What you have stated is true. The Dean accident, however, involved two cars on a highway with each vehicle heading toward the other. Mr. Turnipseed was turning left in front of Mr. Dean's vehicle.
Same thing applies, drivers that are making a "movement" on a highway must insure that their path is clear prior to making said movement.
Sometimes you have to have a clear path down the hallway when you experience an unexpected " Movement". Otherwise it may end in an unintentional result causing a need for new clothing.
The sweating bag was in the perfect spot on the 55 Ford. The cool sweat went right in the the left vent to cool the driver. Cracking a rear window gave flow thru ventilation. My dad had one on each side on our 56 went we went to Minnesota from California and back. One for each side vent. They weren’t for engine cooling but probably helped some.
https://www.exponent.com/experience...pageSize=NaN&pageNum=0&loadAllByPageSize=true Probably the closest view we will ever see of the James Dean crash (scroll down to see the video recreation).
National Geographic Magazine December 1962 Come see more ads and other things at https://misforgotten2.tumblr.com/
National Geographic Magazine July 1929 Come see more ads and other things at https://misforgotten2.tumblr.com/
Dean's passenger, who was a friend and mechanic, is said to have survived the accident... how did he say it happened?
It was Rolf Wutherich that was riding in the Porsche. he was not in Bullit. According to reports at the time he did not remember anything about the crash. Bill Hickman was driving the station wagon following Dean's Porsche. Bill drove the Charger in Bullit. Mick
If you spend as much time on the nations highways as I have and do, you understand instantly what Turnipseed meant about not seeing low and silver car approaching especially at that time of day. Something like that literally disappears. It is a good case for DRL's. It is surprising how many people don't know the details of this incident. I guess those of us who do are getting old. I was 11 when it happened.
It was late in the afternoon, you are correct fbi9c1. However, the sun was facing Dean (who was driving west) and behind Turnipseed (who had been driving east). In my opinion, Turnipseed lied about not seeing the Porsche. I think he saw it coming and cut the corner trying to make the turn before the Porsche got to that intersection. He misjudged the speed of the Porsche. The speed limit on that part of the highway was 55 MPH, and lets assume that Dean was going between 65 and 70 MPH. There was evidence from the two guys in the car behind Turnipseed that said he slowed down for the left turn (they saw his brake lights), and then (the brake lights went off) and he sped up to try and beat on-coming traffic, but the Porsche got to the collision spot too soon. Dean did see the Ford and tried to drive as close to the shoulder of the road as possible. But however it happened, Turnipseed hit the Porsche when the Ford was on the wrong side of the centerline, in the Porsche's lane.
I wonder what they were doing in Queens. There were no legal drag strips there. Although more than a few illegal ones.
Rolf was a Porsche factory trained four cam expert who was assigned to the 550RS. Those cars where sold to influential folks who where determined to have not just the $ but also the talent to win races. If you where lucky to get your hands on one you needed a person like Rolf to maintain the car properly. The 550 was one of the most successful sports car at the time. This is Joe Sheppard in 550RS 0144. Winning in Cuba 9/6/59
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