Assistance from the masses, maybe?

[bluedogz]

OK- this one was a winner... (some of you have probably read the other thread already...)

The date was Sep. 24, 2005. I went out for the first practice of the other org's event at VIR. Short story: somebody decided to learn how to shut the door on me, on the first lap! The bad part was, when I came disconnected from the bike, the first thing I hit was the armco. The punch line is my right arm was severed above the elbow. Yes, severed. As I understand it a spectator donated a cooler with ice to get it on the helicopter. (I owe you a cooler, dude. A NICE one.) Unfortunately the surgeons couldn't save it, so I'm listing a little to the left now.

Here's the rub: a lot of people saw this- it was the first lap and the crowd hadn't thinned out yet. However, only one rider chose to follow him. Unfortunately, they neglected to get his number! To boot, the guy immediately loaded his stuff on the truck and ran.

I'd like to talk to this guy. I'd love to hear his side of it. And all kidding aside, if anyone knows whose cooler that was I'd like to thank that guy as well. Anyone have an idea?

Yes, I am asking fellow racers to throw another one under the bus. That's not intended as a threat. Truly, what I'd like to see is this guy apologizing to my wife. If I video that I could probably put it on pay per view.

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

Sorry for your loss.  At least you can adress the issue with a sense of humor!  I wasn't there, so I haven't got any answers for you.
On another subject.  Did you contact the Wegman Fund?

[bluedogz]

Did- and they're a great organization.  My own fault- I've been lazy getting them their paperwork.

[Gixxerblade]

4Hey Dennis how you doing man? I talked to you before you went out on the track. I was pretty far behind. I didn't see anything but I am glad you are OK.

[bluedogz]

Not bad- good thing I was left-handed to start with.   ;D

And I do remember talking to you- I have virtually no memory of the crash but there are a few snips still there.

And I'll skip the obvious comment about you being far behind anybody.... :-X

[cbrf4_269]

I was also there that weekend and myself and my team all said a prayer for you.

I believe that racer is in the M.A. region and will ask around for you.  I am not sure if this person will contact you, but I will see what I can turn up.

Ivan

[stephenr928]

Blue,
Sorry to hear the story of your bad day.  I've no information to aid your cause, but I had a similar experience in the fall of 2004 at BHF.  I was on my out lap after Friday lunch when I got hit, put down & out, then helo'd.  Guy continues on around track, pulls off, packs up & leaves.  My buddies search the paddock, ask everyone, & people start to put 2 and 2 together to figure out who the guy was.  He turns up to watch the races on Sunday & my friends find him & bring him over to my pit (I'd been released from the hospital Sunday afternoon).  He was sorry & I tried to be cool about it....But my head had been rung hard & I had no recolection of the crash.  The funny thing was he tried to explain that I had looked back & come into his race line....My fault, right?  But I had a beautiful tire 'smear' from his front tire on the side of my bodywork where he essentially t-boned me.  Then it comes out that he ran off the inside of the turn, went straight & collected me out on the exit. (?!)  I decided not to ask why he just rode off, packed up & went home w/o looking to see if I was okay.  (Hell, were the red flags followed by the arriving helicopter not a clue?)  
Turns out he was a street rider doing a track day, and in my biased opinion is he should have been in the slow group.  (Any group but mine!)
I wish you luck finding out the info from your crash to help set your mind right.....Your experience serves as an example to me that if I witness a crash, I'll make a note on who was involved & follow it up in the pits after.
Good Luck,

    

[stephenr928]

Oh.....And it's not "throwing another racer under the bus".  Racing is one thing, trackdays are another.  Showing kindness & concern when being involved in a serious crash is the right thing to do.
I hope you find out who that guy was.

[cardzilla]

Dennis, I'm glad to see your sense of humor is still the same  ;D Stephane, Chris and the rest of the Gainesville crew were all praying for you (Stephane even drank an extra beer for you every night). Everyone makes mistakes, not owning up to that is embarassing.  I hope you do find the racer that caused your accident, I think he does owe it to you to at least talk.  If you ever need anything (motorcycle or otherwise) give me a ring, Matt has my phone number.

[mdr14]

While I am not a detective, nor do I play one on TV, I would look at the results of that race and start narrowing it down from there.

That should be pretty easy.

Good luck!!

[r1owner]

While I am not a detective, nor do I play one on TV, I would look at the results of that race and start narrowing it down from there.

That should be pretty easy.

Good luck!!

You can tell you're not a detective.... ;)

He said it was practice!

[mdr14]

I must not have good reading retention skills either  ;D

Ok Find out who was registered that weekend and see if they break practice up into odd and even... I'm sure that could not take more than 10 or 20 hours..