Just read this. I don't know what to title it

[Jeff]

I started writing my race report this morning, from the bottom up.  As I re-read what I've written below, I'm still freaked out.  This morning I had tears over this...  And I'm still pissed...

Little did I realize that the drama of the weekend wasn't to begin until we left the track.  Fully loaded, everyone settled in, we pulled out around 5:15pm.  We leave the track, and start heading down Fisher Rd in Rockton, IL.  The road is a 50mph 2 lane, straight, rural road.  A few newer homes and some older farms are on each side of the road, but mostly wide open space.

The old diesel takes a good long time to get up to 50, and I'm not in any hurry, so I creep my way there.  In the distance on my left, I see some kids in a yellow go-kart, the kind that Wal-Mart or Fleet Farm sells, coming down a dirt road across a field.  As we approached them, it clicked that they weren't stopping...

To understand what we went through, you must first realize that the race rig is every bit of 9500lbs, and 46' long, van & trailer.

As they entered the road, my right palm smashed into the horn, trying to push it through the steering column to somehow make it louder.  Left hand on the wheel, right foot plowing the brake pedal to the floor.  Eyes taking in images at thousands per second.

The pair of 9-10 year old boys, both blond hair, passenger with blue eyes, hit the road at probably 25mph.  Straight across the left lane and then into mine.  Their reaction was much slower than mine as all 8 wheels of van/trailer began to howl despite the anti-lock brakes.  I threw the van to the right as hard as I could, and the kids disappeared in the front quarter panel/tire.  

The child driving the kart did finally react, spun around and came to a stop in the left hand lane miraculously without contact.

I came to a stop around 60' later, and the van was in park before it was stopped.  I jumped out enraged like I haven't been but two or three times before in my life.  The verbal lashing I gave that pair, with a voice loud enough to hear at every local home should stick with them about as long as the bumper and tires of 9500lbs of howling steel/rubber bearing down on them at 50mph.

The kids, completely in shock, hit the gas and fled back down the trail.

I looked back at the trailer which was still cocked sideways across the right lane and into the left, and went back to make sure everything was still where it belonged.  It all was...

As I drove away slowly, adrenaline still searing through my body, the scenario replayed over and over and over.  I looked for the house that the kids went back to but didn't find it.  Probably all the better as I was still enraged beyond belief.  I'd just like to know that the set(s) of parents here know exactly how close their kids came to dying.

I don't necessarily fault the kids, as I reflect on my childhood and remember many similar instances when I could have been seriously injured or killed.  But it still disturbs me beyond what these words can convey.

I gave no care to the fact that I could have easily flipped the van & trailer.  The only thought was, please God don't let me hit them dead center, they'll go under the van.  God responded in kind.

Ladies & Gentlemen.  If you have kids, younger siblings, cousins, friends, etc.  Take a moment TODAY to either share this story with them or explain to them that they *MUST* pay attention to their surroundings at *ALL* times.  Whether they're on bicycles, 4 wheelers, Mini-bikes, Motorcycles, Skateboards, etc; explain that there are far too many times where there IS NO SECOND CHANCE.

I sit here and thank God for MANY things that happened which seem impossible in those 2-3 seconds.  I also hope that the disturbing mark left on myself, my Wife and two children, as well as the pair of boys, can serve some good outside the 6 of us who will live with this vision/memory forever...

[lbk]

That's scary, glad it all ended up ok.

Any situation like that scares me when we're towing because our setup is similar in weight, and with that much weight you just CAN'T stop like a little 2500lb car can.

[OmniGLH]

Holy chit man.. I thought you were going to say you hit 'em for a second there!!!

Nice driving getting around them without incident.  

How's about "Damn kids!!!" for a title?  ;)

Jim

[Jeff]

Jim, I gotta tell you, my teeth were splitting as I waited for impact there.  There couldn't have been more than an inch or two to spare.  Much closer than I'd ever care to see/repeat again.

[tigerblade]

WOW.  That could have been tragic so easily.  Hopefully that sinks into those kids.  I would have been shaking.  

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

Whew!  Racer reaction times save the day yet again...  Nice driving!

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Dang Jeff.  :( How far on Fischer Rd from the bend? Near one of the 2 cross streets?, Salvage yard?, quarry area? Horse ring? I got nothing better to do if you want someone to find them and let their parents know their kids about became a hood ornament because they were stupid.

Or send a letter to the editor of teh Beloit Daily News about it. Pretty sure that area gets the beloit newspaper (its South Beloit there, not Rockton. ;) )
Heres their online editorial write in area. http://www.beloitdailynews.com/forms/letters.php

[Dawn]

Oooo.....

Rob has a great idea.  Copy and past that to that paper and HOPEFULLY, mom and dad will read it and take care of it.

Dawn  

[Jeff]

Rob, I sent a letter this morning to the Rockton editor.  I'll send the same to the Beloit one.

The road was a small dirt one, if I recall correctly it was across from the area of the junkyard/horse track.

The dirt road lead back to what looked like a quarry.

The go-kart is unmistakable.  Wal-Mart style, 2 seater deal with the flimsy roll-cage, small tires, rear-mount 5-7hp motor.

I would sleep better knowing their parents know what happened...

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

     That sounds pretty bad, luckily everyone made it out ok.

     The negative side to the letter to the newspaper is something that happened here in Rockford. They recently passed a law that says that you can't ride anything fun within 100' of any house, including your own, on your own property! Doesn't matter if you have 5 acres, they can ticket you on your own property and impound your vehicle if your within 100' of any house. This was the result of several articles in the newspaper about the few idiots that ruined it for everybody. I don't like the news paper route being the 1st avenue to take, it's just fuel for the fire for those haters out there that are jealous of others having fun. I personally feel that should only be a last resort after some sort of attempt at finding the culprits. :-/

[Jeff]

Mike, I totally agree.  The media can easily do more harm than good.  My point to be taken away was not "go-carts are bad" or "kids are bad" but rather, "parents, watch your kids"...

[Super Dave]

Yesterday, my two boys went out for breakfast with my in-laws....

Got home last night and they apparently got to see the aftermath of what happened to a kid that apparently rode his bike out into traffic...no helmet...guy couldn't stop.

Glad everything was "ok" on your excursion.