Good evening, my Camaro Comrades and Firebird Friends..... ...
Spring is here - and most of us are getting our Firebirds and Camaros
out of storage .....and can hardly wait to drive them.
Unfortunately most of us want to plant the pedal to the metal --
............ ......... ..and that's fine -- provided that it's done
appropriately and in the right place and time.
My concern is that some of you may get a little *too excited* and
perhaps decide to do a little street racing.
Our Friend -- Jason Ory at
www.z28.com started a thread on his site
talking about the horrors that can result from Street
Racing...... ....and I thank him for bringing it to my attention.
I ask you to read something I wrote a couple of years back -- it's at
the end of this email.......
We had a great Camaro/Firebird Gathering in Atlanta -- and
unfortunately things got out of control late at night -- and two of
our Camaro Comrades died that night....... ........
All because of Street Racing...... .......
Please -- I beg you -- read the following -- and PROMISE ME -- that
you will not street race -- and that you will wear your safety belts
at ALL TIMES -- and that goes for all of your passengers as well.
Please share this with your friends..... ....put it in your
newsletters. ......... ...
To some of you, I may sound like a broken record. (to you 'younguns' -
- records were what preceded CDs.....) -- and I continue this rant
because I care about you.
Have a great show season -- and I hope to see you at the various
Camaro/Firebird shows that are planned this season!
The story:
A whole bunch of people looked forward to this past Memorial Day
weekend …many of them spending it in Atlanta, as I did, with fellow
Fcar enthusiasts.
A few young men I'm sure were looking forward to driving in from the
Carolinas.
It was a great show….hundreds of Firebirds and Camaros lovingly
maintained/restored /modified.
A great tour of GMMG........ Some great vendor displays.... ..... A
Beach Party....... ..
----A weekend built around a way to remember our veterans and those
who gave their lives for our country.
But a tragedy happened early Sunday morning.
We (as well as most manufacturers) build performance cars. We build
them with many, many safety features. We try to anticipate human
error. But some things can't be anticipated. And it's especially
hard to engineer around bad judgement on the part of the driver.
We put safety belts in all of our cars and trucks.
No…we don't deserve a gold medal for this…it's the law…..a GOOD law.
It's also the law in most States and Provinces that you are supposed
to put them on when you get in the vehicle. I guess we'll never know
whether or not the fellows in the back seat of the Camaro SS on Windy
Hill road would have survived had they had put the belts on.
Windy Hill Road in suburban Atlanta has curves and elevations. It
has as I recall, a 35 mph speed limit. It was not designed for cars
to travel at three times that speed. (or more)
In some ways, I guess I was fortunate. I was in my hotel room. It
was late…it was a long day………I had a great time meeting a lot of
great people and spending time with some old friends. So I retired
around 1 am and went to sleep. I didn't have to witness the
heartbreaking catastrophe firsthand.
I wasn't prepared to hear the news the next morning. I am, as I'm
sure many others are -- still in shock. And I pray for the families
and friends of all involved.
I guess at this point in time, I can only hope that amidst this
terrible, terrible tragedy that perhaps those who attended the
Gathering…….those of you reading this…….and those who read the
newspapers/websites and watched TV will think twice before getting
into a car or truck and not putting the safety belt on ---PROPERLY ---
each and every time.
Second: If you want to race, take it to the track guys and gals. Or
to the dyno. (the dyno doesn't involve driver error…….)
Simply put: We know these cars are powerful. I like burnouts as
much as the next guy or gal………but there is a time and place for
that…..and it isn't in a parking lot or on the street. It's at the
track under controlled conditions.
I don't ever want to see a street race. I don't ever want to see
another burnout in a parking lot.
And I don't EVER want to hear about one or more of my fellow
enthusiasts……who I care a great deal for…….. being killed in one of
our cars or trucks. Is it avoidable? I sure wish it were.
So how `bout we make sure we `stack the deck' in our favor?
How `bout we make a commitment to each other RIGHT NOW…….that we
pledge never to street race – EVER………… (And I don't care HOW many
other motorists are egging you on…….)
How `bout we make a commitment to each other RIGHT NOW that we will
ALWAYS wear a safety belt…and that goes for everyone in the car or
truck with us…………………..
How `bout we make a commitment to each other RIGHT NOW that we will
tell our loved ones how much they mean to us…….and that we DEMAND
that they wear a safety belt………. Every time………no excuses.
You think a safety belt is uncomfortable? Well how about this
statistic: A 180 pound human being traveling in a car at 35 miles
per hour that strikes a solid object will create THIRTY SIX HUNDRED
POUNDS OF FORCE.
Now......... .do you want that 3,600 pounds of force to be dissipated
by a safety belt or do you want it dissipated by a steering wheel and
windshield – or the pavement …do you still think the seatbelt is
uncomfortable? ??
………… some of you may say "Scott…stop with the rant…it's inappropriate
at this time."
To you I say…" I care about you and my fellow enthusiasts and friends
and loved ones. And I don't want to attend your funeral or see you
in a hospital due to an avoidable accident. So if I'm being
inappropriate, it's because I care."
To the family and friends of those who lost their lives this weekend
in Atlanta: You are in my prayers. I don't know that I or anyone
else have the words to console you other than to say how very deeply
saddened and sorry I am for your loss. And many of us will be
thinking of you for a lot longer than you might imagine.
To the organizers (my very dear friends) of the Atlanta Fbody
Gathering: You have worked so long and so hard to put such a great
event together. This was not your fault. People come from many
states to enjoy the passion that these cars generate. We are indebted
to you for your hard work…and we hope we'll be invited back again
next year. Thank you for your hospitality – thank you for your
friendship – and thank you for all the good things you do for the F-
car community.
To the Associates at the Marriott Atlanta Northwest: Thank you for
your kind understanding and for all you did to help everyone through
this weekend. You are truly a class act.
In closing, Everyone:
Wear your safety belts.
No more street racing.
Put the cell phone down when behind the wheel.
Practice safe driving habits.
If you're going to drink, don't drive. No one should lose his or her
life needlessly.
And remember….every time you get behind the wheel…..YOU are in
charge. Don't turn your vehicle into a lethal weapon.
Spread the word.
you the man scott!
