This is a remarkable young man. Wow, am I bummed-out and sad as I write this. Where to start?
Many years ago I did some motorcycle road racing. Raced 250cc to 650cc, though doubt if I went more than 130mph (today, some production out-of-the-box motorcycles can reach 180 mph plus). For three years co-rode in a five-hour road race at VIR that was always a lot of fun.
And, yes, I came off a few times. Was scraped-up a little and sore for a couple of weeks or so. Thankfully, my leathers, boots, and helmet usually took the brunt of the crashes.
Where am I going? Hmmm....
Anyway, have always been fascinated with the races at the Isle of Man. Here's a link to my posting about those races. Also, Irish road racing that uses regular highway roads and streets that run through cities. The racers reach speeds of almost 200 mph and are inches from stone walls, curbings, and all of the other things we have on regular streets and roads.
Where am I going? Hmmm....
Anyway, have always been fascinated with the races at the Isle of Man. Here's a link to my posting about those races. Also, Irish road racing that uses regular highway roads and streets that run through cities. The racers reach speeds of almost 200 mph and are inches from stone walls, curbings, and all of the other things we have on regular streets and roads.
There's no room for error. On what might be called today's sanitized circuits, designed for racing with run off areas and sand and gravel traps where riders come off with little or no injuries, the street racers in Ireland have no such luxuries. With riders averaging over 130 mph there are almost no minor crashes. I would imagine that many of the riders may feel that a crash that resulted in a few weeks in a hospital would be a good crash-as opposed to dying. I've watched eight or ten interviews with the racers and they all mentioned the dangerousness, as being an attraction.
Though I've spent hours reading and watching videos about the Isle of Man races and Irish road
racing, I'd never heard of Dr. Hinds until by chance, last night, I learned of his death.
racing, I'd never heard of Dr. Hinds until by chance, last night, I learned of his death.
As I best understand from reading several articles, Dr. John and an associate would follow behind the racers on the first lap so that they could give almost instantaneous medical care and treatment to those who crash. Then, they would standby waiting until they were needed. Seems Dr. John rode about as fast as the racers. Also, mentioned that for the races in Ireland there wasn't an air ambulance for which he had been advocating
This post has been languishing as a draft for a few weeks. I just need to get this posted.
Here is a presentation that Dr. John made, explaining what he did. And, here is a tribute to him.
I've often thought about the Isle of Man and Irish road races and pondered, should they be allowed? People are going to die, period. It's not an if, it's a when and how many.
NASCAR, has spectacular crashes but rarely does a driver get injured, much less die.
There are a group of racers who seem to be drawn to the Isle of Man and the Irish road races because of how dangerous the races are. The moths to the flames.......
Joey Dunlop was killed road racing. There were 50,000 at his funeral. Robert Dunlop, Joey's brother was killed road racing. Today, two of Robert's sons are racing.
Here is a presentation that Dr. John made, explaining what he did. And, here is a tribute to him.
I've often thought about the Isle of Man and Irish road races and pondered, should they be allowed? People are going to die, period. It's not an if, it's a when and how many.
NASCAR, has spectacular crashes but rarely does a driver get injured, much less die.
There are a group of racers who seem to be drawn to the Isle of Man and the Irish road races because of how dangerous the races are. The moths to the flames.......
Joey Dunlop was killed road racing. There were 50,000 at his funeral. Robert Dunlop, Joey's brother was killed road racing. Today, two of Robert's sons are racing.
North West 200 and Irish Road Racing. Those who have died.
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