Dafan had what looked like a bad fall in the Sportbike race yesterday, apparently he got taken out in turn 4. Does anyone know how he's doing??
Art?
Thanks,
Nut
I talked to his girlfriend (I'm assuming) and she said "He's ok, they're just taking him to the hospital".. I'm hoping that it meant nothing serious and they just wanted to check him out.. I didn't want to pry.
It all happened right in front of me, I hope both are OK...
Ryan
hey man. I was out for a while, apparently sitting under the tirewall (was told by the medic). They were gonna air lift me because I wasnt responding even though I looked awake. But I woke up as I got to pit out.
Art, I was so glad to hear your voice... it was the first known voice, and it reminded me of where I was.
Got to the hospital, found out I had a bad concussion, and a broken arm/elbow. As I was getting X-rays taken, I realized I couldn't walk, so they found out that my pelvis is broken too. And also bruised kidneys.
Then after I checked myself out of that little hospital and got home, as I was being washed, we realized that my spine from head to half way down the back were bruised. so I was really luck that I didn't break my spine... Thank summit point for moving that wall back, although airfence would even be nicer.
I don't have much recollection of the race. After I was told that 280 was the other bike involved, I remembered passing him in turn 3. I guess he somehow took me out in 4. Art told me that it wasn't my fault, I remember clearing him before we went to 4. I would love some one to told me what exactly happened. the only details were I flew pretty high and landed on my head then into the tire wall.
I haven't seen my bike yet, but I guess no racing for a while, and no championship fight for me.
If I get well and still want to race, I don't know if I can put on a yellow plate ever again. I see more than 1 person get taken out each weekend in my races, it never really hit me until it happened to me: I want to have confidence in the fellow racers that they won't take me down. I take precautions when I pass, too much sometimes, thats why Hector get through the field and finish 2nd and I get through the field finish 6th ;D
Thanks for all that came to our aid, help packing up my stuff. Thank the corner workers, medics, I don't remember you guys, but you took care of me, didn't cut my leathers :D and stablized me.
I guess I will miss you guys out on the track for a while, maybe I will be back, maybe I won't. I am not making hasty decisions, but right now I don't feel too good. Nothing like waking up in an ambulance, not knowing anything happened, not remembering what happened, and don't know if I would see my love again (they thought I broke my neck)
Was a good weekend, now, it just plain hurts
QuoteI talked to his girlfriend (I'm assuming) and she said "He's ok, they're just taking him to the hospital".. I'm hoping that it meant nothing serious and they just wanted to check him out.. I didn't want to pry.
It all happened right in front of me, I hope both are OK...
Ryan
hey ryan, please tell me what happened, I really have no memories of it.
I heard you did well and got 3rd. See I took out myself and another guy so you can get wood ;D congrats, maybe we will race again
Glad you are okay and at home Dafan. Sorry to hear about the crash.
Hey Dafan,
Man I'm glad to hear you're alright, riding by the second time on the red flag lap seeing you slumped in the tires is not how I'm used to seeing you..(it's usually with your hair flying and you pass me into 1 on the start.. ;D)
Anyway,
From what I saw from right behind you guys, you got him in three, he came pretty hard and tried to go back by inside you in four, highsided and his bike flew right into yours, knocking your rear out and sending you airborne. It all happened pretty fast, but I'm pretty sure that's how it all happened. I'd be surprised if you even saw it comming.
I also agree with your thoughts on the passing. I am by no means a fast guy (maybe when you Nut, Hector and #103 leave I will be ;)), but I'll definitly have enough points by the end of this season to go to expert, and if it keeps up like it did this weekend, I may sacrife placing for driving myself home. 3 first lap crashes right in front of me where a rider took out another.
Oh ya, I got 4th not 3rd. I blew my wad in the SuperSport race trying to catch Rob Smith and couldn't quite get it together to get by #125 who wasn't really making it easy... Oh well, next time...
Anyway, this is probaby the most I've written on this board.. glad to hear you're ok..
Hey Dafan,
I'm really sorry to hear about your crash and your injuries. I hope you heal quickly.
On the passing thing. Lately, I have noticed myself that there have been MANY instances where I MIGHT make it past a guy, but he may not see me. Earlier this month in Vegas there were several opportunities like that and I chose to back out of it instead. In some cases I lost the position because of it. I have a career, a wife, and a beautiful 2 year old daughter to go home to. I just didn't see it as worth it. Some of these guys will crash before giving up a position. Not me...I'm gonna be 37 soon, Yamaha won't be knocking on my door. :-/
Thank God for the miniscule protection of back protecters. It sounds like you were a breath away from really, really bad news. Get well soon.
QuoteThank God for the miniscule protection of back protecters. It sounds like you were a breath away from really, really bad news. Get well soon.
I know it is not proven, but the hump on the suit probably helped too. As I was lying on the board with the neck brace, I realize it was quite comfortable. I think that helped too. My spine is sore, and bruised, but I don't think I ever lost any feelings or motion after I "came back". When they first got to me, they say I wasn't following the light, pupils cloudy, didn't know where I was, and kept asking "What happened" for times and times and times.
I think I am going to start a push for airfence too, we need them.
Dafan,
Sorry to hear about your crash and what happened. This type of stuff really pisses me off. I was taken out by Jason Catching at Vegas. I'm a 1st year AM and he's an EX who was lapping me and didn't pass me cleanly. He took me out rather than waiting a fraction of a second to pass me on power on the straightaway. All for a frickin' cheap wooden trophy that doesn't even have one's name on it. I lowsided and tumbled in the gravel, so I didn't end up seriously injured (but I still have to fix crash damage to the bike and my leathers). But in your case, that's some pretty scary stuff. Not to mention how it must affect your family. I just don't understand how some people can be willing to risk seriously injuring other racers over a little wooden trophy. Focking dumba$$es.
QuoteI want to have confidence in the fellow racers that they won't take me down. I take precautions when I pass, too much sometimes...
Well said. I only wish more racers would have the same attitude.
Hope you heal quickly.
Oh yeah! Broken pelvis, elbow, bruised from head to toe. Quite comfy. Now this guy is tough!
I saw Grady at Summit and he's chompin at the bit to get back out after his recovery from last years wreck. After he pointed it out, look at the wall in turn 8, it's right there and I never saw it. Every year bad stuff happens and there has to be a better system than tire walls that is affordable. I think it's a bulldozer. Look at all the wrecks in turn 1 and 10 and how few times the ambulance has to go out. It seems tracks don't want the hassle of air fence, so long runoffs are at least permanant. In the meantime airfence would surely help.
in all fairness, mistakes can be made, it doesnt have to be a jackass move. I am not the person who hit me, so I don't know what went wrong, was it a risk too great, or just a mishap.
I do know, that I know the guys I usually race upfront with. I have confidence in them, and I am not afraid of racing them. This guy I passed usually finishes well behind me in all the races, and I passed him without too much of a thought, because I pass him in other races on the way to chase down the leaders.
I don't really want to blame anyone, that may be unfair. I am more frustrated with the mentality and condition that we are racing in. Seeing 5-6 bikes on the side of the track is a norm in AM MW classes. I saw 2 instances where one guy hit another this weekend. Many more crashes that were unecessary.
Save for a few, most guys realize they are not fast enough, rather than trying to figure out whats wrong with their overall riding, they just take more risks "push harder" You got a lot of things to work on other than being agreesive and take risks if you are riding around summit point doing '24-25 on a 600. Stop trying to fight the guy who pass you by going faster after he passes. If you can go faster and not crash, then you would have always gone that fast and I wouldn't have passed you.
now that I am NOT walking, not driving, sore all over and bike probably destroyed, I am faced with "what for" fighting for 3rd 4th place in a race with 10 people? if he didn't hit me , I would have kept on going and would have never saw him again in that race.
I did notice earlier that most guys fight you when you pass them. Even lappers. I wonder if race schools should be teaching people to race themselves instead of racing the others. If you can work on your riding and do 19's at summit, then you wouldn't have to take no risks.
What if he killed himselve? would that be better or worse? It just shouldn't happen. I heard he just hurt his shoulder. Well lucky him. Can we trade? I would give up all my plaques and all my checks to NOT sit here for the next 2 months. If he told me to let him have 2nd place or crash, I will wave him by.
I love rriding and love racing, but that I can't deal with. Maybe I will start back as an Expert starting in the back, at least no one will hit me from behind.
It didn't look good @ all when I went by, your head was between the tires!! I'm not very religious, (I do say a prayer before going out for ever race though), but God was with you on that one.
It was pretty crazy out there this weekend, but really not to much more than any other AM races, scary uh?! It wasn't that much better up front, I got hit exiting turn 10, got hit entering turn 1, saw someone get taken out on the start in turn 1, and saw Hector almost get clipped in turn 5. And that GTO race, wow! Glad I wasn't in that one, but watched that crashfest from that carousel. Coming back as a expert might not be a bad idea, but that means no more battles with ya. Do you really want to give that up?? lol
Glad to here you're relatively ok, heal up & stay in touch.
Nut
BTW...In light of the back injuries to Livingood & Woody Deathridge, and finding your bruising at home, did you go to the Hospital in Philly today? I keep rereading your 1st post & if you haven't gone you should. It can't hurt for them to take a closer look.
I left the ER at Charlestown at about 12 am, and I may go see a surgeon this week about my arm, to see whats up. I don't think they can do much to my pelvis, maybe pins, I have to see. I just want to get rid of some of my bruises first, then I can see what is broken what is not. They wanted me to stay in ICU, but I wanted to go home. so I left.
my back seems ok. Bruises and sores, and today my neck is real sore from the straining I suppose. Nothing too bad though, my arm hurst the most. Might have turn a ligament too (feels just like my knee when it torn a ligament)
I was looking forward to get to some clear track, try to keep Hector in sight and battle with you. guess wasnt to be, couldn't get clear.
I wish I remember the race, flying through the air, the tire wall and such. I guess its always better when you crash and remember the impact. This getting knocked out stuff is too scary, especially listening to others retell their accounts...
Well as long as they took some x-rays of your back. Maybe a CAT scan would be good to. A friend of mine cracked his C7 @ last year's Cycle Jam and I believe it took a CAT scan to find it.
I've been knocked out 5 times so I know it sucks waking up. Look at it this way, sounds like if you remembered you'd be even more pissed! ;) This way you can just concentrate on getting well.
I'll shoot you a email with my ph#, give me a buzz.
BTW Ryan,
As I said before we left you looked good out there! You going to any NESBA days during this break? We can have some more fun! ;)
they must have taken 30 xrays plus a CT of my head, my spine, my abdomen and hip. The pelvis had one clean fracture, the elbow they can't find anything on Xray so I may have to go get a MRI. Neck is fine. They did the CT first before letting me out of the brace and let me sit up. They were also afraid of internal bleeding because I had traces of blood in urine, but it went away, the kidneys are slightly bruised. The side of my leathers are torn open, and I am real surpised I did have any skin wounds. Bruises all over though.
Oh, and I witness, I don't like tire walls. Personally I rather see the very least Haybales if not airfence. We have to do more to protech ourselves. I could have EASILY been added to the list of disabled from track injuries. I was just lucky.
QuoteBTW Ryan,
As I said before we left you looked good out there! You going to any NESBA days during this break? We can have some more fun! ;)
Hey thanks Man,
Since I can't make VIR in June (wedding..not mine), I think I'm going to do the 23rd on the Main Course at SP. Email me and let me know what dates you'll be riding with them, I'd be more than happy to try and keep you in site for more than a lap ;)
Just an update, we were moved when the other guy involved in the incident contacted us and said kind words. If everyone had the same attitute as a racer, it will ease a lot of pain. Lets just remind ourselves, ride carefully and don't take risks if you dont have to, remember the other person's family, kids, career and most importantly, we went to the track to have fun, not get hurt and be miserable for months to come.
Dafan,
Sorry to hear about your crash. I'm glad to hear you are able to walk a way (figuratively) and will be back on your feet soon. Get well and best wishes on a speedy recovery.
Steve
PS-I hope you dont mind but I posted a link to this for all your friends on the R6 Board
http://pub114.ezboard.com/fyamahar6messagenetracing.showMessage?topicID=1120.topic
Dafan, best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.
"Just an update, we were moved when the other guy involved in the incident contacted us and said kind words. If everyone had the same attitute as a racer, it will ease a lot of pain. Lets just remind ourselves, ride carefully and don't take risks if you dont have to, remember the other person's family, kids, career and most importantly, we went to the track to have fun, not get hurt and be miserable for months to come."
Well said Dafan. Glad to see you are up and ok man. I hate reading these posts but to hear you are mobile is great. Hang in there and get better.
Sean
NESBA / CCS 817
00 ZX-6R
Yikes Dafan!
Glad to here you are doing "okay".
I don't rememebr seeing you crash - Was that in the MWSS race?
I guess I was too far in the back for that one...
The one time I get up to the top ten (MWSB), I decided to not put enough gas in my bike :-[
Dafan,
I sent you an email offline, sorry about misspelling your name. :-[
Hopefully you are a current MARRC member so I can submit a request to have you get a disbursement from the IMF.
Hopefully everything will heal and you'll be back to the track in no time.
For the rest of ya'll...If you ever do crash, God forbid, and get injured one of the requirements to get a disbursement from the IMF is that you must have a MARRC membership and be in good standing. If you need to renew your membership you can stop by our web site at http://marrc.org or next time you are at the track stop by the Info Booth located next to the winners circle and they'll get you taken care of!
Dafan - We were worried about you so it's good to hear a report.
A rider (#280 I think) came in with his arm in a sling and filled out an incident report. His rear tire blew and as he was sliding across the track he saw his bike hit yours. So, it really was an ACCIDENT. He was really concerned about you. If I'm not mistaken, he dislocated his shoulder.
QuoteDafan - We were worried about you so it's good to hear a report.
A rider (#280 I think) came in with his arm in a sling and filled out an incident report. His rear tire blew and as he was sliding across the track he saw his bike hit yours. So, it really was an ACCIDENT. He was really concerned about you. If I'm not mistaken, he dislocated his shoulder.
He contacted me directly. I was really upset after I woke up because everyone keep saying that I got hit, and you know you can't help but blame someone when you are hurting. I am really glad that he is ok, more injuries is what we don't need. It also sucks that I was hurt more. I really wish that we just fell off, got back up and went home and wait for the next race. But it sucks that my chance for a championship is over this year. I felt particularly bad because I made a lot of sarifices and efforts, planned to go to all the races, worked really hard to be up in the points, all for a little trophy at the end of the year. Now to see it all slip away.
I believe it was just an accident, as a matter of fact that I wish it was just an accident, we don't need anymore bad karma in this world. But what I said about AM racing I still stand behind, it was a bit ridiculous what we go through every weekend. I wish everyone would take the effor and improve their racing and safe control of their bikes. Lets not crash and lets go faster without being less safe.
Thanks for the well wishes. it really warms my heart, to know that so many people knew me and felt my pain, thank you all.
Well then the flat tire definitly helps explain how fast it happened and how freaky it all looked, one second he was on your inside, the next you were in the air and he was sliding in the grass. I'm happy to hear it was an accident and not the result of "pushing". Take care Dafan and I hope to see your hair flying by be in the future... and who knows, maybe I'll even be able to make it to turn 5 before you pass me ;)
Ryan
QuoteWell then the flat tire definitly helps explain how fast it happened and how freaky it all looked, one second he was on your inside, the next you were in the air and he was sliding in the grass. I'm happy to hear it was an accident and not the result of "pushing". Take care Dafan and I hope to see your hair flying by be in the future... and who knows, maybe I'll even be able to make it to turn 5 before you pass me ;)
Ryan
Ryan, don't discount yourself, you weredoing great this weekend. If you kept up your entry speed and corner speed, you would be right there, with that great start of yours, you will be right in the mix. you maybe on the podium in no time, just keep entering the sportbike race, you will get better soon. Next time I may have to "stuff" you or get you at the line ;D
I am not really concerned anymore about how it happened. It was just scary not to know what happened, after people told you that you went head first into a tirewall and were knocked out for 10 minutes. I was really glad to hear the other riders sportsmanship, I will heal and we will all be happy agian :)
QuoteNext time I may have to "stuff" you or get you at the line ;D
Well then heal up fast and lets make it happen ;)
Be sure to keep us updated on your progress..
Dafan,
I'm real sorry to hear about the incident. I wasn't in that race and I was leaving when it happened and didn't know who was involved. I'm glad to hear that you're doing reasonably well considering. I am the one on the great bright orange bike that you usually passed somwhere in the race. I enjoy racing against and behind you. Once I get past the fact that you passed me, I concentrate on trying to learn from your lines. I 'll miss seeing you out there the rest of this year and look forward to seeing you next year in the expert class. I agree totally that the races are getting too scary at times and I wish we could find a solution, but once the flag drops I think a lot of ego replaces our brain cells. In fact, I found myself in a position this past weekend with some bike problems, which caused me to back off. Sometimes you have to do it for the good of your own safety and for the good of the others you race against. I just wish everyone would see it that way. Best of luck and keep us updated on your progress. Rich
hey rich, funny you mentioned that cuz I spent most of the weekend wonder who was on that loud colored bike :D everytime I look around its 387 :) I got spoiled by starting up front the first few weekends. This weekend I didn't sign up early, and the second wave starts brought me racing against a few of you that I didn't see at VIR. It was fun racing with a lot of you, and more challenges for me to get ahead safely.
Hey next time I pass you I am going to do horrible lines so you can't learn from me ;D ;)
Thanks, I will try to recover soon, and get back out there. EX or not, we will race another day together.
???Holy crap I'm glad your ok, so you trying to catch up with my injuries or what? Just kidding. So what do ya think, you gonna get some hardware put in ya. Ya know like robocop. Surgery on a broken bone is usually better than them trying to set the freakin thing. I know all too well of how much that shxt hurts. So when do you want to go get some beer and look at the naked ladies? My treat when you get back on two feet. Don't feel bad about racing either cause I haven't been racing in a while too. Still need a motor. Oh yeah go Expert you'll have more fun. The amatuers think they are Nicky Hayden or Colin Edwards out there on the track. No one in the expert class is trying that freakin hard, and a lot of the experts are slower than you think. But they know where to ride and how to keep there line. So give me a ring if your board and try not to think about your crash it happens to everyone sooner or later.
hey bryan, hopefully I would be able to get back on the bike when u get your bike togetgher. maybe we will race toegehter huh. I am hoping for a ultra speedy recovery. Wifey not agree but I wanna race again really badly, soon too ;D
Today was better than the past days, once the muscle soreness from getting banged up from the crash went away, I have surprisingly less pain. still can't walk, but it felt a lot better. A lot less dizziness and headache too. I guess I am on the slow road to recovery.
Hopefully I can be back on my feet in a couple weeks.
Dafan,
Glad to hear you are back home and on the road to recovery. I think every one of my buddies had some sort of incident this weekend, myself included, but yours definitely takes the cake. We hope to see you out there soon.
-brent
QuoteDafan,
Glad to hear you are back home and on the road to recovery. I think every one of my buddies had some sort of incident this weekend, myself included, but yours definitely takes the cake. We hope to see you out there soon.
-brent
hey what happened to you? are you ok? I dont remember seeing you in the later races.
I ended up doing alright this past weekend. Following more brake issues, I decided to replace the entire master cylinder, which is hooked up now and giving me way better feel. My lever actually came back to my fingers holding on to the handlebar and I couldn't brake anymore and went off in turn one during practice on Sat afternoon. No damage whatsoever, and then I called it a day and made the change. I got a couple of hole-shots this weekend and battled up front with Peanut for awhile. First time ever I was able to keep track of my position the entire race.
Later,
Brent
QuoteI ended up doing alright this past weekend. Following more brake issues, I decided to replace the entire master cylinder, which is hooked up now and giving me way better feel. My lever actually came back to my fingers holding on to the handlebar and I couldn't brake anymore and went off in turn one during practice on Sat afternoon. No damage whatsoever, and then I called it a day and made the change. I got a couple of hole-shots this weekend and battled up front with Peanut for awhile. First time ever I was able to keep track of my position the entire race.
Later,
Brent
Thats cool, glad it worked out better for ya. Hey the first time u can keep track of your position is when you know you are doing real good ;)
I got a couple of 5th and 6th, because mostly starting from the 7-8th row. They cut the GTU short which was a shame, I had my eye on the 5th and the check, like I did in GTO.
Hopefully I can come back soon. I have not canceled any of my regs, so whenever I do come back, I have a choice for gridding up front ;)
Good luck, hope to grid up with you again soon