Accident at Lake Cumberland PR

[GotHalos]

Another angle. Not sure if posted already.

I believe the green Skater is off to the left at the beginning of the video.

Is it just me or is that way too close for comfort? If I was the guy in the fishing boat I think I would've bailed.

[rivrrts429]

Is it just me or is that way too close for comfort? If I was the guy in the fishing boat I think I would've bailed.

Yeah.. He's just a tad to far out there lol. I definitely would be hugging the shore.

Not sure who to point the finger at though.

[Wendi]

Another angle. Not sure if posted already.

I believe the green Skater is off to the left at the beginning of the video.

Those spectators are way to close! That is extremely unsafe for all!!! They are squeezing the poker runners in my opinion.

[Stainless]

Cats, unlike V's, want to fly. They are designed to pack air and lift the boat out of the water, at higher speeds. Even at slow speeds, Cats will launch off rollers and wakes. Where a V would more than likely plow through that same wake or roller. I've aired my little boat out a couple times where all I saw was sky for a split second. Makes you gasp for that split second, but then the boat lands and all is good. That was going less than 100. I would imagine, the smallest disturbance in the water, at the speeds those boats roll, can cause any number of things to happen. And more than likely there was absolutely nothing the driver could have done to prevent it. I agree with not placing blame. Two souls were lost and their family and friends are devastated. We may never know the true cause. For most of us, machines like that are probably not in our future. Just as in owning any exotic vehicle, there are inherent risks involved with operating them. For me personally, I would prefer to leave this earth doing something I love to do vs getting into a traffic accident on the freeway. Hopefully their families can find some solace in that. RIP guys.

Good analogy HB, I have a small Daytona and I've had a couple of pucker moments with it too.

[In Awe]

Poker runs are bullshit which is made clearly obvious by the last video. You want to have a "fun run" then limit the speeds to -80 mph. If you want to go any faster than that, have it on a closed course with all the safety equipment/training needed.

This might be a first, but I agree with Grads. An open coarse puts the responsibilities right back on the driver that is going to fast for the conditions.

Again my thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends.

[Tom Slick]

Those spectators are way to close! That is extremely unsafe for all!!! They are squeezing the poker runners in my opinion.

I have to completely disagree. Watch from the beginning of the clip. The rest of the poker run fleet continues down the center of the lake. This red skater turns left away from the fleet and heads straight toward the shoreline and the spectators. In fact you will see at the point where the red skater turns toward the spectators, the boat to the left of him cuts back across behind the red skaters line to hold a straight line down the lake with the rest of the fleet. This red skater is reckless and completely endangered himself and everyone else around him. Watch the video again and you'll wee what I'm talking about.

[Stainless]

I have to completely disagree. Watch from the beginning of the clip. The rest of the poker run fleet continues down the center of the lake. This red skater turns left away from the fleet and heads straight toward the shoreline and the spectators. In fact you will see at the point where the red skater turns toward the spectators, the boat to the left of him cuts back across behind the red skaters line to hold a straight line down the lake with the rest of the fleet. This red skater is reckless and completely endangered himself and everyone else around him. Watch the video again and you'll wee what I'm talking about.

Was the Red Skater trying to get some advantage on the rest of the fleet? I'm kind of like Wendi, it seems scary the way things are in the vid. Either the course is not well known or the red boat is trying to get an advantage. I dont see the green one in this video.

[Slacker]

Was the Red Skater trying to get some advantage on the rest of the fleet? I'm kind of like Wendi, it seems scary the way things are in the vid. Either the course is not well known or the red boat is trying to get an advantage. I dont see the green one in this video.

It looks to me that operator cut the corner thru the spectator boats, bad move. Operators like that make Poker Runs look bad.

[Wendi]

I have to completely disagree. Watch from the beginning of the clip. The rest of the poker run fleet continues down the center of the lake. This red skater turns left away from the fleet and heads straight toward the shoreline and the spectators. In fact you will see at the point where the red skater turns toward the spectators, the boat to the left of him cuts back across behind the red skaters line to hold a straight line down the lake with the rest of the fleet. This red skater is reckless and completely endangered himself and everyone else around him. Watch the video again and you'll wee what I'm talking about.

I agree now, I watched it a second time and your are absolutely correct.

[gn7]

Its my guess there is some slight shortening of the course that the red Skater took, like there is a bend in the course ahead. The red Skater went INSIDE the spectator boat and the shoreline! None of the others did.

You cannot ever blame a spectator boat in a situation like this. Its paramount to holding the Long Beach Gran Prix on open streets. You enter the thing knowing the streets will have grandpa and the grand kids out for a Sunday drive out there. There is no difference between a Poker Run and any other weekend, except more boats traveling at high speeds than a normal weekend.

One of these days one of these boats is going to kill a boat full spectators, and the lawsuits are really going to fly.