Hats off to Dean Gill for this video!

I like how they end up driving back into the wrap around large hail once they were south of the tornado. Definitely playing in the bears cage.
 
Thanks guys!
Actually, the reason why the passenger on the back seat was yelling "Continue! Continue!", is because the rear side window had just been blown out by large hailstones. I was sitting on the passenger front seat; the noise made by the hailstones hitting the car was so loud that I 'didn't even notice what was going on just behind me!
 
First, I just want to say I have no problem with the producers of this video. However, back in the day as a beginner, I loved watching tornado video! But I gotta say, it seems like today we're just praising people's video because of how close they were. No offense to the Dean or Ryan for posting this, I think your great. But it seems like they didn't know what they were doing, which I deduced from the tones of their voices only, and got way too close to that thing. With the video shot earlier this year in Oklahoma by ST and now this, I just don't think we're setting a good example for newer chasers and the public who sees the video on the news (not this one of course). I feel like we're trying to show the public/new chasers that you can get as close as you want and the only thing that could happen is that you might get your window busted out and your face cut up. I just don't think praising video like this is good for the chaser community/public. I realize none of us has an actual responsibility to new chasers/the public and we should be able to enjoy tornado however we want but it's getting kind of ridiculous in my opinion. Again, I have no problem with the producers of this video or Ryan but I'm just getting worried about how people view tornadoes these days. I just want people to take sever weather precautions seriously rather than grabbing their camera so they might end up on the news. Believe me, we do not need the competition, LOL!
 
S. McMullen said:
First, I just want to say I have no problem with the producers of this video. However, back in the day as a beginner, I loved watching tornado video! But I gotta say, it seems like today we're just praising people's video because of how close they were. No offense to the Dean or Ryan for posting this, I think your great. But it seems like they didn't know what they were doing, which I deduced from the tones of their voices only, and got way too close to that thing. With the video shot earlier this year in Oklahoma by ST and now this, I just don't think we're setting a good example for newer chasers and the public who sees the video on the news (not this one of course). I feel like we're trying to show the public/new chasers that you can get as close as you want and the only thing that could happen is that you might get your window busted out and your face cut up. I just don't think praising video like this is good for the chaser community/public. I realize none of us has an actual responsibility to new chasers/the public and we should be able to enjoy tornado however we want but it's getting kind of ridiculous in my opinion. Again, I have no problem with the producers of this video or Ryan but I'm just getting worried about how people view tornadoes these days. I just want people to take sever weather precautions seriously rather than grabbing their camera so they might end up on the news. Believe me, we do not need the competition, LOL!
Click to expand...

Twister, 1996, staring Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt.

I don't think there's very much we can do to change that view of chasers. Youtube has also added to the problem.

EDIT: The fact is, many, if not most, of us are drawn to chasing because of the excitement and potential danger. Anyone who's had a near miss often rates that chase as their best one. We obviously don't try to get into severe danger, but sometimes we can't help it.
 
George Dikun said:
Twister, 1996, staring Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt.

I don't think there's very much we can do to change that view of chasers. Youtube has also added to the problem.

EDIT: The fact is, many, if not most, of us are drawn to chasing because of the excitement and potential danger. Anyone who's had a near miss often rates that chase as their best one. We obviously don't try to get into severe danger, but sometimes we can't help it.
Click to expand...

I was drawn to chasing because I wanted to see a tornado. The first storm I chased I spent a good deal under a tree trying to hide from hail because I thought it was getting dangerous. I don't want to hijack this thread, this should be it's own thread but what you just said might explain the difference between the kind of chaser you are and the kind of chaser I am.
 
S. McMullen said:
First, I just want to say I have no problem with the producers of this video. However, back in the day as a beginner, I loved watching tornado video! But I gotta say, it seems like today we're just praising people's video because of how close they were. No offense to the Dean or Ryan for posting this, I think your great. But it seems like they didn't know what they were doing, which I deduced from the tones of their voices only, and got way too close to that thing. With the video shot earlier this year in Oklahoma by ST and now this, I just don't think we're setting a good example for newer chasers and the public who sees the video on the news (not this one of course). I feel like we're trying to show the public/new chasers that you can get as close as you want and the only thing that could happen is that you might get your window busted out and your face cut up. I just don't think praising video like this is good for the chaser community/public. I realize none of us has an actual responsibility to new chasers/the public and we should be able to enjoy tornado however we want but it's getting kind of ridiculous in my opinion. Again, I have no problem with the producers of this video or Ryan but I'm just getting worried about how people view tornadoes these days. I just want people to take sever weather precautions seriously rather than grabbing their camera so they might end up on the news. Believe me, we do not need the competition, LOL!
Click to expand...

Hi Sean,

I understand your concern and I have to admit that this video can give the (false) impression that we didn't really know what we were doing.
This impression certainly comes from the fact that it's in french and also, as a video, it only shows a partial and very subjective view of what happened. For instance, the video doesn't tell you we were cutting south to be placed southeast of the tornado and get a hail/rain free view of the tornado. It doesn't show that while doing so, we were all of sudden confronted to 2 SUVs running side by side just in front of us, blocking the dirt road and slowing us down considerably. At that point, there was some hesitation and I wasn't sure anymore we could pass the tornado in time. That's why I said to the driver "Stop! Stop!" and the other passenger yelled "back up!!!" We eventually managed to go past the 2 SUV's but we were a bit to close and the hail core just north of the tornado had completely wrapped around the tornado.
 
S. McMullen said:
I was drawn to chasing because I wanted to see a tornado. The first storm I chased I spent a good deal under a tree trying to hide from hail because I thought it was getting dangerous. I don't want to hijack this thread, this should be it's own thread but what you just said might explain the difference between the kind of chaser you are and the kind of chaser I am.
Click to expand...

I'm not saying I got into chasing because of Twister (actually, I was too young at the time), and I'm also not saying that I try to get into danger. I'm just saying that the excitement and potential danger can be one of the things that gets you hooked. This is evident by the "Scariest chases and close calls" thread.
 
If I can spend some words about Dean, I can say he is one of the most experienced european chasers, and he knew very well his position compared to the tornado in this case. All the drama comes by a single guy who was yelling, probably because of inexperience.

That said, we cannot omit to speak about the "psycho" trend that chasing is assuming. People is more and more obsessed by what they see on Tv and I think it's normal that they try to emulate; this kind of behaviour is typical of the TV era: most of the common people learn a lot by the tv, in terms of dressing, behaviour, eating and so on. Too bad the same thing is going on with chasing.

Already some chasers have been hit by a tornado from Iowa to Quinter,ks and this trend is gonna increase.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I saw some impressive thunderstorms and rotation before the movie Twister but I have to admit the movie was fascinating for me. While I already wanted to do storm chasing the movie made me want to get out and chase even more. I am sure a lot of people felt this way after seeing the movie.

Nice video Dean.
 
Dean Gill said:
Hi Sean,

I understand your concern and I have to admit that this video can give the (false) impression that we didn't really know what we were doing.
This impression certainly comes from the fact that it's in french and also, as a video, it only shows a partial and very subjective view of what happened. For instance, the video doesn't tell you we were cutting south to be placed southeast of the tornado and get a hail/rain free view of the tornado. It doesn't show that while doing so, we were all of sudden confronted to 2 SUVs running side by side just in front of us, blocking the dirt road and slowing us down considerably. At that point, there was some hesitation and I wasn't sure anymore we could pass the tornado in time. That's why I said to the driver "Stop! Stop!" and the other passenger yelled "back up!!!" We eventually managed to go past the 2 SUV's but we were a bit to close and the hail core just north of the tornado had completely wrapped around the tornado.
Click to expand...

Good to meet you Dean. I have no problem with your chasing style, I was actually there that day and I certainly wish I was a little closer to such a great tornado. Like I said, I'm only concerned with the message we're sending to people these days about how close is too close because it seems that too close doesn't exist anymore. Also, we're all familiar with chaser convergences around a storm, it drives us all nuts. But now imagine a chaser convergence 100 yards from a tornado, nearly what you experienced. It could be a disaster. But great video, just watch out for those idiots blocking the road, as long as they aren't emergency management;).
 
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