Gratton Family to File Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Super Boat International

[Ron Hill]

A Four Motor Boat, A 73 Year Driver....

I saw the crash on You Tube, I've been reading about it in Soundings.

If YOU were running this race, how would you plan to rescue a 73 year old man, in a 46 foot boat, that has 4--1,350 HP motors....???

Anyone getting into a 46 foot boat and going 130 plus MPH in the OCEAN must assume some risk here.


A 46 foot boat is the size of a four car garage. What would it take to tow a boat like this in if it just broke down?

Remember a couple of years ago those two guy in Dubai???The camera rolled until their capsule exploded...

I see rescue in a race like this as more pick up the pieces, if there are any, and hope the capsules did their jobs. You'd need "Jaws of Life" bigger than New York City to cut these guys out of these boats. You'd need about four of Greg Foster's cranes on tug boats...to right a boat like this...

I stopped at a wreck one night on the freeway. There was a young man dead in the road. Best doctors in the world couldn't have saved him, he was dead.

[AZ Outlaw]

We in Region 12 have also had the luxury of using highly trained rescue personnel from both the NJBA's Team Rescue and WMI Rescue http://www.wmicorp.com/rescue.php , with combinations of both working together the last 2 years. Of course, most of our events are combined category races....Inboard, OPC, Stock, PWC etc....

[tcf284]

the thing not mentioned here is the fact offshore races are on very large race courses 5 + miles for 1 lap water is also sometimes rough waters, regular boats aren't going to make it there in a very timely manner maybe some research for better protection of canopies plus added air supply systems would also help prevent future issues of this nature,to also mention offshore boats are very large ,

[propnuts]

This is ugly

I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV, but I would be SHOCKED if a ****ing statement like this from a former APBA President as well as Offshore racer doesn't make it into the trial, and possibly help seal the deal. It does no good to beat around the bush here, what we're talking about is taking a bunch of money (see post about new insurance rates) form us struggling boat racers, and giving it to Allweis and the Gratton family. It makes no difference to any of these people that it is driving the nail deeper into the coffin of amatuer boat racing. Between this and the tragedy in Madison my feeling is that we are screwed, mostly through no fault of our own. I may be off base and I expect to hear about it, but that is just the way I see it.

Paul,

From Steve David:

"Over the past few days we've lost three really fine people in Offshore racing accidents in Key West. While we mourn their loss, I can't help but believe these tragedies might have been preventable. Racing always involves a risk, yet over the years, groups like UIM and APBA with the insight of Bob Wartinger, Ron Jones Sr, Jeff Neff, George Linder, Dave Vilwock, Mike Hanson, Scott Raney, Rich Luhrs... and others, we've developed safety standards in at least the Unlimited Hydroplane category that have been tested thru well over 100 accidents over 150 MPH. My crash in July was a direct T bone at over 100 MPH and both Dave Vilwock and I walked away. J.W Meyers hit the wall at Detroit at over 100 MPH and receievd a broken foot, and is back racing with us. These designs work. They are snug, with a top hatch and a bottom hatch. There is little room for extremity acceleration in a crash, we have HANS devices to protect our necks, full time air, multiple point harnesses, etc. The canopies used in Offshore racing face different loads and in my opinion, after 40 years of racing, aren't sufficient to meet the current speeds. They are too large, too much flat surface, and not enough structural support. We can do better, there are people in place that can make it better. As we mourn Bob, Jeff and Joey, let their deaths put a new emphasis on consolidating the safety expertise that is available and doing everything humanly possible to prevent future tragedies. Saying "it's just racing" or they "died doing what they loved" just doesn't cut it. I was with Joey Gratton and his kids in San Diego just 7 weeks ago, they didn't come any more professional, any more loving, any more of being the best at what he did. God, please take care of Joey and hold his family in your palm."

[propnuts]

I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression

The word the censorbot found offensive is spelled d a m n.

[win-or-flip]

educate everyone involved

pointing to the statments made about turnboat personell being qualified...

when i was in the military, the men and women to my left and right knew the dangers involved in what we were doing. i believe that notion can be directly related to boatracing. although we never went to any official training we were all taught by a qualified person in a course called tactical combat casualty care/ combat life saver. the course covered neck/spine stabilization, cpr, bleeding from the extremities, and treatment for shock. as a result we were all able to do a whole lot to save one anothers lives in the case that a combat medic wasnt availible.

i agree that a qualified emt should be present but if we trained everyone who volunteered at our races at say a club meeting the race course would be a much safer place in the event of an accident. we have people who race among us that work in this field and any information would only help. any thoughts?

[B1PRORACER]

I look at it in a very different way...... an old fashion way. Instead of blaming everyone else for accidents- we should accept that there are risks in what we do and individually take responsibility for those risks. If you think those risks are too great, then don't race. I agree with Ron- the boat in question is a big and very fast boat. By the definition of a marathon, they are travelling across a longer distance where rescue coverage will be delayed. Those racers, who got in those boats knew what was in those boats (or NOT) for safety equipment. Capsule? Onboard air? They decided to race, knowing the circumstances. They took a chance that nothing would go wrong, that they wouldn't need more safety equipment...... and something did go wrong!
We have all taken chances that we shouldn't have in hindsight. I just never blamed someone else for MY mistake! I wonder what this will do to our insurance costs??????

[Guest]

I look at it in a very different way...... an old fashion way. Instead of blaming everyone else for accidents- we should accept that there are risks in what we do and individually take responsibility for those risks. If you think those risks are too great, then don't race. I agree with Ron- the boat in question is a big and very fast boat. By the definition of a marathon, they are travelling across a longer distance where rescue coverage will be delayed. Those racers, who got in those boats knew what was in those boats (or NOT) for safety equipment. Capsule? Onboard air? They decided to race, knowing the circumstances. They took a chance that nothing would go wrong, that they wouldn't need more safety equipment...... and something did go wrong!
We have all taken chances that we shouldn't have in hindsight. I just never blamed someone else for MY mistake! I wonder what this will do to our insurance costs??????

I agree 110% with this statement!

[blueskyracer]

I look at it in a very different way...... an old fashion way. Instead of blaming everyone else for accidents- we should accept that there are risks in what we do and individually take responsibility for those risks. If you think those risks are too great, then don't race. I agree with Ron- the boat in question is a big and very fast boat. By the definition of a marathon, they are travelling across a longer distance where rescue coverage will be delayed. Those racers, who got in those boats knew what was in those boats (or NOT) for safety equipment. Capsule? Onboard air? They decided to race, knowing the circumstances. They took a chance that nothing would go wrong, that they wouldn't need more safety equipment...... and something did go wrong!
We have all taken chances that we shouldn't have in hindsight. I just never blamed someone else for MY mistake! I wonder what this will do to our insurance costs??????

I also agree 100% but the sad part about this is the lawsuit is coming from the family and most of the time they usually dont approve of the activity but supported that person until tragedy strikes and now they are looking for a quick buck. This happens in all sports from High schools on up and is why liability insurance is so high and keeps going up each year and the requirement amounts for most of the events is a min of $2,000,000 or more now

[Affholter66]

First..very sorry about the loss of any Racer, Boats (all categories), cars, snowmobiles..etc...BUT When did racing NOT become an "Inherently dangerous sport"? NO Safety Gear, Trained rescue workers etc can prevent all Racing Related Fatalities..it is what it is..Dangerous! Just a question..has anyone heard of Dan Wheldon's family even considering a lawsuit? I am not familiar with the person involved in this lawsuit..but I'm guessing the driver was 75yrs old and had been racing ALONG time. He was aware of the risks involved, took said risks, died in a Race related accident..VERY sorry he died..but a lawsuit..please!

[daveracerdsh]

Racing

We all take risks every day.....walking across the street in the medium size town I reside in is an accident waiting to happen....but I do assume a certain amount of risk when I put my D stock hydro into the water. I know what can happen to me at 80 mph...I understand the risks involved....I do not have a sponsor behind me telling me I HAVE to go out and race...that is why I decided quit a while ago not to pursue higher forms of racing...but that being said, we do need to keep looking forward as far as safety gear, rescue personel, and so on down the line. Insurance costs are gonna keep increasing....it's a fact....But one thing I would like to see as a stock racer is this...when a driver goes into the water....we stop the **** heat....I don't give a flying you know what if it holds the program up....a person has just crashed his C stock hydro at 65 mph...how is he/she in the next few seconds going to know for sure that they are ok? And what happens is on the next lap when a fellow driver does not see crashed boat? I understand there are flags to warn drivers, but come on.....how many times have we seen drivers run 2 or more laps under a black flag? It happens.. Just my two cents worth. David.

[AZ Outlaw]

But one thing I would like to see as a stock racer is this...when a driver goes into the water....we stop the **** heat....I don't give a flying you know what if it holds the program up....a person has just crashed his C stock hydro at 65 mph...how is he/she in the next few seconds going to know for sure that they are ok? And what happens is on the next lap when a fellow driver does not see crashed boat? I understand there are flags to warn drivers, but come on.....how many times have we seen drivers run 2 or more laps under a black flag? It happens.. Just my two cents worth. David.

Write it up and put it on the SORC agenda Dave.

[blueskyracer]

But one thing I would like to see as a stock racer is this...when a driver goes into the water....we stop the **** heat....I don't give a flying you know what if it holds the program up....a person has just crashed his C stock hydro at 65 mph...how is he/she in the next few seconds going to know for sure that they are ok? And what happens is on the next lap when a fellow driver does not see crashed boat? I understand there are flags to warn drivers, but come on.....how many times have we seen drivers run 2 or more laps under a black flag? It happens.. Just my two cents worth. David.[/QUOTE]


I agree with you and I also think that bottoms of boat should have a bright color like white on them. In bright sun or dark nasty days have you tried to spot a all wood boat upside down in the water..Just a patch of color would help a lot..You dont need to paint the whole thing..

[Jack Stotts]

I don't totally agree that the heat be stopped every time someone is in the water. When the heats are black flaged, a restart is necessetated and the start and run through the first turn is arguably the most dangerous part of our racing. Needlessly repeating it may be counter productive. Also many instances occur where the guy in the water is on the last lap and the boats will not be passing the downed racer. Let's let the race director/referee decide based on the circumstances involved. Making hard fast rules in this situation may well result in creating more problems than it solves. Jack

[mercguy]

not so fast...........

We all take risks every day.....walking across the street in the medium size town I reside in is an accident waiting to happen....but I do assume a certain amount of risk when I put my D stock hydro into the water. I know what can happen to me at 80 mph...I understand the risks involved....I do not have a sponsor behind me telling me I HAVE to go out and race...that is why I decided quit a while ago not to pursue higher forms of racing...but that being said, we do need to keep looking forward as far as safety gear, rescue personel, and so on down the line. Insurance costs are gonna keep increasing....it's a fact....But one thing I would like to see as a stock racer is this...when a driver goes into the water....we stop the **** heat....I don't give a flying you know what if it holds the program up....a person has just crashed his C stock hydro at 65 mph...how is he/she in the next few seconds going to know for sure that they are ok? And what happens is on the next lap when a fellow driver does not see crashed boat? I understand there are flags to warn drivers, but come on.....how many times have we seen drivers run 2 or more laps under a black flag? It happens.. Just my two cents worth. David.

well, I DO NOT agree that the race should be stopped EVERY time a driver goes in the water. I might agree though, that if the driver crashes in the turns the race should be stopped and most of the time it is......................sometimes people just make mistakes (yes, I am one of them) and sort of "fall out" of their boat on the straightaways and are not hurt at all (besides their ego) and way clear of any other racer......................making 11 other racers pay the price for one guys (or gals) mistake is just not fair and I have seen championships lost that way...............let the race director/s do their job...............paying attention to the flags is something we ALL need to focus on more.............


now Dave, let's see that new boat!!!!!!!!!!!!!