Originally Posted by
Miss BK
I didn't see Leigh's accident, but I saw one very similar. At Highlands Texas about 1991 or 92, (or was it at the Austin IOGP race in 1995??? I can't remember) one of the 120 drivers blew over and landed back upright. What we didn't know was that the driver was knocked out and his kill switch never shut the engine off.
So when the boat suddenly started running again, the crowd cheering - falsely thinking the driver had so much bravery that he wanted finish even after looping it! While people were still clapping --- we saw the boat accelerate and kite up in the air AGAIN! It stood on its tail and did a pirhouette and then began running the WRONG way on the course
About that time, all the other boats were coming around and were horrified to see a boat COMING STRAIGHT AT THEM!
The boat kited again, and spun.......and restarted....then kited again and spun....and restarted. At one point it started heading straight for the spectators on the beach! Everyone started running....I even ran!
Finally, the amazing rescue crew (I think it was Kevin McCord - who still is head of rescue down there) they ran their rescue boat along side the errant boat and JUMPED onto the deck --- and finally reached in the cockpit to hit the kill switch.
They rushed the driver to the hospital, to find he only had a mild concussion. And he didn't remember a thing!
The next morning, he was at the driver's meeting, saying he was ready to go for it again! I remember Bob Schubert put his arm around him and said as they walked off, "You know, maybe it would be better if you sit this one out".
After the guy saw the replays of the accident on video, he agreed with that decision! He had no idea that all of that had gone on.
Does anyone else remember that? I just cannot remember the name of that driver.... He didn't race boats much after that, or at least I don't think I saw him race after that.
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