Dear Editor,On Thursday November 14, 2013 at approximately 3:45 PM, two race cars participating in the Watermelon 500 that occurs twice daily at US 84 between McClary’s Curve in Flemington and the red light at the intersection of GA 196 and US 84 in the McIntosh Community had a bump but no run occur on top of Mount McIntosh.
Both vehicles where disabled with injuries to drivers and passengers requiring race officials to dispatch four units of Hinesville Fire Department Fire Responders, two units of the Liberty County EMS, four units of the Liberty County Sheriff Department and ONE Georgia State Patrol unit.
With all of the above race track response team on site, race officials RED FLAGGED the eastbound lanes of US 84 even though both disabled race cars where in the right lane of the race track wedged up against the wall of the bridge. This fine action gave cause to the other 400 plus race cars to come to a complete stop. Many of the stationary drivers became a Kevin Harvick, inpatient and hot under the collar.
I sat in my race car on Cassells Road awaiting an opportunity to join slow flow of race cars as the lone Georgia State Patrol directed all race cars into the center lane. As I set waiting to get in line, my neighbor exited off US 84 on to Cassells Road to go home. Lo and behold if many of the race cars in the right hand lane didn’t follow her. This gave me an opening on to Eastbound US 84, as I slow made my way up Mount McIntosh; I could see race cars speeding down the North Bypass that dead ends at the CSX railroad as many other race cars speed off down Cassells Road as their drivers paid no attention to the sign that states the road is a “DEAD END”Needless to say, all those race car drivers who where in a hurry to get pass the accident by taking an alternate route lost their position on the race track. A Liberty County Deputy had to leave the top of Mount McIntosh and go to the intersection of Cassells Road and US 84 to assist the some 30 plus race cars back on to the track.
Bottom line; when the Watermelon 500 is RED FLAGGED, stay in your position or get put at the back of the line on the race track.
Driver of car # 3.69Phil Odom
Mt McIntosh and the original configuration of the intersection with Ga. 196 on the Eastern foot of the Mt. has given many of our friends much grief. Sadly it caused sudden and untimely death and injury to several families within our inner circle.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to extend my sympathy to those people again before sharing further commentary about growing up on a drag strip between McLarry's and the railroad crossing at McIntosh.
I remember riding in Papa's lap, steering the gas truck across the railroad crossing. I also remember sitting in Uncle Em's lap driving the tractor from our place back towards Flemington, although I don't remember where we wound up. At any rate, those days are but a memory.
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