Chase Update from the TIV Crew!

Hello again, Byron here. What a crazy ride since my last blog! So much has taken place and I cannot wait to share. As always, time to answer a few reader questions first.

“Maybe we'll get some Tornadoes in Southern Ontario this year and I'll run into you guys. Which brings me to this: Would you be allowed across the border with the TIV? Have you ever gone across the border before with it?

Kristopher”

Well, I'm not sure the legality of us going across the border. I'm sure we all have passports and no outstanding warrants but there might be some paperwork or other process involved that would effectively ruin an immediate chase. We make it a habit of not chasing across the borders, although last year we made a two day trek from Odessa, Texas to within 50 miles of Canada!

“Thanks for taking the time to reply, I used to work on armoured vehicles and my sergeant major used to say if you didnt get tank rash that you werent working hard enough. Tank rash as you probably guessed is bumping,grazing and dinging oneself inside an armoured vehicle. Been told I am going to Iraq during the next storm season. However I will saving up to go storm chasing afterwards.

I am checking out thunderstruck at the moment, my tune of choice is an oldie from dire straits Telegraph Road. Awesome roadtrip tune.

As always stay safe, thanks for replying

Rich”

Ah, good ol tank rash. Now there's a name to curse whenever TIV bites. Slowly but surely we are padding and soundproofing our tank, but if she wants to get us, she will. Thanks for reading, Rich, and we want to wish you well with your future mission. It goes without saying that we are supporters of our troops and thank you for your service.

Alright, on to the past few days. With a new set of “upgrades” to our vehicles, Josh and Sean got all of us together for a dry run. That way all of us chasers and the television crew and have a controlled environment to get a feel for chasing together. Making the occasion special, I filled in for Mark Oerther in Probe 2. Mark had to fly out to take a test to become a police officer. My new chase partner was none other than fellow Blogger Leora Frankel. She drove, I navigated, and we both deployed probes with intimidating accuracy and precision. Justin, Hannah, Danny, and Aaron were all taking notes. I'll include a few pictures from the day and leave most of the details to Leora, I'm sure she will do a more realistic job at presenting our performance. I did earn some new scuff marks on my helmet, but by the end of the run we had a system down and were doing really well. Afterwards, I had dinner with the scientists as they welcomed me over to their team for the day. Then they realized I could not spell hypotnuse or pythagorean theorem and sent me back to the TIV team.

The next day we chased. Two target areas and an equal dismal outlook meant splitting the team up. With mixed success tornado wise, I think we are all confident in the fleet's ability to work together safely during the chase and eagerly look forward to our next chase. Earlier in the day we had a chance to meet a bunch of locals and a few other chaser friends. Since we had the extra time it was nice to see everyone and give tours of the TIV. I think I have my speech all memorized now! One of the perks of being storm chasers is getting to meet people all over the Midwest and yesterday was a prime example of that. Sean, Ronan, Heath, and I would like to say hi to our new friends in Neodesha, Kansas.

During our chases, remember to watch our progress on the LIVE TRACKER! We have it up and running and you will be able to track us on a map to see where we are and radar surrounding our locations.

That's it for now, stay tuned for more fun!

Byron

Comments

[Dani]

love the 'hero' team shot. very cunning and thrillingly heroic.

[Alex]

I remember looking at the live tracker and I noticed that the whole team, except for the SCOUT stopped at Neodesha, KS. I figured you folks were spending some time with fellow townsfolk and chasers.

One question, I understand that the team primarily does chases from TX up to the Canadian border. However, there have been numerous occasions this year where a bunch of tornadoes spun up in places such as Arkansas, Missouri, and further east, just like it did on May 2, 2008. Would the TIV team or Josh Wurman be willing to go that far east to chase the tornadoes because it seems like the bulk of them are occurring over there.

I would really like to see the TIV team get that oh-so-illusive video shot. I'll be tracking the team in every chase, good luck out there.
-Alex

[John]

Hey guys, y'all are doing an awesome job out there. Keep up the awesome work.

My question is mainly for Josh and Sean.
Have y'all considered bringing out DOW3 and TIV1 to double your intercept chances. I was just rewatching National Geographic's "Tornado Intercept" for the 39th time and I noticed DOW5 was working with DOW3 to get extra radar data. Are there other DOW trucks we don't see on Discovery? Also, are y'all partnering with Reed Timmer? I ask this since the Live Tracker shows TVN. (And I watch it everyday.)

Keep up the AWESOME work and we'll see ya.
-John

[Richard r]

Thanks for replying, Hopefully you will get that elusive shot. I have a funny feeling that it wont be long soon. Over here in the UK we have had anvil shaped clouds for several days but no action as of yet. I am looking forward to getting stunning images from the weather soon.

Are the DOWs linked together I am sure that a Direction Find would be faster working as a pair or using nodal networks.

Look forward to seeing you get the dream shot

Rich

[robert]

i would like to be a part of your TIV crew. i am very able person and i think icould help your team in A repair and ability and hardware

[Elyshia Hubbard]

I just wanted to say this is the first year i started watching you guys and it is so interesting and breathe taking to see the footage. I love tornados but am a little scared of them but also infatuated as well. keep up the good work and get that intercept!!!!!!!!! 11/26/08

[iceman]

i love this show!!!i'm from romania...and i watch for thys show for 2 years!!!i really love this crew.....TIV crew.......ceep it going!!

[Justin]

Man I Love this crew and i love this show and same with Reed Timmer i really wish i could meet you guys I am Jr. Fire Fighter in Pratt Kansas and i love storm chasing and spotting and every time there's a storm and I am at home i cannot resist going out on my fire dept. bike just to watch it form and i go out with our fire dept spotting storms and well i go to storm spotters class every year and i just love this stuff and would love to chase with you guys sometime i g2g gotta a big storm comming from Oklahoma and i cant miss it maybe the TIV will be here already have 50 storm chasers here

[Justin]

DANG IT YOU GUYS STAYED IN A HOTEL RIGHT BY WHERE MY DAD WORKS AND I DIDNT' DIDNT KNOW OR I WOULD OF CAME UGH I AM MAD I DIDN'T Know!! WIll you guys stay in Pratt again? i been dieing to see you guys forever~!!!!!