Reed Timmer
EF1
wow
Looks like the bidding is up to $110,000 now.
Looks like the bidding is up to $110,000 now.
-
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.
Buy your own Chase Reality TV show?
- Thread starter Carrie Halliday
- Start date
mikedeason
EF5
Wow, if I had $110,000 to waste on such an endeavour, I suppose I could:
a)spend several hundred dollars on a .45 and shoot myself in the head.
b)leave over $109,500 for my family to use after my demise.
Suicide is a lot cheaper. But I guess if you want to go out in style and you have the money, taking the ride into the tornado may be the way to go.
Regards,
Mike
Justin Walker
EF3
The problem with this vehicle or any TIV is not the issue of how much wind the vehicle can withstand in an air tunnel. It is the debris within the tornado that would cause problems. You get a tree or piece of roof the hits the vehicle and stays, the surface area dramatically increases...then more and more debris hitting the car until it reaches it's maximum roll factor. Then bye-bye vehicle!! :cry:
How often do you get a tornado with no debris....yea, this little endeavor is a disaster waiting to happen. :cry:
How often do you get a tornado with no debris....yea, this little endeavor is a disaster waiting to happen. :cry:
Bryce Stone
EF4
You know, that would be a good way to go out with a bang. No one would even know you committed suicide. I can hear it now: "The storm chaser made a tragic mistake and drove right into the tornado." Beats blowing your brains out, I suppose.
Anyway, on the subject, I can't help but wonder how many of those bids are shill bids. Also, why the heck is the starting bid $100,000 with a freaking reserve??? $20,000 says they don't even have a car. But if someone actually bids on it, they'll use that money to build a car and pocket a nice profit.
James Langford
EF4
The saddest thing
The saddest thing to me is that currently, at $117,000, they haven't yet hit their reserve!!!!! I think, as someone said earlier, this is a publicity stunt.
James
The saddest thing to me is that currently, at $117,000, they haven't yet hit their reserve!!!!! I think, as someone said earlier, this is a publicity stunt.
James
mikedeason
EF5
Re: The saddest thing
Just compare their "Scientific Study" web page...
http://www.tornadoattack.com/study.htm
With the "Media Opportunities" and "Sponsorhips" pages...
http://www.tornadoattack.com/media.htm
http://www.tornadoattack.com/sponsor.htm
It's pretty clear that their motives are purely profit driven.
Now that being said, I have no inherent problem with the BASIC concept of what they are doing. This is America, and as long as you can make a buck or two without harming or unconsentually exploiting someone else or their property, more power to you. What always bothers me the most about endeavors like this, however, is how they always try to thinly cloak themselves in some sort of "scientific motive."
As one would expect, their "goals" (http://www.tornadoattack.com/goal.htm) are a short laundry list of vague bullet points (i.e., To track scientific data from the immediate surroundings and inside atmosphere of a tornado) without giving any specifics in regards to what type of data they propose to collect, how it is to be collected and how they propose it will be useful to the scientific community.
I could at least have some respect for what they are doing if they'd just come out and be honest and truthful about their motives: Fifteen minutes of fame and a few dollars.
Regards,
Mike
Just compare their "Scientific Study" web page...
http://www.tornadoattack.com/study.htm
With the "Media Opportunities" and "Sponsorhips" pages...
http://www.tornadoattack.com/media.htm
http://www.tornadoattack.com/sponsor.htm
It's pretty clear that their motives are purely profit driven.
Now that being said, I have no inherent problem with the BASIC concept of what they are doing. This is America, and as long as you can make a buck or two without harming or unconsentually exploiting someone else or their property, more power to you. What always bothers me the most about endeavors like this, however, is how they always try to thinly cloak themselves in some sort of "scientific motive."
As one would expect, their "goals" (http://www.tornadoattack.com/goal.htm) are a short laundry list of vague bullet points (i.e., To track scientific data from the immediate surroundings and inside atmosphere of a tornado) without giving any specifics in regards to what type of data they propose to collect, how it is to be collected and how they propose it will be useful to the scientific community.
I could at least have some respect for what they are doing if they'd just come out and be honest and truthful about their motives: Fifteen minutes of fame and a few dollars.
Regards,
Mike
JR Hehnly
EF4
The reserve will never be met. Notice how they will accept Paypal as a payment. There's no way they would let Ebay and paypal have their fees for a completed auction at that price. I'm sure they set reserve out of reach and will contact highest bidder to work out a deal after the auction ends. I like how the current high bidder has a feedback of 11 after buying big ticket items like $0.99 pool table brushes. I'm sure he'll just write a check...
Robert Dewey
EF5
There's no way I would trust that money in a PayPal account either....
Anyway, it's had over 7000 hits... Definately publicity.
Thomas Loades
Do they have to talk everything up?
I can't see this being any more able to withstand a tornado than an ordinary car.
Bryce Stone
EF4
Can you imagine any contract which would hold them completely blameless? How would you word such a thing?
"I, the undersigned, place my life in your hands. I know I am probably going to be killed by flying debris. Although YOU sold me this opportunity to die, YOU put me in YOUR car and drove me to the place I'd die, and YOU sold me on the lie that there was no danger, I hold you completely blameless. My life insurance is paid up, and my family will be paid nicely after my death (which I want to say is not YOUR fault)."
Seriously, is it possible to draw up a contract which will hold these people blameless in the eyes of the law?
"I, the undersigned, place my life in your hands. I know I am probably going to be killed by flying debris. Although YOU sold me this opportunity to die, YOU put me in YOUR car and drove me to the place I'd die, and YOU sold me on the lie that there was no danger, I hold you completely blameless. My life insurance is paid up, and my family will be paid nicely after my death (which I want to say is not YOUR fault)."
Seriously, is it possible to draw up a contract which will hold these people blameless in the eyes of the law?
Bob Hartig
EF5
Two words: Darwin Awards.
Kurt Silvey
EF4
As many have said above “ the reserve will never be reachedâ€. This is nothing more than publicity. I’m sure their hoping Good Morning America, or one of the mainstream news agencies, picks up on this.
We all know how hard it is to actually “catch†a tornado. Many new chasers take several years to see one, experienced ones may catch 10 – 15, and full time chasers or researchers might get 20+ in a good, Umm no, great season.
But hey, with an Elite World Class Staff of Meteorologist putting you on 50 some tor’s a year, how hard could it be to just drive into one? If the DOW can routinely setup within 1-2 miles of tornadic storms, and Tim S. can manage to successfully place stationary probes into 2 tornados, why can’t this crack team manage to place this guy into a tornado? Simply setup on a perpendicular road and floor it. Out of 50+ tor’s there should have been at least a couple of marginal opportunities, don’t you think? Why? Because (imo) they never intend to, its just marketing and publicity. I can see it now … Twister Racing Parts… Tornado Tested … We’ll Wisk You To The Finish Line … Blow away the Competition ....
We all know how hard it is to actually “catch†a tornado. Many new chasers take several years to see one, experienced ones may catch 10 – 15, and full time chasers or researchers might get 20+ in a good, Umm no, great season.
But hey, with an Elite World Class Staff of Meteorologist putting you on 50 some tor’s a year, how hard could it be to just drive into one? If the DOW can routinely setup within 1-2 miles of tornadic storms, and Tim S. can manage to successfully place stationary probes into 2 tornados, why can’t this crack team manage to place this guy into a tornado? Simply setup on a perpendicular road and floor it. Out of 50+ tor’s there should have been at least a couple of marginal opportunities, don’t you think? Why? Because (imo) they never intend to, its just marketing and publicity. I can see it now … Twister Racing Parts… Tornado Tested … We’ll Wisk You To The Finish Line … Blow away the Competition ....
Karen Politte
EF5
LMAO......with the PR nightmare chasing is having these days....that'd be the LAST thing I'd hope for.
Little boys with a BIG Nascar dream. I'd suggest keeping Nascar where it belongs......on the tracks and in the wet dreams of said little boys. >Yawn<
KR
mikedeason
EF5
Actually, I've seen IMCA late models with better aerodynamic properties than this vehicle they've built. Forget NASCAR, that vehicle would barely pass muster on a 1/4 mile dirt bull ring.
Regards,
Mike
Tony Laubach
EF5
Definately a SCAM! No doubt they're full of crap on their record number of tornadoes as I was on many of the tornado producing storms last year and the only INTERCEPT vehicle I saw was Bushrag! :lol:
