bimbo, Tonio, Imelda, Juan, Carlos, Jose Luis, Fernando, and Juanito!!!  We could not do it without the big team effort. El Jefe rolling through the finish lines and crazy crowds in downtown Zacatecas. It is our 3rd year getting 3rd overall in class and last year we were 29th overall so we are doing the slow crawl up, which is what we do.  The guys in our class ahead of us were way up there - 5th and 11th overall - so it is fun to run with the big dogs! The legendary "Cowboy" from the Australian Holden FJ team. Robert Gehlen navigating Miles Jones to the finish! El Zorro (Fernando Garcia AKA El Fer)! My dad's girlfrie
Read more