F. Peirce Williams

[Miss BK]

I just heard that Peirce was injured at a Daytona ARCA race while photograping the event. Anyone know his condition???



Photographers struck by car in ARCA race: Four photographers and a fan were treated for injuries suffered in two separate incidents in Saturday's ARCA race at Daytona International Speedway. The most seriously injured was photographer Steve Rose, who was struck by the car driven by Blake Feese, who lost control entering his pit and careened into an opening in the wall. Rose was taken to a local hospital for further treatment. Also struck were T. Taylor Warren, Fernando Medina and Pierce Williams. An unidentified female fan was hit by debris when Chad Zimmerman's car flew into the catch fence.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(2-13-2005)

[Miss BK]

I just found more
Holy moly! Boy that was close~!

Am so glad to hear Peirce is ok. Hope the other guy is too.

And once, during a rainstorm in Pensacola, he told me that he does have insurance on his camera equipment. It's very expensive stuff. Sure hope it's covered for track damage.



Racer slams 4 on pit road

By CINDY F. CRAWFORD
Staff Writer

Last update: February 13, 2005

DAYTONA BEACH -- Photographer F. Peirce Williams jumped onto the hood of a race car that careened toward him and his colleagues Saturday afternoon, escaping serious injury even though he hit the pit road pavement head-first when he rolled off.

Another man poised to shoot the same pit stop suffered a broken leg when the No. 94 Chevy driven by Blake Feese during the ARCA Series race at Daytona International Speedway overshot its mark and barreled toward the pit wall opening where the photographers stood, Speedway officials said.

Steve Rose, who was photographing the Advance Discount Auto Parts 200 for Penske Motorsports, was taken to Halifax Medical Center. His condition was not available Saturday night.

Two photographers, in addition to Williams and Rose, were injured, neither seriously.

"You know it could happen when you work this close," to the racing action, Williams said shortly after the ordeal.

Williams and his colleagues were standing in an open section of the pit wall where they had credentials and were allowed to position for closer shots, Speedway spokesman David Talley said.

After the accident, which occurred on lap 26 of the 80-lap race, Speedway officials did not close the openings to other photographers. But Talley said they would review the circumstances to see whether changes needed to be made.

Feese, a rookie who turned 23 Tuesday, said in a television interview he did not see his pit sign and regretted the incident. He was unavailable for additional comment after the race and attempts to reach his Hendrick Motorsports representative were unsuccessful.

Although new to racing, Feese won two ARCA races last year in four starts.

Williams escaped the encounter with minor scrapes and bruises, mostly on his head, and returned to work in time for the Budweiser Shootout, as did fellow photographers Fernando Medina with Reuters and T. Taylor Warren with Southern Motor Racing.

"I'll be sore tomorrow," said Williams, the Eaton, Ohio, native who has been in Daytona Beach covering race action for several sports companies for more than a week.

[B VALACHOVIC]

Good to hear that Peirce is alright, he is a gentelman. I still owe him a ride in the Diablo Wing. He is the Photographer that took the photos of Ken Kitson and Myself for Powerboat Magazine at the Clayton event. A friend of mine Jeff Spraker drove in this ARCA race to nineth place. The race was shortened fifteen laps due to all of the incidents. Bob

[B VALACHOVIC]

This is a photo of Peirce Williams taking the photo for Powerboat Magazine. The others in this photo are Rich Lours, Mark 75 and his wife

[Miss BK]

I saw Peirce last year at the Toledo Champboat race - once again we were standing in the rain! LOL

When we were departing, I asked Peirce if I would see him at the next Champ race in St Louis. He said "No", and instead would be in Clayton shooting for Powerboat mag. I told him to be SURE to get some great shots of the Miss Diablo --

He replied, "Get shots? Heck, I'm going for a RIDE in it!"

At that moment, I'm sure my face turned green ---- with pure envy. :D


I read something tonight in Hot Boat Magazine - about the early tunnel boats. For many years, starting when I was about 8 years old, I've always called Kenny Kitson's boat the "EL DIABLO". For the past 30 years this is what I thought her name was.

But once I saw her restored, I was corrected: She is the "MISS DIABLO".

But tonight, reading the Hot Boat magazine article, Bob Brown called Kenny's boat the "Miss EL DIABLO".

So now I wonder why Bob would use the same incorrect name I've been using ----- Could the announcers at Havasu have referred to this boat as the "EL DIABLO" at any time?? Could that be where we picked up this wrong name??

[Miss BK]

Here's Peirce at the 2003 APBA Nationals in Kankakee talking with Mandy Schlotter of Schlotter Photo.
In the rain again! LOL

[B VALACHOVIC]

The Miss Diablo is a sponsors name. The people that made Brylcreme hair dressing had a product called Diablo (put the Devil in youre hair). This was a paying sponsor for Kenny. Bob

[Ron Hill]

I guess that Bob Brown has the same problem I have (Not Old Age)...just Spanish in our lives in California...and you don't use "Miss" with "Diablo", you say El Diablo...but like Miss BK said, "Once you saw it, you knew it was Miss Diablo."

Why don't you bring her out to Parker, October 7-8 and run her??? She doesn't have a capsule, so at BFR's Parker 300 Marathon, she'd be legal for this Regatta....

Talked to Rudy Raymos, yesterday, he's bring the OLD ALLISON POWERED RAYSON Craft and he's going to drive it himself....

Maybe, get Kenny to come...three ten minute pit stops....

Basically, she'd going to be a "FUN RUN"..

[B VALACHOVIC]

Ron--- Kenny Kitson and Myself will definately be there at the parker 300 october 7-8 with the Miss Diablo 3 Switzer wing. I didn't rebuild her for static display. Miss B K asked for a ride --- no problem

[John Schubert T*A*R*T]

Ron,

Just courious----- I assume that this will not be APBA sanctioned, and as such even though not driving myself, was curious in knowing how you were able to obtain reasonable insurance rates. This is an ever increasing concern for the Classics that run at AOMCI meets, and as of today, still no coverage.

I guess that the major concern that I would have if I was a driver, in the event of an problem, would there be an issue knowing that the state of the art has developed capsules? I really don't want to come across as a naysayer, as I personally love the old stuff too.

The Inboard Antique & Classic race boats typically display and run at sanctioned APBA races and are covered under the sanction insurance. The Antique Race Boat regatta held every other year is a santioned event, but I don't know who pays the sanction fee or the rather expensive insurance premium. I looked in to this for AOMCI as Charlie Strang even appointed me as the APBA chairman for antique outboards. This never got off the ground as APBA has not been able to offer acceptable premiums for our group who don't have deep pockets as the inboard group has.

[Mark75H]

John, I have tried to bring up this to AOMCI, but am always shouted down. They will not even consider requiring helmets or racing jackets, much less insurance. I really fear that the time will come when an "incident" causes the end to all on water AOMCI events.

[Ron Hill]

John....

BRF's Parker 300 appears to be running under APBA's Special Events.

Capnzee wrote the rules in a way that he felt we could run a SAFE REGATTA... Our 300 Mile Marathon is a CHALLENGE to people who want to run their boat 300 miles.

This is going to be an EVENT....three ten minute pit stops. Staggered starts...slower boats are getting a head start..

Stop and Go penalties are planned and STOP COMPLETELY have been discussed.

We don't want "BUMPER CAR" mentality....

And, I didn't take anything you said as negative...YOU KNOW IT LOVE CAPSULES...but this is a "FUN RUN" 300 Mile Regatta....

Come an see if you can run 300 miles......in some boat....

ADD; There is a group of Outboard Ski Racers in California/Nevada that Greg Fosters races with, at times. Greg thinks these guys would love to come and run 300 miles....

The V Hulls must have the prop shaft no higher than even with the bottom of the boat. MOD VP boats must have their propshafts 2 inches below the bottom....

Switzer Wings can run what they BRUNG!!!

OLD TUNEEL BOATS (SCOTTI'S) with Stranglers can run too!!!!

LAST ADD:

APBA has a new insurance carrier, maybe you should run the concept of Special Events by these other guys.....

I still believe Boat Racing needs to have an NRA FOLLOWING, we need to be large enough that people listen....to Boat Racers...

[John Schubert T*A*R*T]

Sam,

At the meets held at Constantine, Tomahawk and the nationals in Florida, helmets and lifejackets are mandatory, albiet, vintage versions acceptable likewise for the Inboarders.Kill switches also required but there never is a real safety inspection. We have been looking for affordable insurance, and that's the key, as you know how cheap some of this group are, and haven't found any, including any help from APBA headquarters. Quite frankly when I spoke to all attendees at Constantine a few years ago about APBA's annual vintage membership being $60, which I pay each year, you should have heard the balks. Most of the balks come from all those guys/gals that were wanna be racers who now have the opportunity to buy this stuff and put it on the water. Sam, you are correct, it's very scary to watch some of them. One incident between themselves or worse yet with an innocent bystander, property owner or fisherman who has the right away in most cases as the meets can not control public waters, then the AOMCI will be no more.........