Dale Earnhardt Dead

[Switca]

Driver error is one thing. Mechanical failure is something else. But a lot of sins and stupidity get swept under the rug of "That's raceing. " Sorry, in other series, Earnhardt would have been black flaged for some of his antics and/or suspended for a few races.

No, that had nothing to do with his untimely death, but let's not start the paperwork for "St. Dale".

Now that NASCAR does not have to worry about how to controll "The Imtimidator", maybe they need to review what's agressive, competive driving and what is dangerous behavior and start using the black flag and suspensions.

 

[Bud Fox]

What a big loss to a great sport. If anyone follows racing ,maybe you would agree that now is the time to remove restrictor plates. You cant have all those guys so close all the time without definite problems. Indy has less deaths go alot faster and alot less protection around the drivers because not every car is identical. Fast cars pull out and leave slow cars behind. It is just my opinion but i feel if you let them run it would be alot safer. I am a Tony Stewart fan and thought his wreck was alot worse,but sometimes the worst dont seem that bad

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

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

 

[Dave B]

I can honestly say I never paid much attn to NASCAR in the past, and was talked into watching the race yesterday by a friend; what a sad thing to see during the first time I really sat down to watch one.

Not knowing anything about NASCAR, I can't comment much on their rules, etc. , but I can comment on the issue of the head/neck safety stuff they were showing for these drivers since I've done more than my gruesome bloody share of accident investigations... . all the safety equipment in the world won't help a bit when the human body is subjected to a sudden "deceleration" such as hitting a solid object with a race car at high speed. Basically two things kill a person when this happens: the arteries to your heart literally can get ripped/torn from the heart due to the G force(s). Then, the forces propelling the brain/head forward are so sharp and extreme as to separate the brain from the stem, (with assistance from the skull). Even with head and neck restraints, brain damage can still result.

I expected to see Dale walk away from this crash..... but, apparently, he hit that wall a lot harder than what it appeared to me. He didn't suffer, he was out like a light. Tragic ending to what sounds like a great life and career.

 

[Max340]

Originally posted by Chad Sheets:
Thats cool, no lost sleep. If thats how you felt, you should have explained it that way instead of taking the "shut your face" side. A little uncalled for, but like I said, given the circumstances, I'll take it with a grain of salt. We all post on here daily, so there isnt any reason to turn this into another alt. dodgetruck newsgroup, is there Max.

1) I never said "shut your face", I noted why I had a problem with your wording portraying an attitude, and that I accepted your opinion as legitimate. Maybe next time you will take my words at face value when I say I "don't begrudge you" your thoughts. As such, I DID explain it that way.

2) Uncalled for or not, one could say the same for your words and the tone they conveyed, yet I did not. I merely stated that perhaps a bit more though be put forth so you realized the way you came across. For the record, I was being polite.

3) Whether or not we post here daily has NO bearing on whether or not anyone should be held accountable for their words. If you don't like being called on the carpet for your statements, don't make them.

4) Perhaps next time you don't want this to become a newsgroup style format, you'll think a bit before posting items such as your veterans day essay. Such stuff is the epitome of the trolls that inhabit newsgroups.

5) If I sound insulted at your attitude, its because you seem to be playing "prim and proper did not mean to offend", when prior experience reading your posts leads me to believe the opposite. Then you come off with more statements that obviously mean, "hey great, we can get along, but you are still full of crap".

Fine, I'm full of crap.

 

[WOWZY]

What miserable lives you must have for some of you to insult a man that has helped make it possible for you to watch every single race of the Winston Cup season from the comfort of your living room and helped make NASCAR what it is today. Whether you want to admit it or not, the races on Sunday afternoon are gonna be pretty boring now without that little element of suprise from the man in black knocking on their doors.

Who are the "Nobodies" gonna have to compare how they did after the race with? You know what I'm talking about don't ya? Whether you realize it or not the majority of the drivers judge their performance on how far ahead they finished in front of Dale. He was the center of the NASCAR universe whether you like it or not and the only thing that may come out of this is that the rest of the nobodies may actually win a race. Enjoy the little victories while you can because Little E is just around the corner.

I will say that I'm glad that not too much has been said about putting Sterling at fault. God only knows what that man is going through now with the "What ifs" even though it wasn't his fault.

So how about letting those that loved Dale, grieve his death without reading a bunch of jealous BS and making them feel worse than they already feel by adding anger to their grief. If you don't have anything respectful to say, then keep it to yourself.
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[This message has been edited by WOWZY (edited 02-20-2001). ]

 

[Chad Sheets]

Max, you have been stirring it up ever since you arrived here. The first time I saw your trademark "MAX340" sig, it was followed by about 10 other people (who I never saw say a bad thing about anyone until you showed up) who were sick of you within the first week. I tried to explain to you we dont do that "argue" stuff over here like you love doing in the newsgroups. You seem to thrive on arguments and big essays trying to belittle others. Remember that silly little torque wrench debate you went on and on with for 6 months with 250 some replies calling people everything from ignorant to stupid just because they didn't agree with you and your thinking of what was more accurate, a click wrench or dial wrench... . remember that? It was about 2. 5 years ago. I sure do. Save the class room theatrics for your students because it isn't impressing any of us.

Posting here and being a member here does have something to do with it. The part of trying to get along and putting a little tact into your post. I'll admit I have posted some crazy stuff. No one can post 850 times and not make someone raise an eyebrow. What I have done however the very second I saw people were upset or concerned is A: explain the actions in more detail, and B: offer an apology to anyone offended. A quick search of my records here will show a more favorable acceptance than your will.

You might try to incorporate that A & B thing into your online habits here at the TDR as well. I never said anything about not being held accountable... another one of you "twist and distort" moves? I have been at this same place in the road with you before and the only way around it is to either ignore you and keep driving, or stop and let the other people stop on the way to help. The second hasn't worked too good with you either (you had people putting you in their "delete incoming messages from: list due to your constant arguing") in the past, so I will just go on down the road and let you fight it out here and go down with the ship like you love doing so often.

 

[Big MAK]

OK, everyone's opinions are out. No need to tout them endlessly. <font size=+2>It would be kind of silly if this forums moderator had to lock this down -- it's about a great racer who died doing what he loved to do</font>. No point in it regressing to arguments. In my original post on this thread I stated I didn't agree with his tactics -- if you agree with my view on E's racing antics then you could say something similar but the long dissertations are out of place. Bad race antics or no -- it's a matter of opinion and what can't be argued is a great racer and fine man died. Not everyone agrees with my approach to things and I hope that when I die they show enough restraint not to blather endlessly about it even before I'm buried -- especially in view of people who loved/supported me and are in mourning.

<h1><font color=red>Dale: may the wind always be at your back, your tires sticky and never flat, fuel tank never empty, and throttle responsive without a restrictor plate on the intake. You'll be missed. </font></h1>

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Big MAK
98. 5 ISB 5spd 4x4 Quad Cab 3500, 275s and Original PowerMax
A "WARRANTY FREE" ZONE
https://www.turbodieseltrucks.com

[This message has been edited by Mark Kitchell (edited 02-20-2001). ]

 

[John Berger]

I have been a Dale Earnhardt fan since the first day I got interested in NASCAR. Chad Sheets is right: Dale Earnhardt was very aggressive during the entire race, but to say that that should be controlled is akin to taking the racing out of NASCAR. That's what made the sport what it is. Look at the 79 Daytona 500 if any of you doubt me. The problem with this race and the other three like it are the plates. A car can be dirtied up enough to slow it down and allow the driver to get away from trouble. The plates must go. I don't have a problem with what you said Chad, but I don't know how you control the bumping and banging. Without that element, we would have CART/IRL American style. There is more of that now than I can deal with. It was just his time. Ironically, he died trying to help another driver win. How anti-typical Earnhardt that is. Good way to remember him, though. Bristol won't be the same this year without Earnhardt. #ad
#ad


John

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1999 Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab 5 spd; 4:10 LSD rear; Mag-Hytec diff. cover; US Gear EGT and Boost gauges. Amsoil foam air filter and synthetics from nose to tail.
Cummins Power, don't leave home without it

[This message has been edited by John Berger (edited 02-20-2001). ]

 

[Switca]

Originally posted by Mark Kitchell:
OK, everyone's opinions are out. No need to tout them endlessly.

Amen, Brother Mark.

Earnhardt has moved from the track to our memories.

Enough fighting, enough arguing. Nuff said.

On to Rockingham.

 

[Steve M]

This thread is like Dale would have wanted it. He was so controversial that popularity couldn't escape him. He still is. That means he's still alive and well in our hearts and souls. That's the entertainer in Dale. He made the crowd roar. I watched him run in hopes of humbling setbacks because he was too confident for his own good. He was and always will be what I've always wished I was more of. Competitive and Confident. Most of us don't take risk too confidently. So we pay people like Dale to act out our fantasies of macho invincibility so we can live our fantasies through him. When someone like Dale dies, that part of us dies too. We'll grieve for him and that part of us that died with him. It's a very emotional time for those of us who loved him or hated him. Do I really hate him? No. I hate that I'm not more aggressive and successful with my own life. I hate that I don't have the nerve to face death defying competition with the confidence he had. So I watched race after race hoping that he'd be humbled somehow but, knowing he could not be. He's everything I'm not. When I saw him crash after holding Sterling Marlin back for six laps, I leaped from my seat in anticipation that he had finally been humbled. He kept swerving in front of Sterling so he couldn't pass with his faster Dodge. His last swerve appeared to be too close and caused him to lose it. I think it's called the "pit" maneuver in police chases. We watched Waltrip give his emotional thanks and headed out to the back yard. Our neighbor came over to give us the sad news. I had to hide my sorrow from my wife and neighbor. I hid it behind a facade of macho verbalizing of how Dale brought it on himself with his aggressive racing style. He miscalculated his last move and paid the ultimate price. All the while I was trying desperately not to shed a tear. Part of me died Sunday night too. He was everything I'm not.

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98 2500 CC SB 4X2 12v 5spd 4. 10, -silencer, AFC+20, Edelbrock IAS, VDO gauges, Reese 15k Classic
97 Dodge Stratus 150HP
92 Harley Fatboy, Dynojet fuel management, Supertrapp 2-1
00 Jayco 25' 5th wheel, single slide

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Excellent Post Steve #ad

 

[WOWZY]

The news had an audio interview with Sterling Marlin and the way he sounded, you can't help but feel like he's taking the blame for something that wasn't his fault. I guess just being there was bad enough to keep saying "What If" to yourself a million times. I feel sorry for the guy.

The news also said that Sterling had been getting threatening E-Mails. What a twisted world that we live in.

I went to the local NASCAR collectibles store and was suprised beyond belief. The people had picked it clean of just about every thing with Dales name on it. I sat and talked to the owner for a while. He told me that Sunday night was like a madhouse and that if he had to do it all over again, he would've closed the store as soon as the news broke of Dales death. He even said that he heard some say that they were gonna put the items they bought on Ebay and that made him sick to his stomach that people would do that just to gouge the price. He even said that there had been fights breaking out in the Charlotte and Rockingham area stores over something as little as a t-shirt.

Someone came in the store while I was there and said that people are painting the #3 on stretches of I-85 around Charlotte. Hope nobody gets run over doing it!

I asked the owner if he had anything left. He had 2 pair of the autographed Gold Gargoyle shades like Dale usually wore and a Jacket that someone was supposed to pick up but didn't. I know that they were a little pricy @ $120. 00 each, but I bought both pairs of shades and the jacket. I'll be wearing one pair of the Gargoyles and the other I will keep, put up with the few other Earnhardt things that didn't get stolen a few years back. What few items that I do have now will never leave my possesion no matter how hungry I get.
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[This message has been edited by WOWZY (edited 02-20-2001). ]

 

[KB0OU]

Dale and I were born in 1951
I was nicknamed IronHead by my family
I loved and I hated Dale's racing
I loved 24 Hours of Daytona
If he were interviewed now he would say "it was just racing"
He died doing what he wanted to do
God Bless Dale and his family

By the way, it is the insurance companies that have required racing to slow it down, Nascar, NHRA, etc. they have all been slowed down. The insurance companies do not like flying objects with 80,000 people standing around.

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96 CC 4X4 2500 SLT AUTO transmission, PrimeLoc, ISSPRO EGT Boost transmission Temp, GUTTED CAT, 155,000+ Miles still goin' strong, Lots of Ham Radio gear, NO IGNITION NOISE!!! Love my diesel!!! # 8 TST Fuel Plate.

 

[Max340]

Stirring it up huh? Not nearly like you do. I avoid racist and tales of vandalism that might be offensive.

If people don't like me asking the tough questions because they bring up facts they might not have considered, too bad. As many people as you say don't like me, the same number have agreed with me, and a few have emailed me to repeat the words. So what? I appreciate the support, but I call it like I see and no one should do any less.

However, you seem to do so at least twice on this thread. You forget facts. Like the debate over torque wrenches. Your claim of my name calling in that debate is unsubstanciated and will continue to be so, because it never happened. My adversary in that debate enjoys the give and take on issues, and to this day enjoys the little jabs we post to each other on the newsgroup referencing that admittedly epic debate. What you also fail to see is that Budd and I have chatted via phone and we both noted that it was nto a personal debate, but a matter of opinion, and that we both see the other side ofth issue. Next time you bring up an issue, be sure you get all the facts out with it.

Admit you have posted some crazy stuff? Great, now note that no one, including me, has crossed the line of good taste and social issues liek you did in relating your juvenile prank that bordered on criminal action. Next time you decide to lecture someone on the proper way to conduct oneself, look in the mirror and decide if you can do that without a slight amount of hypocrisy.

Glad you decided to explan your words, when have I not? I always offered an explanation when questioned. One time in particular, my explanation was backed by the guy who had the facts in his garage.

If people prefer to hide from what I say rather than face the fact that I might actually be saying something true, fine. Personally, I don't feel I need help from someone of your calibre as far as interpersonal relations goes, you are not that great at it.

I'm sorry you could not take my comments in a more mature manner than to lie about me. Have a nice day.


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Y2K 2500 QC Sport 4x4 LWB
72 Dart 340
89 LeBaron GTC 2. 2 TI

 

[paccool]

Guys, nothing but hard feelings is going to come from this if you keep it up. Life's too short for that king of stuff. Probably better if you let it go. Don't mean this to Pi** anyone off, just making a comment.

Stan

 

[Chad Sheets]

Like I said. Just go on down the road. No need to stop #ad

 

[jthorpe]

Well, I can see how this thread has progressed since I was here last. Exactly the reason why I hesitated posting in this thread to begin with. Pretty sad that so many people have to put a great driver down just because of jealousy or whatever it is. Like it or not, he was the best driver NASCAR has ever seen, period. I am not going to argue about it anymore.

Wife and I went to DEI yesterday and spent about two hours there, grieving, talking to other fans, etc. Met a lot of good people, talked to a lot of news people (not on camera). They had about 40 news satellite trucks when I went down there, a bunch of law enforcement and a bunch of state troopers to keep the traffic problems to a minimum.

On my way there, we didn't quite know where we were so we stopped by the Robert Yates racing building on the way and asked where DEI was. I talked to the front desk clerk and there were two pit crew members there for the 28 car. They all looked REAL sad, sounded sad, acted sad. We talked for a minute and then left. You know how you can just tell that someone is hurting? Their pain showed. One of them told me he had been down there 3 times during the day before he had come back to work.

Pretty sad. Time to move on and keep racing.

Take care Dale, you will be missed.

Jack


PS - I will post a link to the pictures we took when I get them developed.

 

[Papa Joe]

Mr. Steve McDaniel, nice touch. #ad
Thanks for the thoughts. Joe

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I have received a number of complaints about this thread and the bickering going on here. In the interest of harmony can we just let the issue drop. A man that many loved has died and I don't see anything positive coming from people fighting over it when people are still mourning. Let's move on . . . . . Godspeed Dale

-Steve St. Laurent
Lead Moderator

 

[cjohnson]

I haven't made my daily trip to this forum since Dale's death. I have been a die hard Earnhardt fan since the Wrangler days like many, and haven't dealt with his passing very well. He was much more than my favorite driver, he was my hero. You will be missed Dale Earnahardt... and never forgotten.

Godspeed Dale


Craig Johnson

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2000, 2500,QC,4x4,white,tow,leather,6 spd,4. 10, 4" exhaust - turbo back, K&N, Balls of steel hitch, line-x bedliner, Autometer Ultralite pyro and boost, Mag Hytec on Dana 80... wouldn't dare add anything to void that good ole DC warranty!