Sad Sad day for Rallying

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 3:55 am

First the accident a few months ago and now this. The SCCA has had a rough year. The greatest rally team in North America died today. Both Mark Lovell and his co-driver Freeman died in an accident today. Not much detail other than that they hit a tree after the start of the first stage and were pronounced dead at the scene.

http://www.scca.org/news/press03_64.html

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 4:01 am

NO! I dont even know what to say.

legacy92ej22t · Post by **legacy92ej22t** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 5:54 am

Speechless...cant find words,so sad.Feel like I've been punched.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 1:42 pm

Could almost cry - not something I feel often... Jesus Christ... This really sucks.

Steve

eastbaysubaru · Post by **eastbaysubaru** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 3:52 pm

This has been a horrible year for ProRally. Such sad news. My deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends.

I will say this though. It's time for the SCCA to move to FIA classes and for the ProRally to begin real recce's. One problem that I see is that they're running all these rallies blind (no recce) and with much more horsepower than their WRC counterparts. I feel this would make it much safer for drivers/spectators and get us that much closer to a WRC event in the U.S.

-Brian

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 4:07 pm

I agree it's time they stopped running blind. The reason the FIA has their rules in place is because of their experience with these horrible events (especially Group B). I was sure this would happen, but I'm still shocked. I wished the SCCA could've learned from the FIA's hard lessons, but I guess it's too late. I'd hate to see them reduce the power of the cars, but if it keeps people alive...

Mark was one of the guys to really get people in this country to notice rallying... He was a true professional, and although I didn't know him, he seemed like a great human being.

Deepest sympathies to the families of Mark and Roger.

Steve.

Legacyman200 · Post by **Legacyman200** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 6:47 pm

R.I.P

Tcho

Olivier

JasonGrahn · Post by **JasonGrahn** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 10:24 pm

Being at the event, it's left me with a sense of awe, reality.. and a new appreciation for my own mortality.

Saturday i was fine. sunday i was fine. Today, my brother called me at work, asked me if i was okay; and i lost it.

Having spoke with Lovall many, many, many times. I respect him. He was always encouraging. Once he told me, "You're only 23, if you keep co-driving, you'll make it into the WRC. Now wouldn't that be fun!"

His words of encouragment ring through my head always.

eastbaysubaru · Post by **eastbaysubaru** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 10:40 pm

There's a few reasons why I think we need to change the classes in the ProRally. The first is that we need to make the leap so the FIA recognizes the U.S. as a viable alternative for an event. The other is safety. Although 500 hp rally cars are cool to see/hear, they're also dangerous. Dangerous for drivers and dangerous for spectators. There's a reason they were called "killer B's". Having been to a WRC event, I can assure you the WRC cars are much more enjoyable to watch. The level of technology on those cars far exceeds the cars in the ProRally so they definitely make up for a lack of horsepower elsewhere.

RIP Mark

-Brian

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 2:24 am

JasonGrahn · Post by **JasonGrahn** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 6:57 am

I won't allow this topic to be taken over by people be-littling the SCCA. That is another subject entirely.

Please, please, PLEASE, keep this thread to your respects for Mark, Roger, their families, and friends.

on behalf of all rallists...

b44jd · Post by **b44jd** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 10:38 am

Guys,

I met Possum Bourne of New Zealand about 2 weeks before he was killed in a rally related accident some 3 months ago. He was Subaru Australias number 1 driver at that time and had won so many event over the last 10 years that I would need pages to list.

Therefore, i know exactly how you must feel. I shed many a tear for a man I did not know.

My deepest condolences go out to ALL who are "hit" by this sad event.

JD
Australia

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 8:09 pm

Im interested in how it happened. I see some pretty spectacular crashes and the guys just hop right out as if nothing happened. For both of them to get hurt so bad it must have been a unique circumstance.

legacy92ej22t · Post by **legacy92ej22t** » Wed Jul 16, 2003 2:15 am

I read a post on i-club that said they left the course going between 80-130 mph and hit a huge tree right on the driver side door.Side impacts are among the most dangerous.

Once again my condolences to Mark and Rogers friends and family.

stant093 · Post by **stant093** » Thu Jul 17, 2003 3:06 pm

just wanted to offer my condolences to Mark and Rogers friends and family, be strong. i hate seeing such horrible news....

subiecar · Post by **subiecar** » Sat Jul 26, 2003 5:07 pm

I met both Mark and Roger at the last Prescott Forest Rally to be held. All the local Subie nuts were there and enjoyed over an hour of info and fun. After that, we were treated to alot of info on their car out in the parking lot. He was patient and kind and spent an inordinate amount of time with all of us. I have an autographed hat (the ONLY autographed anything I own) that I will treasure forever because of the huge impression he bestowed on me. I`ll never forget either of these kind gentlemen. Rest in peace

....Rod

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Sad Sad day for Rallying

Sad Sad day for Rallying

I met them......