Circus Chasing Texas Panhandle

[Tom Pastrano]

Hate for this to be my first post but what I saw yesterday was very frustrating. In the 15 years I have been chasing, I have never seen anything close to this. While there have been many times I have seen chasers converge on one spot, this occasion everyone forgot to put safety first. I witnessed multiple people parked on the road to view the storms in Lipscomb county. There were 3 occasions when I had to slam on my breaks in order not to hit someone who were standing in the middle of a state highway. One person just got out of their vehicle and ran out across the road without looking. I saw several people who had tripods in the middle of a county road I wanted to turn off on. Not to mention all of the lightning rods that were shooting video. One of these days something like this will turn tragic!

[Tim Vasquez]

I wonder how many of these people are the proverbial "local yokels" or are completely unaffiliated storm chasers (who don't even interact online or at events).

I'm really astounded that there have been no accidents yet. It's like chasers are astonishingly lucky or are operating on borrowed time.

Tim

[Greg Stumpf]

I can recall the rare "tripod in the road" incidents in my early days of chasing in the early 1990s. These folks were exclusively media chasers, and had their heavy duty tripods and Betamax cameras out there. Why the F#%$ they can't just as easily set up a tripod off the road is beyond me.

As the chaser crowd has grown through the years, there has been an increasing number of newer chasers who are emulating these irresponsible media chasers (and, unfortunately, "movie" chasers). I emplore the newer chasers out there to consider emulating the veteran chasers who started this hobby. Those are the chasers who put safety, courtesy, and responsbility first. One of these days, a chaser with eyes glued to a storm is going to peak a hill or curve, and right around the bend will be chasers parked or standing on the right-of-way, and it is not going to be pretty.

Sheer numbers of chasers aren't the main cause for this. If the increasing numbers of chasers were acting responsible, I think things would be much better. And I think it is lame that some chasers on this board blame "locals" for all the problems without looking in the mirror.

I think the last 5-10 years has bred a new brand of chaser, and it is those folks who are causing the problems. If you feel my description describes you, and you don't like my opinion, then too bad. But if you do feel like you could improve yourself, with a desire to learn and grow in this hobby, then I congratulate you. I know there are members of both camps on this forum, and my only hope is that more folks will gravitate toward the "responsible chaser" camp, regardless of your motivations for chasing. Let's keep this hobby alive and free.

Anyway, as I like to remind folks, here are two great essays to read, written by the pre-eminent veterans of storm chasing, two persons that deserve our utmost respect.

Chuck Doswell's Chase Safety tips (http://www.cimms.ou.edu/%7Edoswell/Chasing2.html)

Al Moller's Chaser Ethics (http://www.cimms.ou.edu/%7Estumpf/cethics.html)

[Dave Grass]

This is also my first post. My neighbor and I will be chasing for the first time next week with a very experienced chaser who has graciously allowed us to tag along and learn from him. One thing he will not have to cover is common sense. I respect the road, it's inhabitants and the ever changing conditions. In my youth, I logged over 1,000,000 miles driving a semi and have seen much in the way of "stupid people tricks". I'm sure some of these were chasers, media types and locals. Point is, there are stupid distracted people in all walks of life driving our highways. The trick is to be patient and defensive for it may be your life you're saving.

Have a safe and successful season.

[Andrew McDonald]

We had an interaction with a "local yokel" yesterday when he pulled up beside as and said, "Are you guys storm chasers or are you just following along like me?". I told him that what he was doing wasn't a great idea and that he would want to be very careful (what else can you do/say?).

It was certainly a little chaotic yesterday but given the number of vehicles on the road, I thought it wasn't too bad (people's driving/other behavior) given the narrow width of the road(s) which people were on.

One instance which comes to mind was several chase cars full of chasers parked on the crest of a hill. They had done a decent enough job of parking off the road, however, they were then all gathered around the vehicles on the road side and many were standing well onto the road on the crest. There was no way any approaching vehicles could've seen whether there was anything coming the other way (due to the crest) and these people made little, if any, effort to get off the road. Sure, they could probably see that nothing was coming the other way but for those still driving, having to go onto the wrong side of the road on a crest is a little unnerving.

I think in every situation, people just need to take a second (literally- that's all it takes) to think whether they are in a position which may cause hindrance to other drivers/road users. If so, move. If not, fine :).

Andrew McDonald

[Joshua Horenstein]

Hi everyone, my first post, though a long time lurker.

Of course we all fear that one or more chasers will be hurt by doing something stupid like standing in the middle of a highway, but another fear is that such an event will push legislation to ban our beloved hobby. It's hard to imagine how a bill would be worded that says you can't drive around the plains, but I'm sure some creative politician could figure it out.

I think it is of upmost importance to auto-regulate the best we can. Though we obviously can't control what every local yokel is doing, we certainly can make efforts to police ourselves.

[Joey Ketcham]

There will never be any bill or legislation that will ban or regulate storm chasing. A bill like that would be impossible to enforce since there is nothing illegal about driving around in the plains unless you're breaking already existing laws (speeding, wreckless driving, etc...). And alot of chasers tend to chase commando, that is they don't have anything on their vehicle that would indicate they're a chaser.. so how would they be able to prove they're storm chasers?

Anyways, we beat this topic to death year after year - it's frustrating but at the same time I know nothing will change. No matter how long of an essay we write up about the subject, no matter how we present our opinions, there will still be storm chasers that are wreckless.

All I can do is just make sure I'm doing my part to present myself in a respectable manner while out chasing and make sure that I'm doing so in a safe manner. Safety has always been and always will be #1 when I'm out chasing.

[Justin E. Reed]

Honestly, I woulda hit the guy, that'd teach em, in a harsh way, but hey, dont stand in the middle of a busy road to look at a bleepin storm.:mad:

[Ryan McGinnis]

Hopefully you're kidding; killing someone is generally not the best way to educate him. :) If we all killed each other every time we did stupid things, we definately wouldn't need to worry about chase convergences.

[Chris Wilburn]

I had no problems chasing the TX Panhandle on Wednesday. This is probably due to the fact that most of our chase was from 9pm to around midnight. Even at 6pm when we were chasing a tornadic cell just nw of Lipscomb we only ran into a few people. I have no doubts it was bad and we lucked out I am sure. I do my best to be respectful and pull all of the way off the road and don't deploy my tripod to where it will block traffic. I also do not get into the view of somebody trying to shoot pics and video as well. I always staff as far off the road as possible and respect people with taking videos and pics. If everybody would do this it would be much better out there chasing. I don't think anything will ever change though. It's just like anything else in the world.......you will have a few crazy/irresponsible people out there with just about anything that goes on no matter what the hobby.

[Jason A.C. Brock]

Just lay on the horn about 5 feet from them. The run faster than they should from the tornadoes lol. If I see a tripod in the road tho.....its mine.
I saw and have video of chasers getting out after being parked safely....then they run acrross to the.....stop and take their pic on the center stripe.....GET YOU A$$ accross the road....its ok to get muddy shoes and thats why ya wear long pants to aavoid chigger... I actually like to get back awy from the road unless I have founf a gate entrance to park in. I like to try to the road and the power lines ouf of my pics.
Also....stop parking on the side of bridges even theo they have a shoulder....its jsut not safe. Turn off your head lams when you are in crowds on the side of the road.....people wan to take pics of the storms...not your headlights
Finally....yet again we have people getting toooo damn close. The media should seriously sonsider not even shwoing videos from stormchasers if its from 1/4 mile or less. Maybe it will keep them back a distance but I dount it. The only person they care about is them selves and when the die on some dirty road one evening from a lightning strike orthe tornado throws a t-post into the wind shied it wont be their problem becuase how theya re dead. The reest of us will have to be with stormchasing reualtion laws. All from one Jack A$s.....WHEN ONE OF THE PIONEERS OF CHASING TELLS YOU TO TONE IT DOWN.....ya might want to admit you have a problem and your scareing alot of people.
I wont say names,him alot of guysagree and it is no secret Doswell has had a talk with him..,..and it does no good......so when for the chaser who gets too close and drives 100 passing you doing 70 instead.
The media neds to start showng real stormchasing educatonal videos.....and not these failed suicide attempts....its not like they jsust being ina abad spot bad time.....theytry to get aunder the wall cloud tolet a tornado drop on them.......darwinwill win eventually

[Shane Adams]

Chasing situations like we had last Wed is no different than driving in a metropolitan area. Sure it was a pain in the rump, but we were never in danger of being killed, killing someone else, or any other horrible fate that seems to be looming over the chasing universe of late. Use your eyes, use your brain. There's a ton of vehicles out here, there's rain-slicked roads, it's pouring rain, there are many chasers who are newer than you (and therefore more excitable and less-likely to think before running across the road, etc etc.) Give yourself a bit of space between yourself and the guy ahead of you....look over your shoulder before opening that car door.......look both ways before crossing a road....hey, this is NE TX pan and the terrain is very conducive for creepy crawlys....check the ground for rattlers, scorps, and other nasty things before squatting down with your tripod....these are just a handful of the dozen or so things I am constantly aware of out there, regardless of what you see me doing. Safety is simple and an afterthought.....it should be instinctive, if you're to survive to be old enough to vote.

I don't understand the new breed of chaser hatched in the past 5-10 years as mentioned by Greg, because he never described that type of chaser. I guess he means generally aloof? I dunno.

[Greg Stumpf]

I don't understand the new breed of chaser hatched in the past 5-10 years as mentioned by Greg, because he never described that type of chaser.

Shane,

I did:

...there has been an increasing number of newer chasers who are emulating these irresponsible media chasers (and, unfortunately, "movie" chasers). I emplore the newer chasers out there to consider emulating the veteran chasers who started this hobby. Those are the chasers who put safety, courtesy, and responsbility first.

Expounding....the media (and "movie") chasers are the ones in the limelight, and can easily be identified with the masses. A new chaser to the hobby could think that these types are the "typical" chaser.

Just as an example, never has there been a veteran chaser who has adorned their vehicle with decals and other accoutrements that are designed to attract attention to themselves (at least, that I'm aware of, and I'm very well connected to that group). Yet, how many newer chasers are doing this? Are they emulating the veterans? No. They are emulating what they see on the screen - media (and "movie") chasers.

BTW - I'm not trying to insinuate that all media chasers are bad, because I am aware of several who are very responsible. But there are a few (most of whom I don't think are members of this board) who go way over the top, and are very self-promoting (and via their employers). In addition, there are other chasers (and yes, some are on this list) who are also extremely self-promoting, and get the "air-time" and hence attract a lot of attention. They are, in my opinion, serving as the wrong role-model for new chasers.

It's a Catch-22. Many of the responsible chasers remain low-key and out of the limelight, so it's difficult for them to be seen as positive role models. It's up to the rest of us to help steer folks in the right direction, otherwise our hobby is at serious risk of being curtailed. I sure hope that is important to many of us.

[David Drummond]

Turn off your head lams when you are in crowds on the side of the road.....people wan to take pics of the storms...not your headlights

Just a note on this. Some more newer cars have automatic headlights/Daytime running lights that can't be shut off without turning off the vehicle. I have one such vehicle...and I have a personal rule about not shutting off my vehicle near a severe storm for my own safety. I hate not being able to shut them off too sometimes. It's a PIA!

[Dan Robinson]

never has there been a veteran chaser who has adorned their vehicle with decals and other accoutrements that are designed to attract attention to themselves

Greg, I agree with everything you said except for that one point. I believe the mobile mesonet cars from VORTEX and the original white NOAA chase vans were the inspiration for the modern chase vehicle, which predated the movies and media vehicles. Those vehicles were the first impression many of us got to chasing in the 80s and 90s, so naturally there will be some imitation. At least those are what I think of when I think 'chase vehicle'. Of course, that may not be true for newer chasers who aren't familiar with the originals, only the second generation media/movie vehicles.

[Greg Stumpf]

Greg, I agree with everything you said except for that one point. I believe the mobile mesonet cars from VORTEX and the original white NOAA chase vans were the inspiration for the modern chase vehicle, which predated the movies and media vehicles. At least those are what I think of when I think 'chase vehicle'. Of course, that may not be true for newer chasers who aren't familiar with the originals, only the second generation media/movie vehicles.
VORTEX was in the mid 1990s. I'm talking about the veterans who started this hobby, well before the mid 1990s.

Also, there was not one single decal on the VORTEX probes, except if you count the bland black-and-white door magnets id'ing them as government vehicles. And they had......no.......(Drummond, be quiet)........light bars.

Nevertheless, I will agree that the VORTEX geek-mobiles started a trend (not necessarily a bad one). Now, if only most folks with MMs could log their data and supply it to researchers (better yet, upload it live for warning forecasters). This would add immense value to the hobby and our public perception. The roof jungle-gyms that are only there for show are not helping anything but to attract attention to one's self.

BTW - I have noticed a few media chasers complain about the groupies/latch-ons impeding their ability to chase. Perhaps if you were more incognito, you would attract less of that undesired attention (if course, this probably isn't your decision, but your employer's).

[Terry Tyler]

There will never be any bill or legislation that will ban or regulate storm chasing. A bill like that would be impossible to enforce since there is nothing illegal about driving around in the plains unless you're breaking already existing laws (speeding, wreckless driving, etc...). And alot of chasers tend to chase commando, that is they don't have anything on their vehicle that would indicate they're a chaser.. so how would they be able to prove they're storm chasers?

Anyways, we beat this topic to death year after year - it's frustrating but at the same time I know nothing will change. No matter how long of an essay we write up about the subject, no matter how we present our opinions, there will still be storm chasers that are wreckless.

All I can do is just make sure I'm doing my part to present myself in a respectable manner while out chasing and make sure that I'm doing so in a safe manner. Safety has always been and always will be #1 when I'm out chasing.


i strongly agree...there is no need to continually discuss this issue...nothing anyone says will change the fact people will misbehave...

there are wreckless chasers, and there will always be wreckless chasers...im sure some of these individuals do not belong to ST or even care about the ethical aspects of chasing storms...there will always be that individual who wants to mess something up...and no matter how wrong it may be...there is nothing anyone can do to stop it...

safety has, and always will be my number 1 priority when chasing storms...the moral and intellectual aspects of a chaser is what will define he/she when she is out there...as cops know there are yahoo chasers out there, im sure they are also aware of respectful chasers...

there is no need to dwell on the negativity someone else is bringing to your special event...

i do my best to avoid chaser convergences and cops...and represent the chaser community when i am out in the field...be respecful, and try to change the stereotype...that is all you can do...

[David Drummond]

Sorry Greg, gotta do it...

http://www.answers.com/topic/nssl-vehicles-on-project-vortex-jpg

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/f/fc/NSSL_vehicles_on_Project_Vortex.jpg

Hmmm...amber rotating light on every one of them. ;)

One of my favorite pages of older chase vehicles:

http://www.stormeyes.org/tornado/vehicles/

Couple of veterans in there with some stuff attached to their vehicles. ;)


I just had a thought about this:

Expounding....the media (and "movie") chasers are the ones in the limelight, and can easily be identified with the masses. A new chaser to the hobby could think that these types are the "typical" chaser.

There are only a handful of veterans (defining for this discussion as a handful that have been chasing more than 20 years), I would venture to see there are probably MORE media chasers today than there are veterans, certainly so if you include the freelancers and they are out on most every good chase day. Would that not then make them the more "typical" chaser than the older veterans that don't get out chasing as many days any more?

[Donald Cannon]

Long time reader, first time poster. I am a little curious how the chase tour groups seem to be getting a pass when it comes to all of this talk about the masses out there chasing. I know there are a lot of "veteran chasers" who are involved with these and so it probably falls under the "do as I say, not as do" catagory much like the example David D. just posted but I still would think it would get some mention. After reading Dr. Doswell's essay on chaser saftey and the risks out there I bet he just goes nuts at the thought of these people doing these chase tours just to make a few bucks.

[David Drummond]

Long time reader, first time poster. I am a little curious how the chase tour groups seem to be getting a pass when it comes to all of this talk about the masses out there chasing. I know there are a lot of "veteran chasers" who are involved with these and so it probably falls under the "do as I say, not as do" catagory much like the example David D. just posted but I still would think it would get some mention. After reading Dr. Doswell's essay on chaser saftey and the risks out there I bet he just goes nuts at the thought of these people doing these chase tours just to make a few bucks.

This might help answer your question:

http://www.tempesttours.com/tour6.html
http://www.tempesttours.com/charles_doswell.html

and a blast from 1999:

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:9hqShBnl_SwJ:www.flame.org/~cdoswell/chaser_irresp.html+chuck+doswell+chase+tour&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=14&gl=us (http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:9hqShBnl_SwJ:www.flame.org/%7Ecdoswell/chaser_irresp.html+chuck+doswell+chase+tour&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=14&gl=us)

Let the buyer beware when getting involved with a storm chasing tour group. I am not willing to endorse anyone who offers a service ... I've seen some things done by these chase tour "guides" that look pretty irresponsible to me.

[Joey Ketcham]

I have the utmost respect for Doswell, but we talk about how the veteran chasers don't do this and that... but then I see this essay written by Dr. Doswell griping about chase tour groups and how evil they are, and yet now he himself is with a tour group.

Seems pretty irresponsible to me being that most of the complaints we hear from fellow storm chasers involves these tour groups and their action.

[Greg Stumpf]

Sorry Greg, gotta do it...

Hmmm...amber rotating light on every one of them. ;)

But no.....light bars (which are a lot more attention grabbing than a single amber light). Plus, we were permitted to run the amber only when operating slowly under 40 mph, while collecting MM data.

One of my favorite pages of older chase vehicles:

http://www.stormeyes.org/tornado/vehicles/

Couple of veterans in there with some stuff attached to their vehicles. ;)
Where are the decals? Actually, you make my point with this page - most of these vehicles are piles of crap with no decals, no light bars. They are the antithesis of "attracting attention."


I would venture to see there are probably MORE media chasers today than there are veterans, certainly so if you include the freelancers and they are out on most every good chase day. Would that not then make them the more "typical" chaser than the older veterans that don't get out chasing as many days any more?
Not sure there are more media chasers than veterans, but there are certainly more chasers emulating the media chasers than there are veterans. That's the point I was trying to make. The "typical" chaser for the new folks is not the same "typical" chaser when I entered the hobby over 20 years ago.

I still agree with most posters that the irresponsible chasers are in the minority of all chasers, but I feel that their proportion to all chasers has increased since I started. So, not only are there more vehicles out there, but a larger percentage of them fall into the irresponsible camp, which compounds the problem.

We can continue to debate this, but I think the bottom line is that we should strive to steer the new chasers toward the responsible chaser camp, or else we will find our hobby in jeopardy.

BTW, another way to put chasers in a positive light is to contribute to the Storms of 2007 DVD (http://www.stormsof2007.org), and us market this in every way possible. This is an opportunity to band together as a selfless group.

[Greg Stumpf]

I have the utmost respect for Doswell, but we talk about how the veteran chasers don't do this and that... but then I see this essay written by Dr. Doswell griping about chase tour groups and how evil they are, and yet now he himself is with a tour group.
Chuck's intention was to single out the "fly-by-night" tour groups that seem to be run be folks claiming to have all sorts of "chase experience". Note that he mentions two groups in a positive light. The tour group Chuck is affilitiated with is, in my opinion (and probably Chuck's), the most responsible and professional tour group out there (Tempest Tours), and they were founded after Chuck wrote this essay. One of the reasons they are so highly regarded is because of the folks involved, who are sticklers when it comes to chaser safety, courtesy, and responsibility.

[Donald Cannon]

One of the reasons they are so highly regarded is because of the folks involved, who are sticklers when it comes to chaser safety, courtesy, and responsibility.

I am not really sure how you can be a stickler about saftey with all of the crazy "twister movie/media" chasers out there. Does not seem real responsible to me to drive around a bunch of tourist in order to make a buck, that is almost as bad as trying to sell video to the TeeVee!

[David Drummond]

But no.....light bars (which are a lot more attention grabbing than a single amber light). Plus, we were permitted to run the amber only when operating slowly under 40 mph, while collecting MM data.

Oh sorry, I didn't realize chaser ethics distinguished between one single light and 4 lights enclosed in a plastic casing. My bad... I doubt anyone noticed the single light with all the instruments sticking 4 feet about the roof of a fleet of cars anyway.

Why was VORTEX permitted to run the lights under 40 while collecting data? For SAFETY reasons maybe?


I'm sorry, but the real issue was clogging of the roads and driving habits. Not what people adorned their cars with. Personally I don't care if chasers wrap their cars in Christmas lights and put a giant inflatable Santa Clause on top holding an anemometer. If that's what they like to do, it might look silly, but good on them. The last I checked this was still a free country and your allowed to customize your vehicle in any way you see fit as long as it doesn't violate the law and passes safety inspections, regardless if some beer drinking cowboy in a lawn chair likes it or not. It's not the 80's or the 90s any more. We are in the 21st century and like or not, things have changed.

What I DO care about is if someone is having poor driving habits that are effecting lots of people. The correlation between stuff on your vehicle and driving habits are at best a weak argument, yet every time this subject comes up, it's thrown in to the mix.

If we took the same 200 vehicles out there and put them along that same stretch of road with the same drivers, yet all of the vehicles had to be factory stock, with NOTHING added to them externally, the problem would still be EXACTLY the same.

[Greg Stumpf]

If we took the same 200 vehicles out there and put them along that same stretch of road with the same drivers, yet all of the vehicles had to be factory stock, with NOTHING added to them externally, the problem would still be EXACTLY the same.
I agree, and I guess we did go off on an improper tangent here. I tried to clarify in an earlier post that not all media chasers are bad. However, there are some media chasers that are very irresponsible (most of them are not on this board). I think the point I was trying to drive home was that the role model that some new chasers are emulating now is very different than the role models of the past, as evidenced by a couple of the names mentioned near the end of this thread (http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=11372) (OMG!). That includes trying to imitate those new role models in their chasing and video style, or their vehicular appearances emulating a media or a scientific research team. I'm also willing to bet that some of that motivation might be that if they "look official", then they stand a better chance at getting the recognition (and perhaps a pass through a roadblock).

So what can we do to address the original problem? I think for one, any media outlet should not glorify the yahoo chaser. Unfortunately, that is happening all too often now, and we probably can't do anything about it. Shaky, out of focus, screaming, XTREME JACKASS-like video is what the media prefers to show now, instead of expertly tripoded and composed artistic footage. Does anyone recall Martin Lisius' "The Chasers of Tornado Alley" or "Chasing The Wind" from the early 1990s? Highly recommended.

BTW - I will at least commend David for the very positive portrayal of the work he and the other chasers to for his station that I recall seeing online last year. That painted his station's media chasers in a very positive light.

[David Drummond]

So what can we do to address the original problem? I think for one, any media outlet should not glorify the yahoo chaser. Unfortunately, that is happening all too often now, and we probably can't do anything about it. Shaky, out of focus, screaming, XTREME JACKASS-like video is what the media prefers to show now, instead of expertly tripoded and composed artistic footage. Does anyone recall Martin Lisius' "The Chasers of Tornado Alley" or "Chasing The Wind" from the early 1990s? Highly recommended.

I think this is just the video trend of the day and goes well beyond storm chasing video. I believe it started back when COPS became popular. A lot of this style started showing up on MTV, and then in some places in movies and TV shows. I guess viewers "like" to see it or they would stop showing it. I guess it adds a level of excitement for the every day viewer (not necessarily us chasers) and more of a "you are there" feel? I MUCH prefer tripoded stuff or at least braced and mostly still. That stuff moving all over literally makes me nausiated trying to watch it. One guy that is a member here has gotten some WICKED up close stuff....but it was all over the place and just made me want to buy him a good tripod for Christmas! :D

BTW, thanks for the comments. I am certainly far from perfect in the chaser ethics arena, but I DO insist on a positive slant on storm chasers and chasing any time I am asked in front of the camera.

Despite all our (the community as a whole) differences and contrasting opinions on some things that really don't matter in the whole scope of things, and despite the in-fighting that goes on in the chase community, I still believe deep down, that when it gets right down to the nitty gritty on storm day, 99% of storm chasing/chasers are doing a good thing.

[Bob Schafer]

Where can I get a nice, big, plastic, illuminated Santa Claus for cheap? 12V electrics would be best.

Thanks in advance.

[Scott Weberpal]

I am not really sure how you can be a stickler about saftey with all of the crazy "twister movie/media" chasers out there. Does not seem real responsible to me to drive around a bunch of tourist in order to make a buck, that is almost as bad as trying to sell video to the TeeVee!

Would you rather have these tourists with no experience out there running around on their own?

How is this any different than making a dollar any other way in a capitalistic society?

[APritchard]

I think if people would take the time to look, there are farm field access roads everywhere. These little raised areas where farmers drive their tractors onto the fields from the highway provide plenty of room to pull your car onto. I guess that's the only thing that annoys me. There are so many places to park your car other than on the side of the highway. It's stupid, in the way, and just laziness. You need to put driving logic before the storm. I'm sorry if you aren't in position when the wall cloud or whatever you want to film forms, but when it does don't just hit the brakes, look for a freaking place to pull off that makes more sense. That way others trying to find a place can do so without having to look for your idiot self running around in the highway or having the @$$ end of your car hanging out in their way.

[Mike Kovalchick]

I wanted to note one incident related to this topic that I thought was interesting.

The DOW was zooming off up the road...and part of the DOW convoy got seperated by throngs of chaser vehicles. A middle age gentlemen(with a moustache) in a truck carrying/flashing what looked like a firemen's badge blocked the road and was yelling at chasers in the 2 or 3 vehicles that tried to get around him...and allowed the rest of the DOW crew to catch up. He actually almost rammed his vehicle into a chaser vehicle to accomplish blocking the highway. (He was sideways across the road.) I was about 2 or 3 vehicles behind.

I always try to give DOW a wide berth as I figure the science outweighs any hobby interest that I have...but I think safety first should be everyone's concern.

Does anyone know if this gentlemen was part of DOW?

[Joey Ketcham]

I don't think anyone on the dow team would carry a badge and especially block the road and flash it at people. I would say that it was probably just a volunteer firefighter for the county or something.

[Mike Kovalchick]

I don't think anyone on the dow team would carry a badge and especially block the road and flash it at people. I would say that it was probably just a volunteer firefighter for the county or something.

I assume the same. This person was the only person who seemed to have a bit of an attitude that I saw the whole day.

For the rest of the chase...it was like seeing crowds watching a Fouth of July fireworks display. Everyone was smiling if not actually jumping up and down with excitement.

[Earl Faubion]

This sounds a lot like the guy my chase partner and I bumped into on April 21st near Wayside, Texas.
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12101&highlight=people+you+meet
Read posts # 25 and 29.

He also may be the same guy who last Wednesday (5-23) asked W5AMA to tell any of her spotters near them to back off and give them room and then a while later said the DOW was taking some long range readings from the "four corners" which caused some confusion on the net as no one seemed to know exactly where that was.

[Mike Kovalchick]

This sounds a lot like the guy my chase partner and I bumped into on April 21st near Wayside, Texas.
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12101&highlight=people+you+meet
Read posts # 25 and 29.

He also may be the same guy who last Wednesday (5-23) asked W5AMA to tell any of her spotters near them to back off and give them room and then a while later said the DOW was taking some long range readings from the "four corners" which caused some confusion on the net as no one seemed to know exactly where that was.

Your description of him fits perfectly. It must be the same guy.

I suppose I should hire a thug or two to keep away all those pesky other chasers away from me when I'm out chasing! (Being sarcastic).

[Mike Hollingshead]

It would be interesting to hear the exact role of this person, by those that surely know.

[Kem Poyner]

May 22 and 23rd made me realize that it is just a matter of time before someone gets killed on the road. I know there must be several chasers who caught some of the close calls on video. I personally video taped a couple people run across the highway with video equipment nearly get ran over. I also seen a car do a u-turn and nearly get t-boned by a speeding chase truck. When someone does get killed, it will probably be caught on someones video and be a CNN story. Another black eye for chasing.

[Rob Herman]

I'm sure EM is going to love all their emergency equipment and personnel tied up working a chaser pileup while their county is getting torn to threads by a tornado.

JMO

[Brett Adair]

This is certainly something that I do not want to see outlawed in any way because I enjoy chasing from a meteorological and educational standpoint. I won't forget that I also enjoy the adrenaline rush that factors in also. However, we must help everyone grow and mature as a group and continue to preach the importance of safe chasing otherwise we will see the government put restrictions on this wonderful hobby I am afraid considering that government officials are the main ones collecting data and not out for freelance purposes. Not saying that everyone is, but considering this involves mostly the "tripod in the road" instances.......just a thought.

[John Wetter]

I actually thought everyone was behaving themselves fairly well on both days. I didn't see much of anything that I don't see in urban driving every day (except people getting stuck on mud roads). No matter your avocation, you will have a subset of people that perform their 'stupid human tricks'. This is unavoidable.

-John

[Kem Poyner]

Maybe we can start a chasers creed that would be similiar to this:

When you stop to film a tornado or wall cloud remember, slow down and Think D.O.W. (should be easy to remember)

-Do not block roadway
-Only film or stand well off roadway
-Watch for oncoming vehicles when exiting or running across ANY roadway.

It should be short and simple. Heck, The Weather Channel could even put up a graphic when talking about stormchasers.

Kem Poyner

[Joel Taylor]

Reed and I had a similar experience with the DOW on the night of April 21st just west of Wayside, TX. We were heading west on 285 and noticed around 10 vehicles backed up behind a truck who was blocking the road. We weren't sure what was going on so we crept by everyone up to the truck and asked what was going on. He said he had blocked the road because the DOW was doing some maneuvers up the road a ways. We sat there looking at each other for a second then decided to proceed west. After a mile we came across the DOW parked in the road scanning to the west. Then shortly thereafter we came up on the TIV driving slowly west. It may have been our imagination but it seemed like they were trying to keep us behind them. As I'd try to pass they'd move over to the left essentially blocking me. Eventually we did get by and within a few minutes saw the tornado they were trying to get to just north of 285. At the time we just thought it was weird, but apparantly it may be something they are making a practice of.

[Dick McGowan]

Besides, a few people tripoding on the dirt roads on May 22, the only thing I thought was endangering, was about 5-6 chasers (convenient their personalized tags were of their ham callsigns!) passing us, punching a core east of Hill City. I was doing about 65-70, and they passed me like I was sitting still!

[Brandon Lawson]

On the 23rd I saw two DOW trucks,(or maybe the same one at different times), completely blocking one lane, as if they had not even bothered to try getting out of the way, with a huge line of cars stuck behind it.

I understand that the DOW trucks are much bigger and it's probably harder to maneuver around in, but surely they could have made more of an effort. Because those were the two worst incidents I saw of roads being completely clogged up out of both days on the 22nd and 23rd. I thought maybe there had been some wreck, but it was just the trucks sitting there in the road.

[Bob Schafer]

I know I've seen Sean post in here, and maybe Josh. So what's the deal, guys? Care to reply?

[Billy Griffin]

In all fairness to everyone, I think it mostly came down to a lack of places to pull off the road, versus the large number of chasers out. I was out Wednesday, and occasionally ran into large traffic jams, but didn't really see anyone doing anything inappropriate. The biggest concern I had was that I did see a few people not paying attention before they almost stepped out in front of oncoming traffic.

I didn't see anyone speeding, per say. I did see the DOW unit and TIV, but they were pulled off (as far as they could). They had their flashing lights active, so I think the reason they didn't get all the way off the road was probably just the shoulder being too soft - risking getting stuck or worse. I actually saw a truck pull off the road like that a few years ago, got stuck, and would up turning over when trying to get out of the bar ditch!

From what I saw, it seemed like it was more of the "locals" getting caught up in the follow-alongs, versus the chasers acting inappropriately. Northeast of Stinnett, I observed three police units, who had decided to stop their cars right in the middle of the highway! No lights, they were not stopping traffic (they waved me on) and appeared to just be chatting and observing the storm!

I suppose for as long as this good ol' earth keeps spinning, we'll have complaints about chasers speeding, reckless driving, etc. All we really can do is look out for #1, try to obey the posted traffic laws, and enjoy the convoys!