Taking down
 

GEt well travis.

It should probably be taken down out of respect for the family members. Get Well soon Travis
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Rutz accident video
 

That was my thinking, but I went ahead and posted it....it is gone in my post.

Re: Rutz accident video
 

I agree it probably should be removed. If you look at the comments under the video on youtube, the family of Travis has had several people to sign in and ask for it to be removed, but the 15 y/o kid who posted it, has yet to do so.

Sorry, I didn't get my post in before you removed it...thank you.

Posted via Mobile Device

---------- Post added at 05:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:14 PM ----------

I can't seem to edit my post and remove the video, I only have a mobile device, so if one of the moderators could remove it I woul appreciate it. thnx
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Rutz accident video
 

first of all I would like to offer my thoughts and prayers to the Rutz family.

I don't want to start a furor but would like to comment about the uTube video. In the times that we live anyone with a camera can qualify as "media." The footage was taken at a public event where (presumably) video taping was allowed by the venue. I don't know what THAT policy is on such things but I am guessing that they do not prohibit picture or video recording. The video is a document of what happened; I know that THAT would likely want to see any and all video of the accident to evaluate exactly what happened and why it happened. For that matter anyone involved with operating sprint car events could benefit from seeing the video.

Why did the disabled car continue at speed for more than a lap? Why did he or she stop in the racing line on the front stretch when other options were certainly available? When did the yellow light come on and was it visible to the approaching cars in a timely manner?

I know that most will probably disagree with my evaluation and defer to the families wish to have the video removed but as a document of the accident I believe that it can serve as a point of discussion on safety in future sprint car events.

Godspeed to Travis and his family and get well soon.

Re: Rutz accident video
 

I seen the wreck on u tube! What was mr gravel thinking????? The 2 laps showed him smoking and running the botton even on the front straightaway then when the engine blows he pull up in the middle of the front straightaway and stops at the flag stand! Not good!!!!!!!!!!!! And all hell breaks loose!

Re: Rutz accident video
 

I know one thing......If you don't like to hear people cheering because the cars crashed, then don't watch this video. Some idiot was pretty excited about the whole thing.

Very poor decision by the guy who broke the motor and a very hard crash.

A driver should be suspended and fined for making such a bad decision. In my opinion. That is rules of the road basics 101. Not saying he is a bad guy or even a bad driver, but obviously has some things to learn.

Re: Rutz accident video
 

I don't really see the problem with the video. It shows what led up to the crash and stops immediately after. Most of the actual crash portion of the video shows very little of the crash between Rutz and Gravel as the videographer over reacted. It answers my questions about dust, (not as bad as I had been led to believe), the path of the disabled car and how badly the safety fence was damaged (again, not as bad as I had been led to believe).
It shows nothing that is graphic or in poor taste. That would have been very different.
Jim Morrison

Re: Rutz accident video
 

I was there and watched the whole accident happen, I hope Travis gets well soon. When the race started the dust was very bad, those of you familar with Tere Haute, the wind was from the south and when they had a yellow flag at the start of the feature you could not see any of the stores around the mall. However, the dust did blow off quickly and the track got black, so the dust was not an issue towards the end. When the leader's engine started smoking it was as bad as I have ever seen, but he kept going probably thinking he was near the end of the race and I am sure his face shield was covered with oil. I was up high in the turn four bleachers and his last lap he was against the guard rail down low slowing down as he went by. He went past the west entrance to the infield and as he got down by the flagstand he moved towards the center of the front straightway and the rear wheels locked up and he came to a stop for a couple of seconds before the crashing started. I think they said he was sixteen years old, I don't know if he could see because of the smoke and oil, and he probably did not know where to get off the track. I have been to alot of races and this was one of those that you just knew there was going to be something bad happen. Hope all envolved get well soon.

Re: Rutz accident video
 

The last 20 or 30 feet after the engine locked up, what caused the car pull right? Was it pointed that way? The post just above mine is a very good one. Our prayers go out to everyone injured!

There is a video, where the Ripper's (#3) get run over at Ascot and catches on fire. The worst car fire at Ascot.
Joe

Re: Rutz accident video
 

go to u-tube and look for terre haute sprin car wrecks!!!!!!!!! No he steered it up to the middle!!!!!! Like most outlaws the think you pull up to the top and stop! I was told when i started way back in 1963 if you had a problems you put your left hand up and wave and move to the inside!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Rutz accident video
 

Let me give you a few facts about driving a modern sprint car before you place blame....first off they have great power steering-but not when the motor seizes,then you got no throttle to help control the car an you damn well better get both hands on the wheel ....oh an by the way -you'll more likely as not blow the driveline out cause the wheels are still turning and the crankshaft isn't,,by the way did I mention you and everything else [including the steering wheel and brake pedal] are covered in oil....the rule where I race at is ..if you loose a motor high-move the car as high out of the line as possible and hope for the best,,blow on the bottom -crowd the inside wall ...no racer I ever met was happy after a crash if one of his fellow racers was injured

Re: Rutz accident video
 

I posted the video originally with half my thought that it was taken by a spectator who just uploaded it to youtube. Had this been a not as serious accident, would it been a bad thing to post on youtube. But then there is a family also hurting and hoping to get a son back. That is why I posted it and then edited it.

Re: Rutz accident video
 

i hope you dont pull off the bottom of the front or back straightaway and stop in the middle or top!!!!!!!! That stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:7::14::15:

Re: Rutz accident video
 

I'm working on a story about this whole debate now. I haven't posted the accident video yet on my news site for a variety of reasons, but I would lean towards it if I felt it necessary for several reasons:

- It's newsworthy: people from around the world are interested in this story, and many articles have been written describing the wreck. Plus, there's been a lot of debate online about whether David Gravel should have been on the track with a motor going, or his actions once it did blow. People should be able to see it for themselves to make their own choice.
- It's not graphic: If there was footage of Travis after the wreck being attended to by the emergency technicians, or if the crash video focused on Travis, that would be a different story. But in this case, you really can't see the car until after the wreck happens (the video focuses on someone who was not injured).
- It's reminder that sprint car racing is dangerous: It's easy for fans and drivers to get accustomed to people walking away from a vicious crash. The fact that Travis didn't (or hasn't yet, to be optimistic) serves as a stark reminder of this fact. Kids who are in the mini-sprint level need to understand that if they want to do this when they get older, there are still big risks.
- It's how safety changes get made: Unfortunately, it's been my experience that safety changes don't get made until after something tragic happens. But what can we learn from this? Perhaps the Action Track needs more warning lights. Or we need to revisit the concept of radios that allow race officials to communicate with drivers if there is danger on the track.

I know this is a tough situation, and I certainly wouldn't want to post a video just to glorify it. As for the family: I suppose the only thing I could say would be that it's a conscious effort to watch the video or not, and I can understand not wanting to see it.

Re: Rutz accident video
 

I have always been one to consider these types of accidents part of racing and should be shown just like victory lane celebrations. Nobody posted it to be malicious. People are curious how Travis and David became injured. I don't understand the anger involved? Everyone knows that this is a possibility. The Rutz family isn't suffering more because this video is up. Not unless they're repeatedly watching it.

Re: Rutz accident video
 

From personal experience of someone posting a video of my sons crash -

While sitting in a hospital emergency room around 2AM waiting for news of the extent of his injuries, I received a phone call that someone we knew had posted a video of the crash. I can tell you at that moment, it felt like we had been violated. His injury turned out to be a concussion that resulted in a temporary loss of vision and the loss of a week of his normal life. In hindsight, if someone could have told me at 2AM that all would be well in 6 or 7 days, we may not have harbored such ill feelings about the video being posted. Anxiety that evening was high and played a huge role in our emotions. Having someone we knew personally post a video before anyone(including us) knew what was going on was poor judgement at best.

As time went on, the video also served another role. It became a source of therapy - at least for me. It answered questions, confirmed my initial thoughts and feelings, and told a story that could never be explained or understood without seeing it. That is what it did for me, and aside from the timing of it being posted, I have no problem seeing it now, or having anyone else see it. I just wish that we had been consulted directly about his condition before it being made public. An offer to pull it down after and if a tragedy had occured would(and does not) not lessen the insult.

With that said - Travis and his family are obviously in a much more dire situation than we were - though at the moment it didn't seem like it. We know Travis and his family well, as well as having raced with and watched my children interact with David and Miranda through quarter midgets from the time they were 8 years old. It is tough to see something like this happen. But I believe that the video serves a purpose to the Rutz family, as well as to those concerned, by seeking answers of how and why this happened.

Could the timing have been better? In our case - yes. A couple of hours and without knowing what the future held made us feel violated. In the case of this video - hopefully the anxiety over it can be overcome and lead to answers for everyone. It is often said in qm's that a qm mom is a mom to every qm racer. I believe that goes for dads too. Knowing all three of the kids involved at Terre Haute was/is numbing. I'm thankful that Miranda and David were not hurt any worse than they are, and confident that Travis is just stubborn enough to come back from this and kick our butts.


Thinking about my friend Travis Higgins(Rutz),

Ted Hartman

Re: Rutz accident video
 

We lost the Great GP in 1985 because of a left turn into the pits from the high side. Yes, a left turn from the top. GP had two choices to make, drive through that car or turn right, he went right. Stay your line at all cost. just a racing deal. Next year they change the pit entrance from the track, infield pits.
Still praying for Travis.

Joe