Triumphrat

dardoonk · 03-11-2006

Through today there have been 18 bikers killed during Daytona Bike Week this year.
18 Bikers Deaths
This is so sad, regardless of who is at fault in any of the accidents.

May God Bless their families. I have to bury my 19 year old nephew this week

HiVel · 03-11-2006

Darwin had a theory about this kind of thing-not to make light of a tragic happening , BUT-
I had been going to Daytona for many years (25) running until the Harley idiots took it over and pretty much destroyed the races and what used to be a lot of fun. Now drugs and booze are rampant as well as loud ass pipes 24 hours a day and NO HELMETS. They got what they wanted and now have to live or die with it. I have had one bike kicked over , parts stolen off them. parts smashed on the bike . a leather jacket was stolen and a few undeserved tickets for me and my friends from the Gestapo, and so on. The times were actually better when the real biker gangs were going there en masse because it kept the cops busy , the poseur H-D fags away and gave the racers and real motorcycle enthusiasts a freedom they do not enjoy now. Sorry, but you can keep all that trash in Florida. I am staying home and going to Barber for my motorcycle events. I too am very sorry about the death of your very young nephew-my comments are in no way directed to you and yours; simply my past experiences. I had a friend who lost a leg on A1A, drunk, riding a Hog- hit when he veered into oncoming traffic-he almost died at a local so called hospital (he was a drunk biker and they parked him in the hall and let him bleed!) and his friends raised hell until they air evaced him to Jax and saved his life.
I do not like that place! God bless you and your family

[ This message was edited by: HiVel on 2006-03-11 21:29 ]

Ridge · 03-11-2006

Oh, Dardoonk, I'm terribly sorry to hear that about your nephew. My condolences.

I have a buddy down in Daytona racing. He had a near crash but managed to stay upright when he sailed off the track. Since he called and told me about that race I was a little worried for his safety. By comparison it looks like he's still much safer on the track than on the street down there.

Best wishes to you and yours, Dardoonk.

ChuckofTahoe · 03-11-2006

During Street Vibrations here in Reno, there were three deaths last year.

Eighteen is a lot. I would be interested in hearing the details on each circumstance if anyone knows of a news source. Always sad to see this kind of thing but maybe you can learn something by understanding what happened in each case.

In the Reno situations:

One guy flew off highway 50 near Spooner Summit. (so manage your speed going into corners and use smooth throttle and no brakes when in the bend)

One guy died trying to do a U turn in the middle of the Mt. Rose highway (so don't do U turns in busy roads duh}

One chick died as a passenger when a trailer flipped onto the bike in a high wind (freak accident maybe could not be helped but maybe avoid riding next to other vehicles in high winds or anytime for that matter}

dazco · 03-12-2006

So sorry to hear that dardoonk. I can't imagine burying my nephew. You have my sympathy.

Bryan · 03-12-2006

Sorry to hear about you loss dardoonk. It's a terrible thing to lose someone so young.

wonderdog · 03-12-2006

My sympathies for your loss. It is most difficult to be left behind by someone that you loved.

Perhaps it is my age, but as a returning (new?) rider after so many years away, I have no desire to visit the overcrowded, too long, partying bike fests. Along with the wonderful events and sights, there is a great amount of danger regardless of your level of caution. The traveling bug has bitten and I with a few friends will be taking long weekend trips until retirement gives me more time. There are wonderful sights to see in this land. Hmm, perhaps my age really is showing!

Wonderdog

Spyder94 · 03-12-2006

Dardoonk, I can not ad anything that has not already been said on the forum. My condolences, Steve.

thumper723 · 03-12-2006

Please accept my condolences for your nephew.

As to bike week, I live in Jacksonville, about 100 miles north of Daytona. This year has been particularly bad. I was flying to West Palm Beach when ATC put out a call for any Medevac capable helicopter. Bad pile up on 92, they had us land in a grassy area next to the on-ramp. Apparently, the local hospitals and civillain medevac helicopters were already at 100% capacity. We ended up flying one guy on a strecther with a nasty head injury to Gainesville.

I rode with my father from Jacksonville, down 301, SR-218 to SR-21 (Blanding) and took 315C thru Interlachen down to SR-40 then to Daytona.

The crowds were staggering. We took the northernmost brige over to A1A, and tried going south. Fugheddaboutit.

We ended up riding A1A to St. Augustine, ate lunch at Capt. Johns just before the bridge of lions, and took US-1 home.

Too many cops, too many people totally s$!&tfaced at 1pm. AND FAR TOO MANY OF THEM RIDING.

Almost got taken out by a lawyer-on-a-chopper type, that was duck paddling at 20mph and came into my lane. Saw one woman lose it and crash, beause she was trying to light a cigarette and traffic stopped on her. She was OK but her new Road King (which I though was a nice bike BTW) had a broken shifter and clutch lever.

I hate to say it, but Daytona in the last 5 years has gotten so big it is not that much fun anymore.

ChuckofTahoe · 03-14-2006

Found a link that has a little information on two or three of the fatalities:

One guy died with 72 miles or so on his bike.

One guy died while overtaking and crashed head on into another motorcyclist.

A couple of the fatalities mentioned involve persons without head protection.

www.news-journalonline.com/special/bikeweeks/2006/frtHEAD01B031206.htm

[ This message was edited by: ChuckofTahoe on 2006-03-14 22:52 ]