Terrible news, we are really sad about this and we didn't even know these people but they are fellow SCCA members and autocrossers and it hits home
Sharing this from the SCCA:
The Sports Car Club of America® is saddened to announce the passing of two Club members — Amber Dawn Jorgensen and Des Toups — following an incident at a ProSolo® event held at the former Hampton Mills facility in Packwood, WA, July 14-16.
On Sunday morning, July 16, a vehicle in the competition continued past the finish line and struck another member and a solid structure. The remainder of the event was promptly cancelled. Both Toups and Jorgensen later passed away.
“It’s with an extremely heavy heart that we announce the passing of Amber and Des,” said SCCA President and CEO Mike Cobb. “These two were pillars of their local Solo communities.”
Amber Dawn Jorgensen, 50, was a four-year member of the SCCA and Snake River Region. Jorgensen ran competitively in E Street, leading Snake River Region’s E Street points championship and sitting fourth overall in the Region’s PAX championship. Her husband, Steven, having competed the previous weekend at the Packwood Solo National Tour, was on site.
Des Toups, 61, was a 20-year member of the SCCA and Northwest Region. He was known for competing in a wide variety of vehicles and classes through the years. Among other accomplishments, Toups was a regular at the Solo National Championships, where he competed 14 times and earned two trophies.
“As the SCCA community begins to process this tragic loss, we are focused on finding a way to provide grief counseling to those who need it,” noted a somber Cobb. “We’re sending our deepest condolences to the families, friends, competitors and fellow Region members who will surely feel the effects of this loss.
Terrible news, we are really sad about this and we didn't even know these people but they are fellow SCCA members and autocrossers and it hits home
In reply to loosecannon :
It does hit home. They were fellow members of our community.
My condolences to their families and friends
It sounds like perhaps the driver had a medical episode; it's absolutely gutting.
It was only by a fluke of life circumstances that I was not at this event, which has been a regular on my calendar for 5 years. My wife and I were in Packwood three short weeks ago at the last local event, and a large number of the people at the Tour and ProSolo were there as well including Des, who we have raced with and known for years and years.
The circumstances were nothing short of tragic and the whole community up here in the Pacific Northwest is reeling today. Words are inadequate to express the pain and grief being felt by the witnesses, attendees, and their families and friends.
Thank you for posting this. I start to get too comfortable at our events, and even if this was medical, the potential weighs on me a bit.
My condolences to families and loved ones.
Tom1200 said:It sounds like perhaps the driver had a medical episode; it's absolutely gutting.
That is the preliminary theory. I can say that from a safety standpoint, there really wasn't anything that could have been done differently. Medical incidents can happen any time, and if it happens on course, the car and driver are going to impact whatever they are pointed at eventually.
I have witnessed several medical incidents at races, including autocross. This time it just so happened to include an innocent bystander.
I cut ties with this org about 5 years ago due to their lax safety standards. I like being right, but not like this.
Des and I competed against each other in a local street-tire class for newbs years ago. He was just... a helluva nice guy.
He was also an automotive journalist (he once brought a press car, a VW luxo-barge Audi-wannabe that they sold, like, 12 of, to an event, which was pretty hilarious). Google says he'd recently been editing auto-related content.
My heart goes out to the families and to the PNW SCCA community.
In reply to Javelin :
With a seasoned driver like that it's the only explanation.
My heart goes out to the entire community there.
We were there. I pitted right next to Des, in fact I accidently crowded his spot because he was out getting breakfast in his car. We joked about it. Little did I realize it would be the last time we spoke. I should have told him how good it was to see a familiar face. He liked to make good natured jokes about the ratty state of my car. I like jokes about my car.
I have a lot of complicated thoughts about this and it's important they are expressed correctly. The organization is made up of people that are my close friends. We are all in shock, and in mourning. I don't want to talk about anything just yet other than how incredibly sad this is, and how traumatic it was for those involved.
It is important to understand just how violent and horrific this was. If you weren't there, or even if you were, be thoughtful with your words. There are people involved in organizing this event who will undoubtedly feel guilt and some level of responsibility. My heart breaks for all of them. Nobody set out that day intending to put lives at risk. I'm certain of that.
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