Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Someone needs to do something about the Speed TV reporters! I have never seen such a disregard for human life! The reporters got a helicopter pilot to fly erratically over the grandstands and the pits so they could take video during a break in the Kings Royal. Not only is this against FAA rules, but it is dangerous as a crashing helicopter not only hits the impact point, but the rotors spread as they separate from the body. This was absolutely ridiculous! The track officials were visibly irate over this! What gives them the right to put the fans, competitors, crews, track officials, etc. in harm's way? Shame on you Speed TV! You have lost ALL of my respect!

The Mermaid

I agree ... it was a stupid decision ... whoever made it. I don't think Speed had anything to do with it though.

I would be interested in knowing whose bonehead idea it was. It was obviously not the track's idea. They were upset over it. Was it Speed's move or the WoO? Whoever it was needs to be penalized in some manner. It was a blatent disregard for human safety.

t-warrior

Better buy some lotto tickets ladies, you have a MUCH greater chance of winning one of those than you do being hit by a falling helicopter, sheesh! Silly, silly, silly.......

especially when an arm chair expert is sitting in another coutry...the HINDENBERG HAS LANDED...oh wait...you sold that white van!

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

I'm not a big gambler so won't be buying any lotto tickets but that copter was obviously just screwing around in a no-fly zone ... it didn't just do a basic flyover.

Basic flyover I would have no problem with. This pilot was just being stupid and dangerous. Laying the chopper over on its side, down low I assume so they could get good pictures.

I understand it is dangerous to be in the pits and I accept that when I pay my money and get my armband BUT being in the pits, right under where someone was being stupid with a large piece of machinery is not something I appreciate.

t-warrior

OH THE HUMANITY!!!!!!!!!

Is this a serious post?

yes it is a serious post

wow.... never thought anything about it. Was down in the pits and none of that ever crossed my mind. Still doesn't bother a day later.

I'm sure nobody was bothered when Troy Critchley rolled his Pro Modified Corvette out for some demonstration burnouts last year, 6 or 7 dead later and now they all want his blood. unsafe is unsafe, you don't need an accident to prove it.

#1 - How do you know it was designated as a "no fly zone"? There were no NOTAMS issued for that area last weekend. Also, a helicopter pilot can ask for clearance to do low manuvers for photography purposes.

#2 - Do you all know ANYTHING about helocopters?

Member of this message board since 1997

And a race cars have killed hundreds of spectators too...

Member of this message board since 1997

...I do not know about NOTAMS or no fly zones or anything else about helicopters in general...but I do know that I paid $32 to attend a sprint car race and not helicopter stunts...the bottom line is that pilot put the entire crowd, drivers, teams, and track officials in a very dangerous position (not to mention the windy conditions it was being done in)...paying to see such antics is one thing, but to pull that crap over a crowd not expecting it was horseshit !!!...I can promise you it scared the shit out of the elderly couple in front of us that hurried out of their seats when this was going on...poor woman had pure panic on her face and could not get out of the stands fast enough...piss poor decision on someone's part !...

which car owner commissioned the stunt pilot?

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

I can say with certainty that the people in the crowd are at a MUCH higher risk of being struck by flying race car parts, mud clods and rocks than by that helicopter.

To the untrained, seeing what they were doing may have looked dangerous but it really wasn't. Pretty typical stuff really...I've been up on video shoots in lesser birds and done much worse maneuvers.

Speaking of untrained...too many people in the pits mulling around that don't have a clue about operations in the pit area. That's where the "accident waiting to happen" really is. Someone is going to get seriously hurt.

Intelligent answers by Hawker and Abnormal and a swing and a miss from gasitup, surprisingly.

I have flown in and shot photos in a helicopter without doors above a racetrack before, most frightened I've ever been. The pilot was Australia's most decorated flyer in 'Nam and assured me things were gonna be fine, he was right. You go to the edge you get results and this was likely the case, again. Much ado about nothing, Take It Easy....

PS As per the norm BRR is wrong again, I still have that white van and it's still USA plated, makes for a great winter car up here in igloo country.....

Whatever! No I don't know shit about helicopters or no fly zones nor do I care to argue with know-it-all's about such topics. This is why I don't post much on this board any more. A person can't even agree with another's opinion on this board without fear of being ridiculed and/or ripped apart.

Hawker -- If the track wasn't in a "no fly" zone for the weekend, then why did a track official state that it was? He even went so far as to say they didn't need any more fines for the weekend -- whatever that meant.

MSPN -- If it was a planned photo/video flight, the track most likely would have had contact info for the pilot! Instead, they were frantically asking the WoO officials and Speed folks if they had any means of contact with him. Obviously ... track personnel were not pleased with the situation either.

fear of being ridiculed?

come on bro - like anyone on here is an authority on anything lol.

personally I agree with you. if it was enough to freak even a few people out it was a bad idea. a suprise flyover is one thing - but more than one has used the word erratic..........

a suprise flyover may scare everyone at first - but when they realize they are in no danger they laugh it off and enjoy the scare/spectacle. but it sounds like whatever the pilot was doing didnt just freak folks out at the onset ----- but mutiple times throughout the fiasco. no matter how you slice it - no matter if you been up in a helicopter before - or know someone who has...................its horseshit to excuse this. it was a sprint car race not an air show...................it actually prob woulda been all good ----- except for the maneuvering. no that should never happen - not in that environment. like i said if it freaked eve a few out it was a bad idea.................and its wayyyyyyy worse if the track didnt even know about it. very irresponsible on a few shoulders. the pilot shoulda known better - but whoever contributed him doing it is to blame.

not cool to freak people out when they are all elbow to elbow and hemmed in.

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would