7 dead in Daytona

[black mamba]

It looks like the final count for bikers killed during Bike Week is 7. That's a very sad statistic to say the least. If you go there and experience what goes on, however, you wonder how the count stays so low. I've never seen so many bikers driving so irresponsibly while under the influence of drinks or drugs.

I was leaving the Iron Horse Saloon, heading back to Main St. Daytona. A pack of about 30 riders, mostly Harley guys ( not that that matters ), pulled out ahead of me and blasted off in the same direction. Cops were everywhere and I was stunned that no effort was made to corral some of these guys as they were weaving and bobbing all over the place. Before we got two miles down the road, three of the bunch ahead of me were in the ditch....one a two-up that seemed OK, a single that was standing beside his bike, and another single that was stuffed up under his bike. The spacing between these incidents lead me to believe they were separate events. Had you seen this pack leaving the saloon, you would have known something like this was bound to happen. Consider that this scene is repeated all over the area countless times during Bike Week, and it is amazing that the death count is so low.

I've been going to Daytona for years, and while this year's attendance appeared to be off a little, it was as wild and wooly an experience as ever. Every 100 feet you travel around the town presents many opportunities for somthing untoward to happen. Heading home, I was again thankful that I had successfully avoided being one of the unfortunate statistics.

 

[wheatonFJR]

...I was again thankful that I had successfully avoided being one of the unfortunate statistics.

I avoided it too. I didn't go.

Yeah 7 seems low for all the drunken metal flying around. It's a big number though for the wives and kids left behind (if any).

BTW, what kind of bike do you ride?

 

[otrfjr]

It looks like the final count for bikers killed during Bike Week is 7. That's a very sad statistic to say the least. If you go there and experience what goes on, however, you wonder how the count stays so low. I never seen so many bikers driving so irresponsibly while under the influence of drinks or drugs.
I was leaving the Iron Horse Saloon, heading back to Main St. Daytona. A pack of about 30 riders, mostly Harley guys ( not that that matters ), pulled out ahead of me and blasted off in the same direction. Cops were everywhere and I was stunned that no effort was made to corral some of these guys as they were weaving and bobbing all over the place. Before we got two miles down the road, three of the bunch ahead of me were in the ditch....one a two-up that seemed OK, a single that was standing beside his bike, and another single that was stuffed up under his bike. The spacing between these incidents lead me to believe they were separate events. Had you seen this pack leaving the saloon, you would have known something like this was bound to happen. Consider that this scene is repeated all over the area countless times during Bike Week, and it is amazing that the death count is so low.

I've been going to Daytona for years, and while this year's attendance appeared to be off a little, it was as wild and wooly an experience as ever. Every 100 feet you travel around the town presents many opportunities for somthing untoward to happen. Heading home, I was again thankful that I had successfully avoided being one of the unfortunate statistics.

The Daytona community is partly to be commended for its "be aware of bikers" media messages. 7 isn't good, but it's much improved over last year's 16 [edit: 21 state wide total]. I agree about all the irresponsible behavior and believe bike week riders need to clean up their acts, but the chances of that happening are nil given that most head there for debauchery & dissipation. Of note: the only 2 bikers killed who were wearing helmets ran into each other head on. The other five fatalities weren't wearing helmets: https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17562326/. I try to stay off the busiest streets & walk as much as possible.

 

[otrfjr]

addendum: I'm shocked to see so many FL hometowns for the fatalities. I might be operating on stereotypes, but I've always been more concerned about out of state riders who are either just beginning the riding season & thus rusty with their skills (combined with the drugs & alcohol) or the folks who trailer their bikes because they don't ride them for more than 5 miles at a time (excluding the snow-bound and folks with physical conditions that don't allow them to make long trips). I figure lower skill levels plus impairment is the deadliest combination.

It would be nice to get a census of attendees: are there more FL riders involved in fatalities because they make up a higher percentage of the crowd? Where's Harry Hurt when we need him...

 

[Geezer]

addendum: I'm shocked to see so many FL hometowns for the fatalities. I might be operating on stereotypes, but I've always been more concerned about out of state riders who are either just beginning the riding season & thus rusty with their skills (combined with the drugs & alcohol) or the folks who trailer their bikes because they don't ride them for more than 5 miles at a time (excluding the snow-bound and folks with physical conditions that don't allow them to make long trips). I figure lower skill levels plus impairment is the deadliest combination.
It would be nice to get a census of attendees: are there more FL riders involved in fatalities because they make up a higher percentage of the crowd? Where's Harry Hurt when we need him...

I wonder if this is caused by the Florida riders trying to make it home after too much partying rather than staying in a local hotel or campground.

 

[otrfjr]

I wonder if this is caused by the Florida riders trying to make it home after too much partying rather than staying in a local hotel or campground.

Excellent point. That would account for the Deltona & St. Augustine addresses.

 

[FJRMGM]

drunk and stupid on a motorcycle will get you to meet Mr. Death sooner than you want.

 

[v65]

Cops were everywhere and I was stunned that no effort was made to corral some of these guys

I go to Americade every year, a family friendly event as far as motorcycle gatherings. Lovely location, great rides, no where near the attendance of Sturgis, Daytona, or nearby Loudon. People just don't want to go to a rally where you can't get drunk and ride without being arrested.

 

[05fjrBluedevil]

Yep, no loss is good, I did ride down, right at 900 miles each way. I made a choice not to drink while there.

I did find my way back to my campground site early each evening avoiding that situation all together...

except I did enjoy a few beers at the daytona 200, that were wore off prior to leaving....

Still had a great time and next time it will be even better, do not really need to drink to have a good time down there....

 

[black mamba]

wheatonFJR...

I ride an '05 FJR. Go down to Daytona from my home in Jacksonville.

 

[James Burleigh]

This from UrbanMoto:



"A husband and wife died after their motorcycle wrecked Sunday on I-4 in what officials called a Bike Week-related crash. The St. Petersburg couple were on a large motorcycle heading west on I-4 when the motorcycle's rear tire separated
[WTF???!
:blink: ]
as they crossed the bridge between Volusia and Seminole counties."


Here's the clincher: They were not wearing helmets.

It would be cruel and heartless to mention the Darwin Awards at this point, so...uh...I won't. :glare:

Jb

 

[SilveradoSlick]

Helmet usage appears to be less than 50% at Daytona. Smashing your head into asphalt and other hard objects is not a good thing. Grinding holes in your head using asphalt is not a good thing either.

 

[Go Far]

I just got back to Utah after Bikeweek and the Keys.

I was heading up to the IBA dinner in JAX on US 1 from where I was camped. I think I was going thru Bunnell thru one of the "congested areas" that indicates bikes and vendors and a bar. It was thick and there was no parking on the highway.

I passed one sign

"BIKE PARKING $2 FREE DRAFT"

:drinks: :drinks: :drinks:

:fool: :fool: :fool:

doh

 

[PapaUtah]

IIRC the final tally was 6 fatals on Harley-Davidson™ motorcycles and 1 involving a Kawasaki. That would probably translate in the the highest manufacturer death rate for the Kawasaki. As usual Harley-Davidson™ comes in 2nd.

 

[otrfjr]

I just got back to Utah after Bikeweek and the Keys.
I was heading up to the IBA dinner in JAX on US 1 from where I was camped. I think I was going thru Bunnell thru one of the "congested areas" that indicates bikes and vendors and a bar. It was thick and there was no parking on the highway.

I passed one sign

"BIKE PARKING $2 FREE DRAFT"

:drinks: :drinks: :drinks:

:fool: :fool: :fool:

doh

doh indeed!

Not to hijack this thread, but anyone ever hear of a practice called "slingshotting"? I was talking with a regular who rides a Harley at the dive I frequent (which I walk to btw), and he said in his younger days he would ALWAYS ride his bike to bars because he knew that the cops wouldn't stop him on the way home. He wasn't alone. If someone had too much to drink, his friends would "slingshot" him to get him started: two guys on either side & one behind pushing to get him moving & allow the bike's inertia to make up for the drunk's impaired balance. I didn't want to believe it & still don't.

 

[painman]

On the other coast our ministry of CMA has worked at the Hollister event for years and I have seen this same type activity here. Anytime you get that many bikers together there is drinking and driving and wreckless behavior. And we all know where that leads. Were doing all we can to send out the message that the lifestyle of being a biker doesn't have to involve the destructive behavior of the so called "biker" image that has been portrayed for years. I can speak through experience on this one as this is the lifestyle I came out of....PM. <>< :yahoo:

 

[PapaUtah]

I wonder how many of these so called "bad-*** biker bars" use Elton John on the jukebox to entice patronage by the Harley-Davidson™ lifestyle set...hmm. Alcohol and Elton John could induce some strange behavior...

 

[Orient_Express]

IMHO... The general crux of this problem is that some - not all by any means, Harley riders have the "I'm bad, because I ride a Harley" pride problem. Everyone of us sees it all the time. I have two friends who ride them because they say it makes them look cool - so to speak. We have an event called Hog Rock in S. Illinois and it's the same thing - drugs, alcohol and motorcyles, whcich is not a good mix.

If your self worth comes from a motorcyle and an image - you're headed for trouble. These people really need to consider the other members of their families that love them and need them around.

 

[BuilderBob]

I live in the area and make it a point to stay away from Daytona during Bike Week. I usually do go to the track to see the manufacturers displays, but that's about it. Plenty of good riding with activities north, south and west of Daytona.