More lawsuits over fatal drag racing crash

[MarkP]

More lawsuits over fatal drag racing crash

June 30, 2007 04:21pm
Article from: http://www.news.com.au/images/sources/news_sourcelogo.gif (http://www.news.com.au/?from=ni_story)

THE father of two girls killed in a racing accident involving Australian driver Troy Critchley is suing the Tennessee city of Selmer, the Associated Press reported today.

Earlier this month Critchley lost control of his high-performance Corvette and crashed into a crowd unprotected by safety barriers at a charity "burnout" event. Six people were killed and 23 injured.

Today Ronald Griswell, the father of two teenagers killed in the crash – Raven, 15, and her sister Nicole, 19 – filed two lawsuits over their deaths, the AP reported.

One suit is similar to another lodged earlier this week and accuses Critchley and the event's organisers of negligence in the girls' deaths.

But the other accuses Selmer police of failing to stop the unauthorised event, the news agency said. The charity event did not have a parade permit.

Three days ago Bruce Replogle, whose 15-year-old daughter Scarlet also died in the crash, filed a lawsuit against Critchley and the event's organisers. He is seeking $11.8 million in damages.

Mr Replogle accused organisers of failing to ensure spectators' safety and Critchley of failing to maintain control his vehicle and performing dangerous stunts.

Police have been investigating the cause of the crash and no criminal charges have been filed.

[Eddie70]

I saw the pics on the net of the car afterwards. Sad day indeed.

[MarkP]

Eddie,

Link to pictures?

[Remo]

Very sad situation. It's a wonder that more of these burnout shows don't have similar out comes. Never really understood the burnout thing.

Remo:cool:

[MarkP]

I never really did either. I watch some of the drifting videos we have here and wonder, "why?"

[190MPH-C5]

Don't understand the "drifting thing" huh? It's called 'car control' and very very few people can master it! Try Rally driving without being able to drift! Drifting is a way to demonstrate absolute car control! It's very difficult to master, as previously stated! If you:('re good at it..then why not show it! If your a good race course driver, with long straights, tight apexes, long sweepers, off camber turns, etc., ..then your a race driver and there are various venues to demonstrate your 'skill...be it Indy, the American Le Mans Series, Cart, Nascar..or even F1! Understand the point?

[190MPH-C5]

"Very sad situation. It's a wonder that more of these burnout shows don't have similar out comes. Never really understood the burnout thing."

Don't understand burnouts? You drive a Corvette??? YIKES!! Do some Googling re: Muscle Car Burnouts and you're lookin' at what's known collectively as: "AMERICANA!" You know: Mother; Apple Pie; Cookouts; Muscle Cars, etc., etc! Burnouts have been a form of automotive expression ever since probablythe late 40's or so when HP finally exceeded tire grip capability! It;s a form of expressin re: ones car and ones car's HP! It's so-called 'braggin' rights! Sheesh..I can't believe I'm on a Corvette board having to explain burnouts to someone! A first for me regarless of car board/s! Like I said..Google the sitiuation and/or read some automotive books on Americas love affair with the car and especially high performance cars and maybe you'll see the light?:thumbsup:
Anymore posts like this one and the "really don't understand the drifting thing" post and I'll start getting some really weird vibes re: this site!

[Remo]

Don't understand the "drifting thing" huh? It's called 'car control' and very very few people can master it! Try Rally driving without being able to drift! Drifting is a way to demonstrate absolute car control! It's very difficult to master, as previously stated! If you:('re good at it..then why not show it! If your a good race course driver, with long straights, tight apexes, long sweepers, off camber turns, etc., ..then your a race driver and there are various venues to demonstrate your 'skill...be it Indy, the American Le Mans Series, Cart, Nascar..or even F1! Understand the point?

It's not that difficult to master. Anyone that's learned to drive in snow and ice conditions has learned to "master" the drift.

Remo:cool:

[190MPH-C5]

It's not that difficult to master. Anyone that's learned to drive in snow and ice conditions has learned to "master" the drift.

Remo:cool:


I grew up in New England (Boston: Middlesex County) and don't know _anybody_ that has "mastered" drifting in ice and snow! You must be really experienced; congrats?
I think you need to look up the definition of "mastering" something! Do you really know someone that can drift in the dry (much diff. than sliding around a curve on a low coefficient of drag surface; i.e., ice/snow)as well as in :cheers:some of the videos?? Whole diff. ballgame! Maybe you could send us a video? Stay Safe!

[Remo]

I grew up in New England (Boston: Middlesex County) and don't know _anybody_ that has "mastered" drifting in ice and snow! You must be really experienced; congrats?
I think you need to look up the definition of "mastering" something! Do you really know someone that can drift in the dry (much diff. than sliding around a curve on a low coefficient of drag surface; i.e., ice/snow)as well as in :cheers:some of the videos?? Whole diff. ballgame! Maybe you could send us a video? Stay Safe!

Well I guess you told me. Actually I leaned to drive in Fairbanks, Alaska (as little or as much drifiting as you want for nine months of the year). And then there's been the many years of SCCA autocrossing - some very tight drifting techniques used there as well. However, none of these experiences will ever match the incredible skill level required to master "trendy now" drifting.

Remo:cool:

[190MPH-C5]

It's not that difficult to master. Anyone that's learned to drive in snow and ice conditions has learned to "master" the drift.

Remo

Please check out my profile! I think I know a thing or two re: what constitutes "drifting" and/or the mastering thereof, as well as critical incident and high perfromance driving (Taught and drove SCCA for aprox. 10 years) ! I probably can't match _your_ skills of having grown up in Alaska..but it's sure worked for me over the years!!!!!!
If you would reread my initial post I said "very few" have mastered..etc., etc! I guess maybe you and I have huh?:thumbsup: In all my years of teaching performance/security/evasion driving to Cops, FBI, FBI HRT, etc. etc. I've almost (almost) never seen anyone "master" (you know.."master"..like a "master" in Karate; a "master" on the Violin; a "master" at Tennis or Golf) drifting techniques! They've come close..in both ice/snow and dry..but to "master" (there's that word again) it..completely! PLEASE!!!!;)
The only individuals I've _ever_ met (they were'nt from Alaska BTW..just fact..nothing personal:)) were/are rally drivers! Absolute masters! If you've ever watched these guys go full throttle on or near the edge of disaster..( to say nothing of cliffs) these are "MASTERS"! Just because the "new" drifting isn't done on ice/snow doesn't mean it takes any less talent! Have _you_ tried it?? Like in the Videos of the Pro's (much better than the local kid's<G>), it's a fine balance of being in control and out of control! The mastering part comes when one has found that perfect balance between the two! Try it sometime..when you're gonna' replace your old tires (a good time) and see how you do! I think you'll see that it takes a helluva' lot more talent/skill than you so easily brush-off!:cheers:
God Bless!