James Hilger
EF4
Yeah it was kinda a weird feeling. Having other chasers around is one thing, but i couldn't get used to the chopper hovering above.
After witnessing the continued decrease of involvement in the SpotterNetwork staff in serving SN members with troubleshooting issues recently, I have unilaterally decided to terminate the relationship between SpotterNetwork's support and Stormtrack. I have witnessed multiple users unable to receive support weeks after initiating help threads on the forum. I find this lack of response from SpotterNetwork officials disappointing and a failure to hold up their end of the agreement that was made years ago, before I took over management of this site. In my opinion, having Stormtrack users sit and wait for so long to receive help on SpotterNetwork issues on the Stormtrack forums reflects poorly not only on SpotterNetwork, but on Stormtrack and (by association) me as well. Since the issue has not been satisfactorily addressed, I no longer wish for the Stormtrack forum to be associated with SpotterNetwork.
I apologize to those who continue to have issues with the service and continue to see their issues left unaddressed. Please understand that the connection between ST and SN was put in place long before I had any say over it. But now that I am the "captain of this ship," it is within my right (nay, duty) to make adjustments as I see necessary. Ending this relationship is such an adjustment.
For those who continue to need help, I recommend navigating a web browswer to SpotterNetwork's About page, and seeking the individuals listed on that page for all further inquiries about SpotterNetwork.
From this moment forward, the SpotterNetwork sub-forum has been hidden/deleted and there will be no assurance that any SpotterNetwork issues brought up in any of Stormtrack's other sub-forums will be addressed. Do not rely on Stormtrack for help with SpotterNetwork issues.
Sincerely, Jeff D.
While on the Taloga-Watonga-Guthrie supercell last night, I witnessed some of the most irresponsible chasing and driving that I have ever seen in my entire life. Specifically, a black SUV (I have the license plate, make/model of the car, and side graphics/writing as well as pictures) was running sirens and red/yellow lights on the car, passing inappropriately (to the point where oncoming cars were run off the road), and speeding excessively.
While on the Taloga-Watonga-Guthrie supercell last night, I witnessed some of the most irresponsible chasing and driving that I have ever seen in my entire life. Specifically, a black SUV (I have the license plate, make/model of the car, and side graphics/writing as well as pictures) was running sirens and red/yellow lights on the car, passing inappropriately (to the point where oncoming cars were run off the road), and speeding excessively.
I just felt that this needed to be aired. Being a stormchaser is not a license to run sirens and lights, act like you are on the racetrack and be a menace to everyone around you.
At this point I'm not entirely sure what to do with the information I have. I don't want to post it or call local law enforcement (don't like to get the police involved), but I think the person involved should at least explain themselves and/or apologize.
By the way, it was a Texas plate, so even if you are Texas LEO, you have no jurisdiction and should not be running sirens and red lights in Oklahoma. That would be no excuse.
Chaser convergence on that storm was a nightmare, and made it nearly unchaseable. And yes, I also saw that ass clown with the red/blue/yellow lights and sirens...that was about the biggest joke I've seen in quite some time. That stretch along highway 33 was about the best example of why chaser convergence is becoming a big problem. I could've sworn that running red/blue lights with sirens in OK is illegal unless you are law enforcement or an emergency vehicle. I'd have to check on that, but if it is, I'd turn the guy in.
Anybody else on OK-33 observe the TIV vehicle going eastbound passing vehicles in a no passing zone on the westbound lane going uphill? If another vehicle had crested the hill from the opposite direction on that westbound lane, a tank traveling at 90mph colliding with a vehicle traveling at 60-70, would've made for an almost un-imaginable head-on collision. And not to mention the several other vehicles, including me that would've been involved. I'm curious if anybody caught this on video.