Skater crash takes two

[old377guy]

Rest in Peace brothers

[phragle]

2013 LAKE CUMBERLAND POKER RUN FLY BY - YouTube

[Ratickle]

Wow, don't even know what to say about that "flyby". Dumb is very polite...

[Ratickle]

this is a bit of a different perspective. To me it looks like they saw a cruiser in front of them at 160, and took evasive action ending their lives. 2013 Lake Cumberland Poker Run Boat Crash - YouTube

One of the biggest issues with high speed runs in a limited sight distance environment and open water courses...

Between the two, you can tell how they were rapidly overtaking, then dramatically slowed brfore ending up turning into the roost. Damn.....

[rschap1]

The differential between stopped, idling, and just cruising compared to 100+ is pretty HUGE.
Those vids really illustrate it.
Seems pretty dangerous having so much casual, civilian, pedestrain, or whatever we wanna call the non-participant traffic on the same course as the high speed runners.

[Hellbent]

2013 LAKE CUMBERLAND POKER RUN FLY BY - YouTube

This is why people die. Just stupid. He had no reason to cut the corner through the spectator boats other than to try to come out of the turn in front. Look how far off 'course' he went compared to the other boats. He missed both of the boats in this vid by what....15 feet? At what....130+? And then wasn't it his wash that Brad and Jeff flipped in? If so....had he stayed on course he wouldn't have been ahead of them. Brad and Jeff would have been around him long before that. I see a lot of stuff online blaming the cruiser. The people in the cruiser obviously didn't know any better....but this guy should have. Horrible set of circumstances.

[Wreckdoctor]

there is a very good reason race courses are closed, at speeds this fast things happen way too quickly, my opinion if you have to dodge normal boat traffic common sense would tell you to slow down.
i have the good fortune to run boats like these all the time, at these speeds, on closed race courses and in poker run situations. most times ,as in this situation ,when the boat you are overtaking at that speed pulls out in front of you it is to late.
these men were very experienced drivers and throttlemen, from my perspective they did everything they could to avoid a direct collision with the smaller vessel crossing in front of them,
unfortunatly they hit the wash of the other cat and it cost them their lives.
i am as guilty as anyone of pushing limits and running as hard as the boat i am in will go. if anything this has really been a wake up call to me personally.
tragic indeed.

[Ratickle]

Hey Lance, Did you know them well? I know they are from your neck of the woods.

[Cookee]

This is why people die. Just stupid. He had no reason to cut the corner through the spectator boats other than to try to come out of the turn in front. Look how far off 'course' he went compared to the other boats. He missed both of the boats in this vid by what....15 feet? At what....130+? And then wasn't it his wash that Brad and Jeff flipped in? If so....had he stayed on course he wouldn't have been ahead of them. Brad and Jeff would have been around him long before that. I see a lot of stuff online blaming the cruiser. The people in the cruiser obviously didn't know any better....but this guy should have. Horrible set of circumstances.

Plus one! I race in the UK and a few years ago I was racing in the Solent (near Southampton) in a Class III 2 Litre race (2 litre single outboard) and a fast catamaran ferry was crossing ahead of me going from right to left - he had right of way but slowed rapidly although I was going to pass astern of him - I was in a 24' boat and his carries over 150 passengers - I can't believe he thought I couldn't see him so he must have thought he was doing me a favour or something, this caused me to slow and steer around him - this was at 70mph and I can't imagine what would have happened at over twice that speed - even professionals and seasoned racers aren't 100% infallible sadly.

My sympathies go out to the friends and families of those involved in this tragic accident.

I assume there are limited safety rules in Poker runs concerning the construction of the boats? I doubt you could run a boat like that in a race without a canopy?

[Ratickle]

Correct Cookee, at poker runs pretty much all that is needed is proof of insurance and life preservers.

[Ratickle]

The Lake Cumberland Rules

•Absolutely no alcohol 6 hours prior or during the poker run.
•All participating poker run occupants must wear personal floatation devices.
•Driver must wear kill switch lanyards while boat is underway.
•No sitting on top of seats or sun pads while boat is on the plane.
•Divide event starts up into groups based on speed.
•No passing the pace boat before the start flag is dropped
•Minimum separation of 100′ fore and aft and 50′ side by side between boats on plane.
•Written instructions/charts handed out by organizers with appropriate speed and safety notations.
•Strict speed limits in congested areas.
•All Playing cards must be turned in by 6:30 pm.
•HAVE FUN – BE SAFE!

Plus the proof of insurance.

I certify the above boat is insured for this event for Public Liability and Property Damage with the following.

[Ratickle]

But yes, you can run boats without canopies in races. I'm thinking that boat would 0nly fit the rules in P1 however. I'd have to do a bit more digging to be absolutely sure though. Their speed would be limited to 117 mph maximum in that class.

[Ratickle]

[Ratickle]

Man, cannot believe this one.

[Ratickle]

How close did they have to be to the Baja?

[Bobcat]

Those people didn't even flinch...

[Wreckdoctor]

Hey Lance, Did you know them well? I know they are from your neck of the woods.

I did not personally know either of them. I saw the boat frequently, and Brads engine building abilities are well known around the lake. both were highly reguarded guys at loto.
certainly a tragic loss for our sport.

[Buoy]

This was posted on FB
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...count=1&ref=nf

Really mixed feelings.
Very cool, and very sad at the same time.

[fund razor]

Man, cannot believe this one.

Wow.

[fund razor]

I didn't know these guys. Certainly knew of them.

I'm struck over and over by the amount of talent and potential that was lost this time, along with all the personal loss to family and friends, of course.
Since the accident I have run across various things about each of them. It's quite clear that many great things were yet to come from the genius of both guys. I think that Jeff was only 47.
Not only will friends and loved ones miss them dearly, it just seems that there are things that won't be invented, won't be built, or developed or designed.
That kind of spreads the impact to the whole sport in an additional and unique way than the deep personal loss that family and friends suffer.

Speaking of which, my thoughts and prayers go out to their friends and families. To those who we may not know, and those among us: I'm very sorry for your loss.