Greetings from IMAX Filmmaker Sean Casey!

I'm licking my wounds from a this last chase season, and it's going to take a good amount of licking.

I'm in the process of fixing TIV2 with a fellow who builds class one vehicles for the Baja 1000.  We are also going to be building a TIV3. Yeah, I know, just when you thought the world didn't need another TIV.
I'd put a picture up of TIV3 but it's top secret right now,  I don't know why it's "top secret", but it sounds good.  TOP SECRET! Sounds like we know more than we actually do.  Guess that's why the Government has so many top secret programs.

Also trying to get funding for the Imax film. It's hard for me to ask "Hi. I need a million dollars, can I have it and give you 20% of an Imax film?" I want  to be finished in a year from now and then start a tornado
intercept tour company. Maybe I should auction a seat in the TIVs for next year on Ebay.  But then we'd have to deal with a client and I don't know think our SOP is in line with someone who is adverse to peeing in a water bottle.  And that client is probable going to be older and have some money, with my luck it'll be John McCain.  He'll get excited and have a heart attack and then we'll be faced with the question, "Do we stop the chase?"  The answer will be "no" and then we'll have some explaining to do a week latter when we drop off our client at the local morgue. Maybe we'll just sell TIV t-shirts

Besides all that, getting a little tired of Los Angeles, time I think to move a bit north...have gone on three fishing trips since chasing.  Caught 5 Yellow Tail, 4 Yellow Fin Tuna, and an assortment of Skip Jack, Sierra, Cabrillo, and Trigger fish.

I'm making fish tonight for friends and hoping I don't poison anyone.

Besides all that, I'm raising my beautiful family and trying to figure out what is eating all of my tomatoes.

Sean Casey

**************
Sean is making appearance on Extra today (Thursday!) and will be on a few other programs like Insider so keep a look out!

B

Remember, Storm Chasers at 10pm on Discovery Channel this Sunday!
tellallyourfriends.

Comments

[James Hanna]

I love the show and glad it made a return trip but I'm confused as to why with all of the issues with TIV 1 that you didn't take the time to test TIV 2 more. It seems that you would realize that axles can only handle up to a certain weight and that tire studs can as well. I'd think that a retired military transport vehicle would suit your needs best, one with tires of course. I know a lot don't go very fast but you could modify one and it would probably be the best TIV you could have.

Same goes for Josh. He should have tested the DOW's equipment more too since he had problems. I mean tornado season is only 2 or 3 months so you have 10 or 11 to test.

[Brandon Copic]

Ok Sean... Great Show you have on your hands I'd like to see that footage or the Imax film! Yeah like a few people here I am only 14 years old. I watch the show every new night even if that means losing sleep for school. I happen to be a weather spotter for NBC 24, Toledo, OH, it's more of a volunteer job, but you know it's actually fun for me we got a strong supercell here in toledo and jeez i got knocked over by 60mph+ winds that hurt bad! I almost got struck by lightning 3x that's a whole lot! 1st time we were going to where i will be working as an Air Force Meteorologist in 3 or so years i am about to turn 15, and lightning struck the pole right next to us! 2nd I was a guard a Captain i was in charge in fact. I was going outside checking to see if everyone's badges were off because there was lightning and the badges were medal, and I went outside like I said and lightning struck 50 or so feet from me and shocked and knocked me over, they said i was so worried about them I forgot to take off my badge! Finally I was swimming and lightning struck about 75ft away and I ran so fast! Shocking isn't it? :) I had 7 Funnel clouds go over my house once scary eh? Tornado landed accross the street from where i was, so I have been friends with everyone at nbc24 and have been working with them. So I have been with weather forever! If you want shoot me an email-Whitmerfootball12@yahoo.com, or ToledoWeatherSpotter@yahoo.com, and I could forward that email to you about me getting knocked over by the 65+ winds! Talk to you later. (Must be bored of my stories! :) )
-Brandon, Weather Spotter

[cade allen]

hi my name is cade i am your biggest fan! I live in Kansas. next season can i come with you. i know a lot about tornados. i even have my own probe. i live in the middle of tornado alley.my gandpa and uncle went down to greens burg,KS to put back all the broken houses.after what the ef5 did.i really like tiv2 i also miss the tiv1.i want to shoot my own i max film too! i am almost in the fith grade. my parents are big fans too. they said i should come see what it is like with you i ordered all your videos.i want to be a storm chaser like you! i watch all your videos.write me back about your answer cade.

[Ryan Phelps]

Sean,

Great season so far! I've been watching every episode of Storm Chasers on Discovery. I've always been a big fan of tornadoes ever since I watched "Twister" back in the day. I'd definitely ride with you guys and help out however I could just to gain the experience (don't care how many times I have to pee in a gatorade bottle!) I like what I do but I think that tornado chasing is the ultimate opportunity! I'm 24 and anxious to live life to the fullest. Contact me at ryanphelps1@gmail.com before next season. Best of luck!

[Don Williams]

Sean,

If you need a chassis hat will hold up contact Martin
Christensen at All German Auto in Escondido, CA.

His racing team runs the Baja 1000 but his company and an associated company in the San Diego area were was selected to build two cars for a Russian group for use in the Dakar Ralley.

I have photos of the cars and engines and can link you up with him. He will make a suspension that will not fail.

DAW

[Don Williams]

Sean,

I have to assumr you have already contacted MacGillivray Freeman in Laguna Beach for advice in getting support.

You can find them, as well as All German on any Google search.

I would guess that MacGillivray Freeman wouldn;t provide significant support since you are apparently linked to Discovery, but they might help in some way.

Greg MacGillivray is the key person in the company since founding partner Jim Freeman was killed in a helicopter crash in 1976.

It's worth a try.

DAW

[Josh]

Pirate4x4 & TIV3

Sean, I share your frustration about the problems with TIV2 and agree with the pirate gang that it's due to using light duty truck components. It looks like you're using Lonnie for the build and I don't question his expertise in his field, but a baja rig is a light off-road racer, very different from a 10ton plated tank.

To my point, please don't keep them in the dark, create a build thread and post progress so they can analyze the construction and provide input. I think it's the best way to insure you end up with a bulletproof rig to meet your highly-specialized needs and prevent another USA6x6 from happening.

Tonight ep4 premieres--I'm crossing my fingers that TIV and DOW get some action.

-Josh

[Tim E Virginia USA]

Hey Sean,
I would love to know when ur out and about during the season I want to see the TIV and would love to tag along on a chase. I have been on quite a few and get alot of pics of course I am as crazy as you and get as close as I can.
So If you can reply that is cool if not that is cool too.
Thanks Tim

[Roy H. Barrett II]

Mr. Casey,

I have watched this season with apt enthusiasm for the TIV II. I have been thinking that perhaps there is another method which would be reliable, affordable and productive for your efforts. If you want a vehicle that is low, strong, survivable and 'all that' why not use as a basis for your construction the basic chasis from a military 6x6 vehicle? You would tailor the springs for your height and tension while leveraging off of the proven all wheel drive capability that is witnessed by several decades of technology.

I think that the concept you have fielded is sound and if it were coupled with some 'heavier' proven technology, could be the ultimate in Tornado Chasin' Gear...

Best Regards Sir,

Roy H. Barrett II

[Steve in East Tennessee]

I had to pop in here and drop you guys a note. Watching this season, especially tonight's episode of TIV1 being hit, or close, to the core of a twister.. good grief man, my heart is STILL thumping. I can't imagine the rush you guys get doing what you're doing.

And Sean, this is for you. With the weight of that beautifully insane bit of Mad Max hardware you're driving around in, I wasn't too surprised to see the thing break. I don't know if you've thought of looking into this as a possible source for engineering help, but you should look into hooking up with the guys that build monster trucks. These guys build trucks designed to fly through the air and come down still drivable, and they know how to build hard core components. I would think they'd groove on the challenge of helping to build that armored beast. Just make sure to mention you don't want THIS truck to fly.

I've been geeked by intense weather since I was a kid, and man, being able to virtually tag along with this show through Discovery is the coolest thing ever.

I really, really feel for you with not being able to get your shot yet. The frustration has to be unbearable. I don't know how you don't turn into a raving lunatic missing storm after storm. Maybe you get that way, but that's left on the floor of the editing suite. ;)

I commend you guys for doing something so incredibly important in gathering useful data, but Sean, I really hope you can finally get that once in a lifetime shot of an intercept. When you do, I'll be first in line at the nearest Imax theater with a big grin on my face.