This up close stuff is getting out of hand

[Chris Foltz]

If you remove the shot of him accelerating to over 100mph at the beginning, it looks a lot like video I see from chasers every event

And that's the part that really got me pissed off. I wouldn't have been at all upset with him hitting 110+ mph if he were out there by himself with no one else around. I did have a big problem with him hitting 110+ on wet pavement while passing 5 cars at once with oncoming traffic on a two lane highway with very narrow shoulders. No doubt everyone has driven faster than they should but if that's not the epitome of reckless endangerment, I don't know what is.

As for him getting extremely close to the corner flow region of the tornado, I could really care less. That's up to him and anyone else to decide their comfort level.

 

[Damon Poole]

It's the bad driving....

If it weren't for the bad driving I might not have a problem with this. But, this guy's apparent lack of regard for the safety of himself and others on the road should be unacceptable in any case. Passionately pursuing a storm is one thing, but this ignorance of safety is just plain stupidity. This is real life, not "Smokey and The Bandit Chase The Tornado." Do it right, do it safely, or don't do it at all.

 

[Jason Foster]

At least the Camaro driver was gracious enough to film himself, so the rest of us will know who he is and that we can avoid and condone his activities. I'm sure this individual, if out on the road again, will have multiple calls to the police at even the slightest infraction.

A comment on those who say they if they want to go out and kill themselves, then so what. The problem with this is while it may appear they are not hurting anyone else (say through a direct act such as an accident), should this person be injured or killed we have to look at those around him like his friends and family. Are there wife can kids? What about his parents? All of these peoples lives would be affected. Look at a few of the chasers in the community that have passed and how it has affected many, if not all of us on a personal and professional level. Why should anyone throw a life away for a simple gain after such a reckless act. Also consider the fact that a selfish act of getting too close to a tornado results in serious injury, and emergency personal have to respond, and then hospital care allocated, which in many events puts a further strain on a system that is already dealing with public injury and casualties. There is more at stake than just injuring yourself than you or others may realize.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

Is he even a storm chaser? Seemed like to me he was just some guy that happened to be out at the right place at the right time, well.. right place, wrong time.. whichever way you want to look at it.

 

[Mikey Gribble]

Oh there's no way that guy's a legitimate storm chaser lol. There are some dead give aways on that...
1. camaro
2. camera waiving every where
3. no technical talk

It's gotta be a local or one of the "chasers" that just head out for storms in their immediate area once they see a warning on tv.
I don't realy care what the guy does. I didn't think the video was that great. I've seen a hell of a lot better. I don't know what the big deal is. If he wants to get close, go for it man, but don't expect me not to chuckle if you get hit by it. If somebody that doesn't know what they are doing tries to get extremely close to a tornado then they are asking for it. I'm not going to shed a tear if they get hurt.
Now if an experienced chaser that does know what they are doing gets hurt by some freak incident then I think that's a totally different ballgame.

 

[Darrin Rasberry]

Never say never. In most cases is is fairly obvious if a person is chasing storms. I had a member of the law enforcement community in Cherokee county Iowa tell me "chasing will be regulated in the future". Maybe that was just his opinion, or maybe he knows something.

He'd have beef with LEO's down in Mills County. I got yanked over there for letting my tags go two weeks over while I was solo chasing there last year, and when I told him what I was doing after he asked what I was up to "all the way out here," he wanted immediately to know where the storms were, and whether he needed to make a ten mile quick trip home to move his Mustang under cover. He approached me initially pretty bored and routine, and I was sure I was going to get ticketed, but he became interested really quickly and related some "storm stories" of the type that people usually get when they're pegged as chasers. After I told him he should get his car under cover (the oncoming storms were hailers), he let me off with a verbal warning and told me to be careful. Craig and I had a pretty similar encounter during a chase in Kansas this year, when a Kansas trooper pulled behind us while we were well on the side strip of a lonely country road spotting and checking data.

Again, regulation would seem not only foolish, but murderously irresponsible. Regulation on chasing would strongly discourage spotters, meaning: less eyes, less reports, more deaths. Lawmakers would have hands wet with blood, and when the media catches wind of this little after-effect and delivers it to anger the public, you can bet some of them won't ever be returning to their seats in their state congress. Besides, all that chasers would do (unless they're the type who will dutifully follow any law issued, even unjust, immoral laws like this would be) is just strip their cars of the bells and whistles, and then if they get pulled over, intent is pretty much impossible to establish. "We were on our way to OKC deciding to take some backroads to get off the Interstate and whoops! Ran into a bad storm."

I remember a thread here some time back about "chasers" beginning to get confused with the "ambulance chasers," i.e. people who follow strong storms and then show up right at the scene of tragedy to pull a scheme. Are you sure he didn't mean that?

 

[Chris Allington]

Is he even a storm chaser? Seemed like to me he was just some guy that happened to be out at the right place at the right time, well.. right place, wrong time.. whichever way you want to look at it.

Twoards the end of the video in the full version he said... 'that truck up there has a bunch of stuff on the top... They are probably chasing so I'm going to follow them.' Does anyone really want that following them around?

 

[Dave Kaplow]

Twoards the end of the video in the full version he said... 'that truck up there has a bunch of stuff on the top... They are probably chasing so I'm going to follow them.' Does anyone really want that following them around?

No problem, just don't put "a bunch of stuff on the top" of your vehicle. Problem solved.

 

[Jason Foster]

No problem, just don't put "a bunch of stuff on the top" of your vehicle. Problem solved.

He is obviously not a seasoned chaser. But this person, or persons like hime would likely see a telephone company bucket truck and think it was a DOW...and follow it.

 

[Kristi Branstetter]

Oh wow That video should show beginners how NOT to storm chase.

Kristi

 

[Scott Hammel]

Oh wow That video should show beginners how NOT to storm chase.

Kristi

Yeah no kidding!

Telling the people who like to get close that they shouldn't to me seems similar to telling someone they should switch political party's or religions. Probably not going to happen. Bottom line for me is simple; respect. If you respect what I'm trying to accomplish or what moves me to chase, then I respect what you are trying to do as well. Whether that means getting close or taking photo's from further back, as long as you respect other chasers and the public in general, you won't hear a complaint from me. To me, we're all on the same team here.

As far as the Camaro guy goes the thing that I think irks most people about it is that it is abundantly apparent in his video he is completely oblivious to the danger and harm he potentially could've caused to all the other motorists out there. I'm sure in that dude's mind he thinks he did nothing wrong at all. Well at least that's what ticks me off about it. Anyway, to those who like getting close, keep on doing what you do and be safe.

 

[Darren Stephens]

I got to admit this guy was extremely reckless. I could care less if he wants to kill himself but doing 120 mph on a 2 lane road in traffic???!!! He put so many innocent people in danger. The cops need to find this a55h*le and give him ticket.

 

[Mike Bennett]

I guess I missed it. Is there a link to the video of the "camaro guy"? Would someone post it again.

 

[Mike Bennett]

Sorry, I just found it on page 8....

 

[Jim Saueressig]

Mr Camaro was just a thrill seeking, attention starved douchebag, he was not a storm chaser. Sadly he will add to the negative opinions that are growing towards chasers in some arenas.

Maybe the answer would be for some of you guys doing the videos for the storm chaser shows and doing public interviews after an event to point out the value of real chasers and the non relation to thrill seekers grabbing attention. Start battling that fire before it burns out of control.

As far as chasers getting too close to a tornado that is their business. As long as they are not endangering the public getting to the event or being hit by it then oh well. Every chaser on this board has a different definition of too close. If you don't have the balls to go for the close shots then stay back and get the better distant shots.

And as far as chasing at night? That's when I do most of my work....... To each their own.