Talk:Scott Kalitta

Merge some references

The references that utilize the NBC Sports website and the Houston Chronicle both have a single report: The one posted by the Associated Press. Could they be merged, with the AP credited? Also, do we use too much of the AP's report as a source for the article? -- Guroadrunner (talk) 14:01, 23 June 2008 (UTC)

Yea, merging is a good idea. I did lots of searching, and this same AP article is being reprinted by very many sources. Some of the information is found in a different form on the NHRA website. Royalbroil 15:33, 23 June 2008 (UTC)

Clutch

The text that talks about the clutch remaining engaged is misleading when it says "maintaining engine power to the rear wheels". It's a clear implication that somehow he made a mistake in not disengaging the clutch and that the engine was still powering him. First of, the engine was blown to pieces and couldn't have been making power. Second, if you want to slow down the last thing on earth you'd want to do is disengage the clutch and remove what possible decelerating forces the engine and drive train might give could give to the brakes, especially on a car, like this one that can't be designed with much braking power. It reads like it was written by someone who has never driven a car with a clutch in their lives. If you were driving a stick shift car around town and shoved the clutch pedal in every time you were on the brakes, the brakes would not last very long. Would you descend a steep mountain road with one foot on the brake and the other holding the clutch down? The answer to that is not very long. Truckers know about brake fade. The fact the clutch was engaged is not relevant to the outcome and even assuming it true doesn't mean it should be here.

The thing that should anger fans was the design of the end of the track. It's an inconvenient fact that when the car hit the barrier at the end the part Scott was in is the part you see being launched like a rocket into the air. He and the roll cage were found nearly a hundred yards downrange from the barrier. I also note that the wiki for the race track reads like an advertisement. Jackhammer111 (talk) 21:31, 19 April 2016 (UTC)

Video

What about an independent amateur video? If it is released to youtube then does that satisfy copyright restrictions? --Edwin Larkin (talk) 19:55, 23 June 2008 (UTC)

I think it would be okay per WP:EL since the copyright should be okay. That is, if the amateur videotaper is not prohibited from taping at a drag race by NHRA or the track. I know that youtube pulls videos of singers performing. I could bring it up at Wikipedia:Media copyright questions. Don't you think it's bad taste to provide an external link to a video showing someone's death? Royalbroil 20:05, 23 June 2008 (UTC)

While it's arguably in bad taste, it's also considered a notable event that has gotten news coverage. I'm not entirely sure, though, why we would want to go with an amateur video instead of linking to reliable media website that has the legal right to show the video? For example, why not link to ESPN.com's copy of the video? Rdfox 76 (talk) 01:38, 24 June 2008 (UTC)

I agree its quite notable and appropriate for an external link to ESPN's official website for as long as they keep the video on their website. It is very bad taste in my opinion, but there's no one forcing the reader to watch it. Royalbroil 03:16, 24 June 2008 (UTC)

Bad taste? Compare this video to the Hindenburg Disaster. There are 4 external video links for the Hindenburg Disaster on Wikipedia. The Kalitta acciddent, albeit very tragic, is not extremely graphic. It serves the reader/researcher in a manner that can not be duplicated with words. I have linked two videos with respect to Scott Kalitta. First ESPN's coverage of the accident. Second, a video, produced by ESPN, that is a memorial for Scott Kalitta. I think that the combination of these videos serves to alleviate the bad taste. --Edwin Larkin (talk) 15:43, 24 June 2008 (UTC)

Agreed. While the wreck video itself is arguably in bad taste (note I never said it WAS in bad taste, just that you could argue that it is), putting it in the context of ESPN's coverage of the accident solves that issue nicely. (Advance warning to anyone who wants to claim it's a copyvio: ESPN holds the television rights to NHRA events, and thus is legally authorized to display footage from them in any way.) Rdfox 76 (talk) 02:04, 25 June 2008 (UTC)

Thanks RedFox. I think that this issue is resolved. But I am concerned about how long the ESPN site will host the video. What do you think? -- Edwin Larkin (talk) 16:05, 25 June 2008 (UTC)

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