View Full Version : Dragon Claimed Another
Spotted this on Delphi Forum, page thru the pics to see the outcome.
http://xtremesportsphotography.photoreflect.com/store/Orderpage.aspx?pi=0QAK01AY080000&po=0&pc=28
I was on the dragon a couple of weeks ago and thought at the time that many folks were spending far too much time looking at the photographers instead of the road.
VTlkmonster
10-19-2012, 06:53 AM
Damn, those are some scary pics. Hope the guy turned out ok. Definitely too much time paying attention to the camera.
Loafer
10-19-2012, 07:18 AM
:hmm: Was that a Triumph 1600? Seriously that's going to hurt.
glwilson
10-19-2012, 08:08 AM
Ouch...
That particular curve has had several accidents. That photographer has several pics of wrecks on his site at the corner. I know of a couple guys that were also victims on that corner this past summer.
They simply were not paying attention either...
Just think about the "vet"... he was just cruising along and then suddenly.. he owns a very used vet.:ohno:
ringadingh
10-19-2012, 09:22 AM
At least there are lots of pics for the insurance company to see what happened.
blowndodge
10-19-2012, 09:41 AM
That was indeed a Thunderbird. OUCH!
Steve in California the camera man would be culpable since he sets up on the side of the road and "distracts" riders.
Jgrazjgraz
10-19-2012, 09:56 AM
How,why did that happen?! What the hec did he do wrong? Not enough lean?didnt look through the curve?
Scary stuff!
Blueraven
10-19-2012, 10:20 AM
There was NO skid marks either. He also came out of a lean, not much in the brakes being applied either. Looks to me a "inexperience" rider for sure.
It appears to me that he might have made that turn and avoided the collision. But, it looks like he was an inexperienced rider too. My 2 cents worth.
I was thinking the same thing glwilson.... that vette owner was just enjoying the road and all of a sudden... I hope that vette didn't have any sentimental value. I'm a vette owner and some of the vette owners I know took delivery of their vette direct from Bowling Green.
Unfortunate for the rider.....
But it is a learning opportunity, demonstrating 1. Slow down before the corner. It appears his speed took him across the yellow line. 2. With his eyes focused on the vehicle, he straightens out and hits the target. Always look at the escape path, not the hazard!! It is the only way to avoid tragedy!
I pray this doesn't happen to anyone else. Ride Safe -- and enjoy the ride!
waterman
10-19-2012, 11:49 AM
It appears that once he started to cross the yellow line he became fixated on the car. He becomes more upright and not leaning for the curve. Remember, you go where you look and he was looking right at the car.
Camera angles can be deceitful, but it looks to me like as everyone says he wasted to much time waving at the camera. He leans hard into the corner maybe scraping his peg, but he is on his own side. For some reason he straightens up more and more crossing the line, when maybe if he continued on his original line he would have made the corner and missed the Vette. Yup I feel sorry for the guy in the Vette,
ringadingh
10-19-2012, 12:31 PM
It appears that once he started to cross the yellow line he became fixated on the car. He becomes more upright and not leaning for the curve. Remember, you go where you look and he was looking right at the car.
Thats exactly what he did, an expensive mistake to make for sure.
jandreu
10-19-2012, 12:51 PM
Poor guy in the vette! I agree that the comm. photo guy needs to stop distracting riders.
Pitchinguy
10-19-2012, 01:47 PM
Wow. Sickening. Hope the rider wasn't hurt bad. 2 fine vehicles torn up. Bummer.
cactusjack
10-19-2012, 02:21 PM
How,why did that happen?! What the hec did he do wrong? Not enough lean?didnt look through the curve?
Scary stuff!
The rider was too busy showing off for the camera.
Sin City Stan
10-19-2012, 03:35 PM
The rider was too busy showing off for the camera.
That's the way I see it. :yep:
Yellow Jacket
10-19-2012, 03:49 PM
It looks like his brake light doesn't come on until picture #15. By then he is across the yellow line and almost completely out of his lean. The bike can do nothing except go straight at the vette. In picture #16 it looks like the brake light is off again. Picture #17 & #18 brake light on. The vette is doing his best to get off the road, but not enough time.
I wouldn't say he was "showing off" for the camera. He was just waving. I've seen photos of riders that were really "showing off."
Regardless, he wasn't focused on what he should have been focused on, and that is watching the road and where you're going.
Sure looks like he dove into the turn, hit the pegs and instinctively tried to correct.
From that point it all went to hell for him.
Instinct doesn't always make you do the right thing.
I hope he wasn't injured badly.
Top Cat
10-19-2012, 05:02 PM
Look at that front wheel in pic 19, there is nothing left inside it and it is still perfectly round. :hmm:
ponch
10-19-2012, 05:44 PM
Look at that front wheel in pic 19, there is nothing left inside it and it is still perfectly round. :hmm:
The spokes broke out. I bet it's designed that way.
ponch
10-19-2012, 05:45 PM
He should have kept dragging hard parts, he would have been better off. Of course it would have helped if he used the brakes too. One thing I noticed is that there are some frames missing after he made contact with the vette.
waiving to the camera, maybe showing off, scrapping floor boards got startled and came up from his lean. end of story, my 2 cents
glwilson
10-19-2012, 06:35 PM
He should have kept dragging hard parts, he would have been better off. Of course it would have helped if he used the brakes too. One thing I noticed is that there are some frames missing after he made contact with the vette.
I happen to know the photographer has either quit taking pictures by that time or hides the pictures shortly after an impact. Not sure which; but it is at the same point in a bunch of his "accident" pictures where he cuts the pictures-off on that corner.
Like I said before, that corner takes-out a bunch of riders -- mostly going in that direction.
For those that ride the Dragon a lot, you know what corner this is. I remember it very well; and only rode it once in that direction. You just come out of an opposite curve, then basically go straight for a short-bit; and then all of a sudden the road takes a sharp turn to the right and tightens fast -- which is why a lot of riders cross the line there. Especially if they are distracted or simply not paying attention to the road.
Clearly the rider took his eyes off the portion of the road where he needed to go, thus he ran right into what he was looking at -- the vet.
Trip... I also hope that vet didn't have any sentimental value. Geez... the poor guy. But then again... if you are going to ride/drive on the Dragon you do so knowing you might get in an accident.
I agree that the photographer being there doesn't help.
Looking at the pictures, it is easy to forget the whole episode didn't take but seconds to occur...
Corigan
10-19-2012, 07:24 PM
I am up on the dragon all the time (was up there last weekend, and will be up there in about 15 hrs from now). I see people showboating for the camera all the time. Those are the corners I am extra cautious on. I will never even look in the direction of the photographer. These are blind tight turns where they setup shop. Lots of idiots up on the dragon. It never seizes to amaze me. We call it "The show". Sometimes going up there and watching the people is alot more fun than the ride itself.
cactusjack
10-19-2012, 07:49 PM
I like to watch the videos rnickeymouse posts on Youtube. Same deal, he sets up on a particular stretch of the Mulholland in the mountains near Los Angeles and films. Lots of riders looking at the camera instead of at the highway and they crash.
It's also amazing how many of them try to put their foot down on the low side. That's a recipe for disaster.
scott2007nomad
10-19-2012, 11:23 PM
when you brake in a turn, your path with try to straighten.
Learned that in MSF class
Saw a link for a Vette forum where the driver posted. He said the TBird rider had maybe a broken wrist and some rash, but he was thinking the Corvette may be totaled due to the airbag deployment, cowl damage, as well as the obvious fender and windsheild. 01 with over 100,000 miles.
I just read that the oil from this crash may have contributed to a more serious one. This crash was at 1pm, at 3:30 a bike came around the turn, spun out on the oil, and dropped off the side of the road. Took an hour to get him back up the to the road and then medivac'd to the hospital. Really broken up.
I've only ridden the dragon a couple times, but it definitely isn't a road for someone not paying attention!
Ghost
10-21-2012, 07:43 AM
I haven't ridden the Dragon. However the biggest thing I just learned was, if there's a photographer on the corner, it's a corner that get's lots of crashes. Might want to slow down and really pay attention!
happywanderer
10-21-2012, 07:49 AM
From stromtrooper forum the guy in the second crash ( caused by fluids not cleaned off the road) is in really bad shape.
I want to ride the dragon. But i know many more technically challenging roads in the US that ill be riding now instead. Just isnt worth risking my safety because of other unskilled riders.
I've slayed the dragon three times in my lifetime. Plan on slaying a few more times. At 318 curves in 11 miles, just paying attention is a big understatement.
moloprintz
10-21-2012, 10:00 AM
http://easttnbikers.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach%3btopic=3341.0%3battach= 7828%3bimage
Notice that he doesn't set up the curve.
He enters the curve on the inside. Bad move.
Always 'out in out'.
Use it always and it will become second nature.
Jgrazjgraz
10-21-2012, 11:13 AM
Good explanation of what might have happened.
http://www.soundrider.com/archive/safety-skills/RS-cc2.htm
glwilson
10-21-2012, 12:51 PM
The last two posts put it in perspective.
I especially like the slide sequence to show his track from inside out. A very good point, and good to actually see it occur (even if the outcome was unfortunate).
I hate to keep beating-up on the guy, but this bit of film helps others to learn from his classic mistakes.
We don't know how long this guy has been riding. He could have been riding for 30-years with terrible technique -- but was lucky enough to never be in an accident. Or it could be the one-time where he just simply wasn't paying enough attention to what he was doing. Who knows...
I have had my fair-share of accidents, and close calls; of which each one (if filmed) could be good examples of what "not" to do. (Believe me... I have relived each episode in my mind to try to learn to never make the same mistake twice.)
I have taken advanced rider courses, and try to practice some of the skills taught -- but even then at the end of a day, we are human and are inclined to make occasional mistakes. We can only hope they do not cause any harm to ourselves or anyone else.
Even Tiger Woods ends-up in the rough once in a while...:D
tazfl
10-21-2012, 01:57 PM
wow, I saw that posted on the other forum but I never checked it out, thats a shame, hopefully the rider didn't get hurt too bad. Got to feel sorry for the vette driver too, looks like he did all he could to avoid it, definitly no fault of his. I wonder if the rider hit the frame while trying to turn and panicked and stood it back up?
poppy
10-21-2012, 02:44 PM
From the Hayabusa site I visit.....
"Had a local rider go down in the spill caused by this wreck. (Not the guy that hit the vette.) Had some slick stuff still on the road when he was making a pass.
Rider down. - EastTNriders.com
from the thread...
Broken back
Fractured skull
Broken neck
Both lungs collapsed
Lacerated Liver
On a ventilator at the moment
Able to move legs,toes,fingers
Outlook prognosis Good
Be careful out there!"
Jared
10-21-2012, 04:10 PM
This is too bad. He took that corner too fast and fixated on the oncoming car.
Everyone who goes up or down the dragon knows that there are photographers along the side of the road. Riders need to just ride. I don't know too many people who would want a picture of themselves on the dragon in the middle of a straightaway and don't blame the photographer at all.
Loafer
10-21-2012, 05:16 PM
From the Hayabusa site I visit.....
"Had a local rider go down in the spill caused by this wreck. (Not the guy that hit the vette.) Had some slick stuff still on the road when he was making a pass.
Rider down. - EastTNriders.com
from the thread...
Broken back
Fractured skull
Broken neck
Both lungs collapsed
Lacerated Liver
On a ventilator at the moment
Able to move legs,toes,fingers
Outlook prognosis Good
Be careful out there!"
That guy hit hard, I wish him well.
ponch
10-21-2012, 05:21 PM
From the Hayabusa site I visit.....
"Had a local rider go down in the spill caused by this wreck. (Not the guy that hit the vette.) Had some slick stuff still on the road when he was making a pass.
Rider down. - EastTNriders.com
from the thread...
Broken back
Fractured skull
Broken neck
Both lungs collapsed
Lacerated Liver
On a ventilator at the moment
Able to move legs,toes,fingers
Outlook prognosis Good
Be careful out there!"
Doesn't sound like ATGATT.
BigA80
10-21-2012, 05:28 PM
Could have been worse? What if the vette could have stopped and he went off into the woods? Either way ouch!
ponch
10-21-2012, 05:40 PM
Could have been worse? What if the vette could have stopped and he went off into the woods? Either way ouch!
I guess we would have found out how a Thunderbird works as an Enduro.
Doesn't sound like ATGATT.
I don't know what gear he was wearing, but all the gear can't prevent all injury when one slides off the road, over a steep embankment, and bounces off some trees and rocks on the way to a stop.
ponch
10-21-2012, 08:22 PM
I don't know what gear he was wearing, but all the gear can't prevent all injury when one slides off the road, over a steep embankment, and bounces off some trees and rocks on the way to a stop.
A fractured skull? If you get that with a helmet on, it'll be the least of your problems. Bad day.
wompus
10-21-2012, 10:09 PM
I've slayed the dragon three times in my lifetime. Plan on slaying a few more times. At 318 curves in 11 miles, just paying attention is a big understatement.
My ex-wife was raised the other side of the Dragon..
I started riding in back in 1971 and have been on it around 1000 times.
Now I won't / don't want to ride it unless I'm going to visit her grave..:D
I've taken hundreds of other riders to make the run while I stay at the old gas station and watch other idiots run it. I've had to go pick up dozens of friends who has wrecked their bikes and needed a ride home.
After seeing the pictures the only one I feel sorry for is the fellow in the Corvette! Let's face it, there are wayyyyy to many idiots riding US 129 and I'm no loner one of them!
I know a lot better roads to ride in that area and I don't have to worry about getting run over by some dumb ass who thinks they know how to ride a motorcycle........
:ohno:
nomadtom69
10-21-2012, 11:31 PM
I live about 3 miles off of 129 where it leaves 411 I ride up to the lake and across Foothills Parkway or ride up to the Harley shop to get 100 % gas have lots of other roads to ride in Blount Co. where I do not have to deal the the idiots I used to hunt Hog and Bear up there in my teens never saw a motorcycle then (mid to late 60's)
blowndodge
10-22-2012, 12:09 AM
First thing is this guy looks a lot like Trip.
In frame 19 it's obvious his Inboard 3 1/2 is going to come up short. Frame 20 shows going from a tucked position to a layout position which totally slows down the rotation dooming the landing on frame 22.
You guys crack me up. You must not have very curvy roads back east as we have roads 4 times as long with triple the number of turns in California, all over the place. I have to admit however, you have much more snow than we do! :lmao:
moloprintz
10-22-2012, 07:46 AM
Blowndodge,
I totally disagree. And I think your scoring is highly biased.
I view the move from full tuck to open layout position as a very creative maneuver.
I’ll give him a ‘8’.
Mike
ponch
10-22-2012, 08:39 AM
Blowndodge,
I totally disagree. And I think your scoring is highly biased.
I view the move from full tuck to open layout position as a very creative maneuver.
I’ll give him a ‘8’.
Mike
The landing was bad though. I'd give him a 7.5
You guys are mean, what is this, riding with the stars?:hmm:
blkkawvaq
10-27-2012, 10:22 PM
that is a sad sight on both parts.... noticed the driver of the vet looking at the biker while he's about to hit the ground! WOW
Corigan
10-28-2012, 10:25 AM
What is really sad is the guy who went through that section a few hours later. He flew off the road with his suzuki on the oil that wasn't cleaned up properly from this wreck. He is in critical ICU on a ventilator. There is a thread on East TN Riders site about him as he was a local that knew the dragon real well.
UPDATE: Thread link: http://www.easttnriders.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41945
This is very sad stuff. Due to the original jerk off waving at the camera and being a douche on the dragon another rider got seriously hurt, and there is a thread on a corvette forum where they totalled the one guys vette which was older with high mileage. All because someone was an idiot on the dragon.
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