NEWPORT, N.H. - A racecar driver has been convicted of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon for crashing his car into a rival Twin State Speedway in Claremont (New Hampshire).
Forty-two-year-old Robin Blake slammed into the side of a car being driven by David Bly during a championship race at the track in September 2006.
Neither driver was hurt.
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Holy Cow!! What do y'all think about this?
Should the actions on the track be subject to the court room?
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and they waited a year and a half to file charges????
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I did a google search to find out more info about this incident and here is an article I found:
Stock car was deadly weapon
By REBECCA T. DICKSON
New Hampshire Union Leader Correspondent
Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006
Claremont – Police arrested a Unity man Tuesday on felony charges after an officer said he intentionally crashed his race car into two others during a championship race at the Twin State Speedway.
Claremont Police Detective Shawn Hallock said he witnessed Robin H. Blake, 41, of Cold Pond Road, hit brothers David and Ricky Bly during the final race of the season for the Street Stock division on Sept. 8. The crashes nearly caused a riot at the track, officials said.
Blake, who could not be reached yesterday, is the uncle of race car driver Ryan Bell.
According to police, track officials met with David Bly and Ryan Bell just before the race in response to a rumor that Bell planned to crash Bly's car during the event. The two were warned to keep their personal issues off the track.
Hallock said yesterday the Bell/Blake families and the Bly brothers have a long history of animosity over racing styles.
According to court papers, track officials displayed the caution flag immediately after the first crash when Blake hit David Bly of Goshen, which did not result in charges. That flag is supposed to signal drivers to slow to 30 mph and form a single line.
Instead, Blake allegedly drove side-by-side with Ricky Bly of Sunapee. The two cars hit, rubbing against each other. When they reached turn four, Hallock, who was there working a detail, saw them make a sharp left turn, forcing them to spin out into the infield grass in the middle of the track.
Court papers say Blake revved his engine in the infield. When David Bly's car came around, Blake drove at him.
"David told me he could see the Blake car drive across the grass, heading straight toward his door," Hallock said in court papers. "David added that if he didn't stomp on the gas, Blake would have hit him directly in the door." Blake instead hit David Bly's car in the left rear tire area, spinning him around.
Before the crash, while Blake was still in the infield, Hallock was in the pit area, trying to keep Bly's team away from Blake's team.
After the incident, Hallock attempted to speak to Blake, but because the pit was filling with an unruly crowd, Hallock ordered Blake's team to leave. The race was stopped and Hallock had to call for backup to get the spectators under control.
David Bly eventually won the race and his brother, Ricky, finished second.
"I had never seen anything like it, ever, not even when you see NASCAR highlights," Ricky Bly said last night.
The police estimate the damage to David Bly's car exceeds $2,000. No one was injured.
Blake was charged with reckless conduct with a deadly weapon and criminal mischief. Both are felonies punishable by up to seven years in state prison. His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 15 at Claremont District Court.
But the police said they plan to bring the case to the next Sullivan County Grand Jury, scheduled to convene tomorrow.
Ricky Bly said he wants the track to sanction Ryan Bell for next season's races.
Track owner Dennis Fluery could not be reached yesterday.
Hallock said the police were able to obtain a video of the crashes. But they are asking anyone who has photographs to contact them at 542-9538.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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and they waited a year and a half to file charges????
I guess it took that long for this case to work it's way through the court system. Here is a current article about the trial, after reading these articles it would appear that it was a very intentional wreck and not just a racin thing. I can now kinda see why he was charged after being warned before the incident and with the bad blood between the families. Wonder if the "victim" is going to sue him in civil court now for damages. I will be following this and will post what sentence the judge imposes.
Back in the day, this would've been resolved with fists not in a court!
Racer found guilty in speedway crash
By KRISTEN SENZ
The Union Leader
updated 7:15 p.m. ET, Thurs., March. 20, 2008
NEWPORT - A Sullivan County Superior Court jury yesterday convicted a racecar driver of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon in connection with a 2006 crash at Twin State Speedway in Claremont.
After a one-day trial and about five hours of deliberation, the jury found Robin Blake, 42, guilty of reckless conduct, a Class B felony. Blake slammed his car into the side of a car being driven by David Bly during a championship race at the Claremont track Sept. 8, 2006.
The crash caused a riotous uproar among spectators at the race, said Claremont police officer Shawn Hallock, who was at the scene and testified during Blake's trial on Wednesday.
"There were a couple hundred people in the pit," he said. "There was a rivalry within the families (of the two drivers) on the racing circuit."
Blake was originally charged with an additional felony, criminal mischief, but Assistant Sullivan County Attorney Dave Park said he removed that charge from the jury's consideration on Wednesday. Park said it took longer than he had expected for the jury to return a verdict, but that he believed it was "a pretty compelling case."
The verdict means the jury believed Blake ignored a "substantial and unjustifiable risk" that his conduct behind the wheel would result in the crash, Park said.
Neither driver was hurt in the crash. Bly testified against Blake during the trial. Park also called to the stand eyewitness Michael Griggs of Claremont, track owner Dennis Fleury of Claremont, who also witnessed the crash, Race Director and witness Michael Parks of Charlestown, and Hallock.
Attorney Nathan Lynch of Walpole represented Blake during the trial, but declined to comment on the case Wednesday.
Blake faces a maximum penalty of up to seven years in prison. He also could be ordered to pay restitution and other fines. A pre-sentence investigation is under way, Park said, and a sentencing hearing will probably be scheduled within a month.
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I wonder if Carl Edwards read this article cause this sounds almost the same as the time he tried that Cole Trickle move on Junior
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Holy cow! Don't think I've ever heard of this happening before. I certainly can see all of the concern & even anger. But, I'm not so sure I agree competely with taking it to the court system. In racing overall, this is not the first time something like this has happened. I do definitely think he should be banned from the racing though.
This is the first I,ve heard of this incedent , thank you very much Mrs for posting it.
THIS REALLY CONCERNS ME!!!
I dont care if the incedent and one drivers actions were unsportsman like or what kind of history these individuals have with one another
What WORRIES ME is the precedent of police filing Charges and Taking an incedent like this to Public Court.
THIS COULD VERY WELL SIGNAL THE END OF RACING AS A SPORT IN THE UNITED STATES!!!
Think about it....
If a Driver could be held legally accountable for his actions on the Track, wether intentional or not, or even legal or not under the Racing Rules being used at the event. It only follows that.......
A Team Owner would natuarly also be considered liable for his drivers actions.
A Track owner would also be liable, he allowed it to happen on his property.
A Sanctioning Body?
A Racing Series Sponsor?
A Flagman/Track crew?
A Fan who bought a Ticket?
See my point? Not Yet? Then answer this question, What Insurance Company is going to Insure this kind of activity with these kind of Liabilty ISSUES???
You think insurance is not an issue? No Track Owner/Race Promotor operates with out insurance especially if he does not own the property.
I attempted to start a Racing Series for 2008 here in Florida I FAILED. Why? Because I could not get an Insurance Company to cover my series due to liabilty issues at anything resembling a reasonable cost ...........this was a racing series for 1/10 scale radio controlled cars.......they said No because of the liabilty of a person being hit by a 42 ounce 50 mph TOY CAR.
OUR INSURANCE COMPANYS and our LEGAL SYSTEM is completely OUT OF CONTROL over Idiotic suits for liabilty being filed ever moment and something needs to be done before we are no longer able to LIVE LIFE.
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don't stop there flash.... what about other sports... football, baseball brawls, soccer ... think about the repercussions.... you hit someone on purpose.. outside the rules... go to jail?
how do you prove or disprove it? isn't that the purpose to the sanctioning body? to determine rules and punishments on the field of play?
and is that the end of the demo derby? when you cannot hit an opponents car to disable it I guess they just drive around til the cars run out of gas?
__________________ Auto racing, bull fighting and mountain climbing are the only real sports... the rest are just games........ Earnest Hemmingway
Driver convicted in crash on track
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