Carlin Dunne who had previously won the hill climb four times died when he lost control of his Ducati Streetfighter V4 Prototype and crashed just a few yards from the end of what would have been a record breaking run.

Link to article

A really nice guy. Very down to earth. He was a local and had a Ducati shop in town. A significant loss for both his community and the motorcycle world.

That is awful, for so many, including the Ducati team that worked so hard to get the bike set up and ready to make this attempt.


I had recently watched several videos about the bike, the rider, and the team, so a shock to open this and see one of the racers I was looking forward to see how they did on the peak.


Thoughts and prayers.

Sad fo lose control within yards of the finish line. Prayers for his family and friends.

A reminder of the reality of how close even the best in their field sometimes operate to the margins, and just how real the cost.

How many of us in our own lives gain a certain sense of being ten feet tall and bulletproof simply because we've gotten away with sometime for so long, or because we think we're good enough that the consequence doesn't apply?

I'll raise my hand.

Occasionally we're humbled by a close call that reminds us that we're neither so tall, nor so immune from our own hand. Sometimes, for some, the reminder is long lasting.

The article does not say how fast he might have been traveling at the point. Any of you guys who follow the race have an idea?

Damn.

My wife's uncle is on the Acura NSX team:

It appears there is a hump in the road right before the checkered flag, apparently his bike hit the bump/hump and lost control and over the side he went.

There is a video of the he hump and the impact on vehicles it has, watch the 911 get moved over a complete lane once hitting the hump, which appears to be a repair patch area.

https://gazette.com/sports/upd...f2-af7d4c77a78c.html

It’s a well know risk he accepted as part of the race so he participated by choice. I’m sure it’s hard on his family and those people I feel for. If you choose to do dangerous things it may eventually catch up with you. I find the race pretty interesting due to the skill (and luck) required though.

A true loss in the Ducati world,
Prayers to all.

Rather than starting a separate discussion I thought this news would fit into this current one. Local leaders, including the mayor, have been hedging their comments but seem to be pushing for motorcycles to be banned from the Hill Climb and I'm disappointed in yet one more example of nannyists who are so risk aversive that they feel the need to determine what risks others can take.

[note: there is a picture and hyperlink in the linked article]

Motorcycle racing will not be included in 2020 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Posted: 11:05 AM, Jul 26, 2019 Updated: 12:04 PM, Jul 26, 2019

COLORADO SPRINGS — There were hints officials in charge of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb were seriously considering no longer including motorcycles in the annual summer event to reach the fastest time up America's Mountain. Now it is official, there will be no motorcycles for the 2020 event.

According to a release from the Board of Director, "It was decided that in order to determine the long-term viability of the motorcycle program there will be no motorcycle program offered in 2020 so that race organizers can gather data and analytics to review more thoroughly the impact on the overall event in the absence of this program."

The same release points out motorcycle racing has not taken place every year since the event began in 1916. While it was part of the inaugural event, it has been a staple for the past 29 years.

On June 30, famed racer Carlin Dunne was killed when his prototype Ducati Streetfighter V4 highsided on the very last segment of the track, just before the finish line. According to the organization's Race Director and Race Safety Team, the motorcycle was inspected and there were no signs of mechanical failure.

On a related note, a new campaign to raise funds to support Dunne's mother and to honor his legacy was launched this week. Ducati North America and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb have created memorial stickers and arm bands now for sale. Learn more about the campaign here.

"Gather data and analytics"
Geezus. What BS.

“in order to determine the long-term viability of the motorcycle program there will be no motorcycle program in 2020”

I think they’ve got their finger on the pulse of the viability.

Incredibly disappointing but in a time when people are waaaaaaaaaay too fucking PC and generally just want to ban all the dangerous things it isn’t surprising.

I hope the Isle of Man TT never makes such a bitch move.

I think some of those officials have too much soy in their diet

I remember a few years back after the PC crowd had had a go at the drivers of vintage race cars at the Goodwood Festival of Speed here in UK.

The head honcho addressed the drivers in the paddock before the first race, thusly -

'Gentlemen, we are aware of the risks that we are taking, driving race and sports cars that may be up to, or even older than, a hundred years, without modern-day safety fittings like seat belts or harnesses, roll cages, neck-braces, built-in head protection, fuel safety cells and so on. To make such modifications to our often priceless or unique cars would seriously detract from their originality and their aura of another time, and would, in MY view, tarnish the memory of those courageous men who first got in them and drove their hearts out in an effort to cross that finishing line ahead of everybody else.

Motor racing sport, the way that WE do it, is dangerous.

Let's KEEP it that way.'

I don’t see how this benefits Pikes Peak. Pretty much every comment I have seen on social media about this decision is negative. It’s made me pretty much anti pikes peak. I’d love to verbally accost the pussy ass bitches who organize the event for their knee jerk reaction. They need to know how much they suck.

It’s a sad decision and total mistake on their part. I have lost all interest in pikes peak and I wish them the worst for the future of their watered down event.

Why don't they just fix the fucking road?

quote:

Originally posted by SevenPlusOne:
Why don't they just fix the fucking road?

+1