AngerIssues
12-08-2009, 12:25 PM
Ok gang, it's time to share some pretty crappy news.
I lost my father and Crew Cheif Ray Leavitt on the annual fishing trip to Hell's Canyon this October. It was our 10th year there. He was 64.
He died while fishing, which was his desire - to die doing something he loved. He had 3 snowmobiles, 2 harleys, a jet-boat and a crazy son & nephew who raced off-road, so the odds were certainly in his favor of getting his wish!
My father was an amazing man who lived his life with no regrets. He CHOSE never to wear a seatbelt, a helmet, or a life-vest. He hated laws, and being told what to do. I've been tempted to kick myself for not buying him one of those slick "auto-inflating" life-vests, but frankly... I know he wouldn't have been wearing it anyway.
We had two boats floating down-river just bobbing along fishing for smallmouth bass and whatever else would show up. The day before I'd caught a huge stealhead and thank goodness I'd taken some amazing photos in camp of my dad, my brother, and me. The steelhead was caught during one of our bass tournaments and we have this GREAT picture of my dad (after the tournament) saying... "it was supposed to be a bass tourney"! We had agreed on a rematch the next day, since the fish was larger than any bass caught.
So anyway, the river was flowing EXCEPTIONALLY highter than normal. 8000 cubic feet per second (CFS) is normal for this time of year. Due to the amount of water, it flowing at 26,000 CFS but dropping every day.
As my dad's boat is floating along, two people on the bow, and two people in the back, they struck a rock that nobody saw. Granted, the boat was only moving a few (4-5) miles an hour, but when you aren't holding onto anything but a fishing pole, and you aren't expecting it... you go in the drink. So my dad and Tom, my co-dawg/co-driver go in. We have no idea what is going on, except we see/hear some noise and shouting, etc. We assumed they hooked a big fish or something. Then we see the boat leaning to one side and realize they are stuck on a rock (no big deal, normally). Well Tom tried to swim to shore, but the current was so strong he couldn't make it. Although he had made eye-contact with my dad, when he turned to look back at him, he was gone.
While it's possible that he hit his head or landed wrong on his neck, the reality is that the undertow drug him down. We quickly pulled up the trolling motor and arrived on the scene moments later, but he was already gone. I was fishing on my boat with my brother, in case that wasn't stated. I will try to upload pictures. I've been told that these stories are worthless without photos (ha ha).
My dad hated funerals and made us promise to have a "party" instead. Boy did we ever. 300-400 people jammed the only convention center in Twin Falls, Idaho... ironically overlooking the same river (Snake) that had taken him. Everyone got really drunk and a few ended up in the hosptial (too much fun!) :D
The way I see it... my father had taken so many damn fish from that river, that the River Gods decided they had better put a stop to it. Bastards. :rolleyes:
Well the future of our racing is a bit up in the air. My dad was the best Crew Chief that ever lived, in my opinion. Some days I work on the truck, some days I just stare at it.
Hug your mothers and fathers (and crewchiefs). Also, listen to what people have to say, take lots of pictures, and YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE LAST PHOTO YOU TAKE WITH SOMEONE MIGHT BE THEIR LAST.
GODSPEED to you RAY. I will always love you.
(ps... I wonder if they have the internet in Heaven?. Aw heck, he didn't believe in that either. I used to tell people my dad would live forever, because Heaven didn't want him and Hell was afraid he'd take over).
(PS #2. He didn't show up for two weeks. I stayed on the river looking for him for two days. I took the search and rescue divers to the spot in my dad's boat (very hard). I spent the first night in his camper (even harder) but moved into a tent after that. Some of his ashes on their way to the Grand Canyon for a rafting trip. I'll be saving some for deposit in the silt in Baja. The rest will be spread in Hell's Canyon when we return next year. None of us will stop doing the things we love because of this. That would be pure torture to him. I certainly don't want him haunting me!! Looking out for me... YES). :cool:
I lost my father and Crew Cheif Ray Leavitt on the annual fishing trip to Hell's Canyon this October. It was our 10th year there. He was 64.
He died while fishing, which was his desire - to die doing something he loved. He had 3 snowmobiles, 2 harleys, a jet-boat and a crazy son & nephew who raced off-road, so the odds were certainly in his favor of getting his wish!
My father was an amazing man who lived his life with no regrets. He CHOSE never to wear a seatbelt, a helmet, or a life-vest. He hated laws, and being told what to do. I've been tempted to kick myself for not buying him one of those slick "auto-inflating" life-vests, but frankly... I know he wouldn't have been wearing it anyway.
We had two boats floating down-river just bobbing along fishing for smallmouth bass and whatever else would show up. The day before I'd caught a huge stealhead and thank goodness I'd taken some amazing photos in camp of my dad, my brother, and me. The steelhead was caught during one of our bass tournaments and we have this GREAT picture of my dad (after the tournament) saying... "it was supposed to be a bass tourney"! We had agreed on a rematch the next day, since the fish was larger than any bass caught.
So anyway, the river was flowing EXCEPTIONALLY highter than normal. 8000 cubic feet per second (CFS) is normal for this time of year. Due to the amount of water, it flowing at 26,000 CFS but dropping every day.
As my dad's boat is floating along, two people on the bow, and two people in the back, they struck a rock that nobody saw. Granted, the boat was only moving a few (4-5) miles an hour, but when you aren't holding onto anything but a fishing pole, and you aren't expecting it... you go in the drink. So my dad and Tom, my co-dawg/co-driver go in. We have no idea what is going on, except we see/hear some noise and shouting, etc. We assumed they hooked a big fish or something. Then we see the boat leaning to one side and realize they are stuck on a rock (no big deal, normally). Well Tom tried to swim to shore, but the current was so strong he couldn't make it. Although he had made eye-contact with my dad, when he turned to look back at him, he was gone.
While it's possible that he hit his head or landed wrong on his neck, the reality is that the undertow drug him down. We quickly pulled up the trolling motor and arrived on the scene moments later, but he was already gone. I was fishing on my boat with my brother, in case that wasn't stated. I will try to upload pictures. I've been told that these stories are worthless without photos (ha ha).
My dad hated funerals and made us promise to have a "party" instead. Boy did we ever. 300-400 people jammed the only convention center in Twin Falls, Idaho... ironically overlooking the same river (Snake) that had taken him. Everyone got really drunk and a few ended up in the hosptial (too much fun!) :D
The way I see it... my father had taken so many damn fish from that river, that the River Gods decided they had better put a stop to it. Bastards. :rolleyes:
Well the future of our racing is a bit up in the air. My dad was the best Crew Chief that ever lived, in my opinion. Some days I work on the truck, some days I just stare at it.
Hug your mothers and fathers (and crewchiefs). Also, listen to what people have to say, take lots of pictures, and YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE LAST PHOTO YOU TAKE WITH SOMEONE MIGHT BE THEIR LAST.
GODSPEED to you RAY. I will always love you.
(ps... I wonder if they have the internet in Heaven?. Aw heck, he didn't believe in that either. I used to tell people my dad would live forever, because Heaven didn't want him and Hell was afraid he'd take over).
(PS #2. He didn't show up for two weeks. I stayed on the river looking for him for two days. I took the search and rescue divers to the spot in my dad's boat (very hard). I spent the first night in his camper (even harder) but moved into a tent after that. Some of his ashes on their way to the Grand Canyon for a rafting trip. I'll be saving some for deposit in the silt in Baja. The rest will be spread in Hell's Canyon when we return next year. None of us will stop doing the things we love because of this. That would be pure torture to him. I certainly don't want him haunting me!! Looking out for me... YES). :cool: