Dana's Dead. Gentleman Start Your Engines!

[kickabuck]

As you probably have heard, Paul Dana died before the race Sunday.They ran the race as scheduled, and apparently the drivers were for running the race as scheduled. I understand the sentiment that it is a dangerous sport and 'he would have wanted the race to go on' mentality, but what about respect for the dead, and as importantly respect for his family. I'm curious if it was a multi-car wreck with multiple fatalities at what point people decide maybe we shouldn't run the race. Two, three, four deaths? Wouldn't they too want 'the race to go on'? I'm for erring on the side of respect for the passing of life, I'm not sure going on as normal does that. Lots of money at stake to be sure, but maybe it's more important to delay the normal course of things to show respect to those who have passed and their families.

This is not a new occurence I realize, for example back in Dec. '89 the downing of Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland killed 270 including 35 Syracuse University students. The Syracuse basketball game was played as scheduled that night, I've never really forgiven the university for that decision. What the heck has to happen for a sporting event to be cancelled? They did postpone pro sports for a bit following 9/11, but more often than not the games go on. Seems a bit callous to me.

[MCS]

I think it depends a lot on how the other drivers feel. As I understand it, they were all very sad but thought the race should go on, so it did. With four fatalities, they likely would have felt differently.

I think there is a good argument to be made for postponing things. It's a tough decision for sure, and there is no good answer, because nothing will lessen the impact of the deaths. I also believe that for the most part, people try to make decisions that respect the gravity of the situation, and no matter what they do, they'll catch flak.

[Green Kool Aid]

It's not like it's a teammate. It's another opponent in a driving contest, one where many people have died over the years. Not too big of a deal.

[MoreWineII]

[ QUOTE ]
It's not like it's a teammate. It's another opponent in a driving contest, one where many people have died over the years. Not too big of a deal.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a really idiotic post.

I do think the correct decision was made though.

[Green Kool Aid]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
It's not like it's a teammate. It's another opponent in a driving contest, one where many people have died over the years. Not too big of a deal.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a really idiotic post.

I do think the correct decision was made though.

[/ QUOTE ]

the "not too big of a deal" part is idiotic upon re-reading. however, i stand by what i said that there's inherent risk in car racing, and it's a little different than in the NFL when someone like the guy from SF died, where you practice all day with each other, do film sessions, and are best friends, etc.

[esad]

People die every day, it's part of life.

If a fan had fallen off the bleachers an hour before the start of the race and had been killed would they have cancelled the race out of respect for his family? The answer is no. So, why should someone famous be treated differently.

He died in an accident. It sucks. Life goes on.

[Frills]

They needed it to go on.

I used to ride bulls professionally, and sure there were times when someone before you got injured, and stretchered out of the arena, its a part of the sport. When something like that happened the best thing to do was to keep moving. Delaying the event hammers the risks into the minds of the participants even more and they won't be as focused.

We all knew the dangers. In situations like this its more dangerous to postpone than to keep things going as scheduled.

[Uncle Wimp]

In 1955, during the 24-hours of LeMans, a car went flying into the stands and literally decapitated spectators. Over 80 peoople died, including the driver, and dozens more were injured.

They finished the race anyway. The Mercedes teams withdrew before the end, though, and gave up racing for something like 30 years.

The race organizers reasoned that if they had stopped the race, the panic would have clogged the roads and prevented ambulances from getting in and out of the track.

After the race, a photo showing the smiling winner was printed with the caption "A Votre Santé, M. Hawthorn."
"To your health, Mr. Hawthorn."

So, for those who wouldn't have stopped the race from going on, what would it take to cancel the event?

[youtalkfunny]

"Gentlemen, start your coffins!"

--The late, great Jim Murray

[billyjex]

You race for a living... you love it. You know the inherent risks involved.

So you die, you're looking down at the race from heaven.. I think you'd want them to still race. I think it would be what you wanted, and I think that's one of the main reasons they raced.