I 15 Fire in California

GTX JOHN · 07-18-2015, 03:46 AM

I got my 5 minutes of fame in a interview on NBC National News tonight!
My New Dually sustained relatively minor damage compared to most of the vehicles all around me
that burned to the frame.

A Yellow 2006 Pontiac GTO Race car (Stocker looking) on open trailer
also looked like it survived OK about a 1/4 Mile behind me up the hill.

The toughest part was foot racing straight up hill for about a mile and a half when wind
shifted and having to abandon your stuff to the fire and GO!!! Amazing
how fast and long you can run (even pushing 70yrs.) when you pants are smoking
from the fire when the wind changed and gas tanks were going off like bombs!!

Floyd Staggs · 07-18-2015, 07:34 AM

John, that GTO belongs to Kevin and Brenda Fox. They were headed to Fontucky for the Summit race. They were stuck for a couple of hours but finally got turned around and headed back up to the high desert safely. Just bent a camper jack while turning around. I was watching it on tv and that was the damndest thing I ever saw. Vehicles were just going up in flames. What a disaster.

Greg Reimer 7376 · 07-18-2015, 08:58 AM

Saw the fire last night on the news. I went to OPG in Seal Beach to buy a new front bumper, and the traffic reports all the way home talked constantly about it. John, glad you got out of it OK. When your pants are almost on fire, it does provide incentive to move quickly. Glad the truck made it.So many newer vehicles use lots of plastic and fiberglass on body panels, etc. and that stuff goes uop pretty badly in that kind of heat. Also, enclosed trailers with plywood sheeting on the interior can also. Glad Kevin and Brenda got out OK too. They come to Irwindale occasionally. I raced him in a final round of Sportsman last year. He was a bit late, I was later, he got me at the line.Nice people,too. God was watching out for all of you.

DIC GEARY · 07-18-2015, 11:10 AM

John...We saw your interview here in Denver....Glad you guys made it out OK..
Dic & Deb Geary

Carguy49 · 07-18-2015, 02:31 PM

Glad that you are O.K. John. Can't imagine going through a situation like that. That must have been a life changer for you. Amazing how fast us older guys can run when it is necessary.

Troy Pourciau · 07-18-2015, 08:01 PM

didn't see you on TV brother John............ but glad you are OK.

George Mirza · 07-18-2015, 08:36 PM

I just saw the fire on the national news, that is scary stuff going on out there. Drones interfering with the firefighting effort, what next. Good to hear you made it out safe, that could have been a very tragic scene.

Winklovic · 07-18-2015, 09:03 PM

Glad to hear you're okay, John.

GTX JOHN · 07-19-2015, 03:17 AM

Thanks..........I do not know about a life changer but certainly a shorts changer!

God is good and worthy of our Praise!

Carguy49 · 07-19-2015, 12:47 PM

John, maybe you should carry a spare pair from now on, just in case.

YES, God was definitely watching out for you, and others in that fire.
I believe everyone got out O.K., right???

07-18-2015, 03:46 AM	#1
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,538 Likes: 2,238 Liked 1,878 Times in 578 Posts	I 15 Fire in California I got my 5 minutes of fame in a interview on NBC National News tonight! My New Dually sustained relatively minor damage compared to most of the vehicles all around me that burned to the frame. A Yellow 2006 Pontiac GTO Race car (Stocker looking) on open trailer also looked like it survived OK about a 1/4 Mile behind me up the hill. The toughest part was foot racing straight up hill for about a mile and a half when wind shifted and having to abandon your stuff to the fire and GO!!! Amazing how fast and long you can run (even pushing 70yrs.) when you pants are smoking from the fire when the wind changed and gas tanks were going off like bombs!! __________________ John Irving 741 Stock 741 Super Stock Last edited by GTX JOHN; 07-18-2015 at 03:53 AM.

07-18-2015, 07:34 AM	#2
Floyd Staggs VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cucamonga, CA Posts: 1,510 Likes: 132 Liked 220 Times in 95 Posts	Re: I 15 Fire in California John, that GTO belongs to Kevin and Brenda Fox. They were headed to Fontucky for the Summit race. They were stuck for a couple of hours but finally got turned around and headed back up to the high desert safely. Just bent a camper jack while turning around. I was watching it on tv and that was the damndest thing I ever saw. Vehicles were just going up in flames. What a disaster. __________________ Floyd Staggs 787 SST

07-18-2015, 08:58 AM	#3
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,114 Likes: 165 Liked 654 Times in 209 Posts	Re: I 15 Fire in California Saw the fire last night on the news. I went to OPG in Seal Beach to buy a new front bumper, and the traffic reports all the way home talked constantly about it. John, glad you got out of it OK. When your pants are almost on fire, it does provide incentive to move quickly. Glad the truck made it.So many newer vehicles use lots of plastic and fiberglass on body panels, etc. and that stuff goes uop pretty badly in that kind of heat. Also, enclosed trailers with plywood sheeting on the interior can also. Glad Kevin and Brenda got out OK too. They come to Irwindale occasionally. I raced him in a final round of Sportsman last year. He was a bit late, I was later, he got me at the line.Nice people,too. God was watching out for all of you.

07-18-2015, 11:10 AM	#4
DIC GEARY Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Broomfield Colorado Posts: 132 Likes: 31 Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Re: I 15 Fire in California John...We saw your interview here in Denver....Glad you guys made it out OK.. Dic & Deb Geary

07-18-2015, 02:31 PM	#5
Carguy49 VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Fife, Washington Posts: 1,848 Likes: 1,792 Liked 2,266 Times in 602 Posts	Re: I 15 Fire in California Glad that you are O.K. John. Can't imagine going through a situation like that. That must have been a life changer for you. Amazing how fast us older guys can run when it is necessary. __________________ Ron McDowell - Did Race Every day is a Gift - Enjoy with family and friends.

07-18-2015, 08:01 PM	#6
Troy Pourciau Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Baton Rouge, LA. Posts: 678 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: I 15 Fire in California didn't see you on TV brother John............ but glad you are OK. __________________ Troy "City Dog" Pourciau

07-18-2015, 08:36 PM	#7
George Mirza Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: North Attleborough Ma. Posts: 522 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: I 15 Fire in California I just saw the fire on the national news, that is scary stuff going on out there. Drones interfering with the firefighting effort, what next. Good to hear you made it out safe, that could have been a very tragic scene. __________________ GEORGE MIRZA STK 1236

07-18-2015, 09:03 PM	#8
Winklovic Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Posts: 270 Likes: 3 Liked 29 Times in 8 Posts	Re: I 15 Fire in California Glad to hear you're okay, John. __________________ Brent Mazur Winnipeg, Manitoba

07-19-2015, 03:17 AM	#9
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,538 Likes: 2,238 Liked 1,878 Times in 578 Posts	Re: I 15 Fire in California Thanks..........I do not know about a life changer but certainly a shorts changer! God is good and worthy of our Praise! __________________ John Irving 741 Stock 741 Super Stock

07-19-2015, 12:47 PM	#10
Carguy49 VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Fife, Washington Posts: 1,848 Likes: 1,792 Liked 2,266 Times in 602 Posts	Re: I 15 Fire in California John, maybe you should carry a spare pair from now on, just in case. YES, God was definitely watching out for you, and others in that fire. I believe everyone got out O.K., right??? __________________ Ron McDowell - Did Race Every day is a Gift - Enjoy with family and friends.