Off topic: Sad news, racer killed today

Just heard the news that Dale Earnhart was killed today in the Daytona 500. Saw the crash on Speedvision, didn't look that serious. Apparently he died of massive head and chest injuries. Whatever your views may be on Nascar racing, motorsports racing truly lost a great racer today.

Chris

that's just absolutely terrible news! i was never really a big NASCAR fan, but i enjoyed watching the road races and the superspeedway events. when i found out the news i thought "no, this can't be true".

then i went to the nascar.com site and they said indeed it was true. man, that really stinks. after seeing him in the Corvette at Daytona i thought "wow, i never really paid too much attention to him before but that man can DRIVE!!!" he was passing other cars in the rain and driving the Corvette like he was born to do that job.

we truly, truly, truly have lost a great racer. he will be remembered by all in the same breath as Senna, Fangio, and Rodriguez.

R.I.P.

obin

While working on the SC, I had the race on the garage TV set, taking an occasional look at the action.

Saw the crash, and didn't think it looked as bad as the other big one earlier in the race.
Then I turned off the set and took the car out for a spin in the sunshine.

When I returned, my wife said:
"Dale Earnhardt is dead!"
We are still in shock.

What with the great strides made in race car construction and equipment, you see many drivers walk away from bad crashes.
When one doesn't, it really hits your heart.
God Speed, Dale.


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Regards,
Doug
'81 SC Coupe

It doesn't matter what kind of racing or cars you follow - this is a great loss to motor sports period. Hard to believe.

Jeff C

I just hate hearing news like that. Very sad. Sterling Moss once said that racing today is *too* safe and isn't real racing anymore. Deaths in racing in his era were commonplace, drivers and fans alike. The tragedy at LeMans in 1955 still makes me physically ill when I think about it.

I think it is a testament to how safe racing really is today that we are so shocked by a fatality nowadays. It *is* hard to believe and is a strong dose of reality that we should all let sink in.

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Tyson Schmidt
72 911 Cabriolet

Kind of makes you think about the real dangers of track events wherever unmovable barriers are involved.

JE

I was devastated at the news that Dale Earnhardt died today. The racing world lost one of the best drivers in Nascar history. What a sad way to start out the Nascar racing season.My heart goes out to the Earnhardt family..

This is going to get me banned forever:

All due respects to Mr. Earnheart. It is sad to hear of any popular figure passing away unnecessarily. Many looked up to Dale Earnheart, and as my brother-in-law, a mechanic for Chrysler said, that many will not show up for work tomorrow due to this tragedy. This certainly is going to be true and demonstrates his enormous popularity. My thoughts and prayers go to the family of this very popular racer.

All niceties aside, I am not surprised this happened. I must also take exception of Dale Earnhearts status being as great as that of Juan Fangio or Ayrton Senna. He was no Racers Gentleman, and many of his competitors disliked his driving technique. Juan never intimidated anyone with physical harm or a wrecked car – only sheer humiliation at the finish line. In fact, he gave up the Ultimate Drivers Challenge in Monaco to assist a fellow racer who had gone off course and was feared injured. Popular opinion dose not make Dale Earnheart truly great.

Wining as many races as he did under the moniker of “THE INTEMIDATOR” does not, in my opinion, point to great talent either. Rather it positions others into fearing what The Intimidator unspoken-ly threatened his competitors with, an ultimately died from…

As we all know, Motor Sports is in fact a blood business. The fact that so many NASCAR fans go to races for the accidents and beer makes it all the more atrocious. Paul Fere drew only one comparison to NASCAR in his book He pointed that only in the USA do the fans actually wish harm on the drivers and their cars of the opposition.

Abraham Lincoln said it best: “God must love the common man because he made so many.”

Rest in peace, Dale.

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Clay McGuill '66 912, '97 Jeep Cherokee www.geocities.com/the912guy

I am not a nascar fan, but anytime an icon in their particular field dies, it is tragic. Icons are not supposed to die young, whether it be James Dean, elvis,cevert, senna etc. It is tragic. I remember when Senna died, they interviewed nascars fans that day, they all did not like the news. But people respect famous people in other fields. No doubt race fans all over the world would react the same way once they hear this news. I mean I'm not a fan of golf, but when Payne Stuart died, I had that same sick feeling in my gut.

I am not a nascar fan, but anytime an icon in their particular field dies, it is tragic. Icons are not supposed to die young, whether it be James Dean, elvis,cevert, senna etc. It is tragic. I remember when Senna (and also when Villeneuve) died, they interviewed nascars fans that day, they all did not like the news. But people respect famous people in other fields. No doubt race fans all over the world would react the same way once they hear this news. I mean I'm not a fan of golf, but when Payne Stuart died, I had that same sick feeling in my gut.

Motorsport racing is a very competitive sport. A successful driver is never a nice guy on the track. Dale's driving style was aggressive, but it made other drivers respect him. This obviously worked or he wouldn't have achieved the status he did in NASCAR. His off track personality made him an ageless icon in US racing.

Also, I don't think anyone can say Senna was a "racer's gentleman". He was also hated by many of his peers. Yet, Senna is among the most admired F-1 drivers. Dale Earnhardt's legendary status will always be in America, because that is where he did all his racing. He lived and died doing what he loved. We should be all be so lucky.

This is truly a sad day. Godspeed, Dale.


JPerry
85 Carrera
68 912

It was a nasty accident. My son works in the sport and I have had the opportunity to meet a few drivers that weren't even close to DJ and some who exceed in different classes of racing. They all seem to have two different personalities, one for the track, and one for the public and private times.
Albeit he was the intimidator, he could have a good side also. Eddie Cheever took him out in the IROC race and was scarred to death of what was to happen. DJ just walked over, gave him a brief bit of grief and then a hug.
He was and will always be remembered as a true chanpion.

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John Birkett
72'T Targa

I was and am stunned by the death of Earnhardt. I have two passions, my Porsche and NASCAR, and have followed the latter for the past three years. The latter having been inspired by Earnhardt. I have looked forward to Sunday races for the past four years, rarely missing a race, for the sole purpose of watching Earnhardt. I was truly looking forward to this season, but NASCAR as we now it, racing as we knew it, is forever changed. It was not the American iron I enjoyed watching, as nothing can compete to the engineering of Porsche, but Earnhardt brought NASCAR to life. Earnhardt brought racing, competition, and success to life. He inspired my passion. I can only imagine what such a gifted driver could have done if behind the wheel of a Porsche. While some may not have high opinions of the man's gamemanship, I believe the racing industry has lost one of, if not THE, greatest racers of our lifetimes. Earnhardt's methodical approach to racing and life can be an inspiration to all. A devoted father, husband, businessman, and racer.

I sickened me to watch the broadcast on the network channel this week. In California the coverage was by the FOX network and only seems to have one interest - to reap the benifits of $$$ off sensationalizism. The media acted as vultures preying on injury and possible death. Asking stupid questions, further showing they have no clue to what racing is about, what racing means. It is ironic ironic that a legend like Earnhardt has passed with the conversion of NASCAR to sindication television. Just as the coverage is now forever lost, so is the man who made watching NASCAR something t olook forward to.

God rest your sole. You will be missed, and thank you for your inspiration.
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Paul
78SC Targa

Get rich quick - start printing your bumperstickers NOW!

Dale - We will miss you

#3 FOREVER !!!

Geez - having lived in Tennessee for too many years, I can just see the trucks and trailers sporting these "tributes" already...

LOL

[This message has been edited by VIPRKLR (edited 02-19-2001).]

Vipklr, funny you mentioned that. I was out doing some late shopping 2am sunday and the store was moving the #3 stuff up. The marketing and licensing people are probably negotiating the tribute stuff right now. Someone will have that crap ready by the next race.
I am not a fan of the NASCAR bumper car show, but it is still sad to lose a great driver.

I agree that it was a tragic event to loose Dale this weekend, but it is a risk of the business. If it was safe and easy everyone would be out there. Honestly, the wreck did not look that bad compared to others that I have seen other drivers walk away from.

I agree with VIPRKLR. NASCAR seems to be a game of beer and crashes. In general people wait to see the accidents because otherwise it would be pretty darn boring. Spectators of course do not want the drivers to get hurt, but want to see the car carnage.

From my experiences with Petit LeMans and other GT races, the crowd is actually disappointed to see people wreck the cars. I think watchers of other forms of racing have a deeper appreciation for the cars than do NASCAR fans.

My only experience with NASCAR was going to the first running of the Brickyard 500. I was extremely impressed by the knowledge and enthusiasm displayed by most NASCAR fans. Having been to dozens of Indy 500s, NASCAR fans were much more into the race, then the typical Indy fans. As for boring, I saw better racing that day, then I had ever seen at Indianapolis. 3 cars side by side into those flat Indy turns, it was incredible. Much more exciting than some F1 races where passing is limited to a couple of places on the track. The style is different, but NASCAR is great racing.

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Bill Krause
'79 911SC Euro

VIPRKLR: I live in Tennessee too, and I've already seen more #3 stuff this evening than ever. Do you still live in TN? What PCA region are you in if so?

I moved the hell away from tennessee as soon as I could - three years after graduating from Vandy. I have never seen such a pitiful state - in many, many regards, #3's on every taxi and tractor not withstanding...

I moved to Atlanta for two years and now live in beautiful Colorado - Thank the Good Lord!!!

As King Steve McQueen said: “Racing is important to men that do it well.” I have never considered driving in circles (and I have done it) a test of any measure.

Some like NASCAR and that is fine. Somebody’s gotta drink Bud…