Vietnam vet festival - Charlotte Motor Speedway

[Bluehawk]

From Robert, Chicago, Illinois

"I was there and this happened after the event was over. All the Military bike groups already left and was told about the riding issues on the track. To stay low below the white line and do 30MPH The 2 involved bikes were not with any group and going at least 70MPH in different directions and hit head on while on the high banks of the track . Sorry to see any biker injured on such a great day that was thrown for us Vets."

 

Original report:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-...-140055643.html

 

By Jay Busbee | From The Marbles – 12 hours ago

 

Riders at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (Defense Video & Imagery Distribution)A daylong festival at Charlotte Motor Speedway meant to honor the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans ended in tragedy on Saturday as two motorcyclists riding on the track died following a collision. A third rider is in critical condition.

 

The Vietnam Veterans Homecoming Celebration, which attracted more than 62,000 people, was meant as a way to commemorate the service of Vietnam veterans and their families. The event included a performance by the Charlie Daniels Band and the passionate support of advocacy groups and others supporting veterans and their families, as well as a traveling exhibition of the Vietnam War Memorial.

 

During the course of the event, motorcycle riders took to the track. And while the details of the wreck have not been released, several witnesses interviewed by area newspapers indicate there was plenty of unsafe driving going on. The two riders killed were operating motorcycles that collided.

 

Many of the estimated 2,000 riders were not wearing helmets. Some riders were attempting to scale the speedway's high-banked turns, which aren't meant for slower-speed driving. Finally, there were reports that traffic was going both ways on the speedway, which, of course, has no lane markers to guide riders.

 

Concord, N.C. police are investigating the incident. Neither the track nor the event's sponsors, the USO and the N.C. Association of Broadcasters, would comment on the accident."