Comments on: You can't get there from here.

You can't get there from here.

goodnewsfortheinsane — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 09:49:27 -0800

On May 17, 1995, Shawn Nelson stole a tank and took it for a little drive (Google Video, YouTube).

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 09:49:51 -0800

In 2002, Nelson's tank rampage was the subject of a documentary called "Cul de Sac: A Suburban War Story".

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 09:51:40 -0800

Wikipedia | Comments by police officer involved, ten years after the event | Meth & San Diego (NYT 1996) | Parody (YouTube)

By: dhartung

dhartung — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:10:07 -0800

That was horrible to watch (again). I'm still amazed nobody else was even hurt -- a minor miracle considering that he came close several times.

By: beerbajay

beerbajay — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:10:55 -0800

Ahhhh home....

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:12:48 -0800

Shawn Nelson, he stole a tank He thought it was a won'rous prank But the cops' response was somewhat grim they had guns and they then shot him.

By: nj_subgenius

nj_subgenius — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:14:03 -0800

Stacy Keach Voiceover from Whateverthehell Fox show it was:Now, this disturbed fugitive is on the loose with a sixty-ton killing machine. Heh. OK, that's over. So there's something special about why this fellow did what he did, or the documentary, or do we just like cranks driving tanks? Or what? I'm missing it.

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:19:02 -0800

So there's something special about why this fellow did what he did, or the documentary, or do we just like cranks driving tanks? I'll admit it, you're right. It was really quite mundane. Just another crank driving his boring little tank thru American suburbia. Yawn.

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:22:41 -0800

Sarcasm aside, there's quite a bit of info on his motives and background in the Wikipedia article and some of the other links. As for the story, I figure many people will be unfamiliar with this unique and bizarre event some ten years ago, so it warrants sharing. I for one only heard about it for the first time yesterday evening on one of those TV shows that recycle ancient American, British etc. police footage.

By: Derive the Hamiltonian of...

Derive the Hamiltonian of... — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:26:47 -0800

Is this the same video I see every time I turn on World's Most Public Endangering Police Chases at 4 am when I can't sleep before a big trip? I'm at a coffee shop with bad internet, so I can't find out...

By: delmoi

delmoi — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:34:46 -0800

Let's not forget Marvin Heemeyer's home-made tank rampage in 2004. Because let's face it, if you're going to go on a tank rampage, it's much cooler if you build the tank yourself.

By: hovercraft

hovercraft — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:36:33 -0800

The "Cul-de-Sac" filmmaker, Garrett Scott, links Nelson's story to the larger story of San Diego, whose post WWII middle class prosperity was built largely on the presence of so many defense contractors. He also uses the story to consider the implications of growing up in the paranoia of the nuclear age, which of course may help explain something about all of our little "peculiarities." Scott also co-directed a great Iraq film, Occupation: Dreamland, and unfortunately, tied tragically earlier this year.

By: nj_subgenius

nj_subgenius — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:46:27 -0800

Did you think to wonder how and why someone gets hold of an M-60 Patton tank and then proceeds to terrorize and shred the place up for 23 minutes? That seems like a major factual miss. Or is it that this 11-year-old news event, and a specious reference to a 2002 documentary is just special because it happened in America? Newsflash: Avis does not have that model. Work on that maybe for next time, and tang up those rejoinders a little too.

By: nj_subgenius

nj_subgenius — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:47:46 -0800

That 2004 rampage was also very, very strange. 'Whatcha building?' 'Bear-proof garbage truck.' 'Good luck with that.'

By: gottabefunky

gottabefunky — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:48:02 -0800

Man, if you're gonna go out, go out with a bang.

By: bob sarabia

bob sarabia — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 11:09:47 -0800

I figure many people will be unfamiliar with this unique and bizarre event some ten years ago, so it warrants sharing. Actually, I think most everyone has heard about this. Not only was it a unique event, we've had ten years of cop shows to watch it over and over again. Or maybe I've just seen too many cop shows.

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 11:14:09 -0800

Of course I thought about the guy's backstory, nj_subgenius. I just wanted to keep the post short and let the links speak for themselves. The front page part of the post seems simple and descriptive to me, with enough info for someone to determine if they want to see a crazy tank rampage, and no more info than that. The links below the fold offer plenty of background to the story, and should be interesting for those more interested than the passing front page scroller. As far as the "special because in America" bit goes, I have no idea what that is supposed to mean. In fact, I thoroughly fail to understand what, exactly, your beef is. Also, your link is broken.

By: deejay jaydee

deejay jaydee — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 11:19:09 -0800

. Garrett was more than just a brilliant filmmaker. He was also just a plain decent guy, and a hell of a lot of fun at parties. I know this link has already been posted above, but it bears a repost, because lots of people miss him [scroll down for a hint]. Lots and lots. Thanks for remembering him, goodnews. I'm sending this FPP to everyone I know who knew him well. They'll appreciate it, and I imagine that Garrett himself could not have asked for a better memorial.

By: quin

quin — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 11:26:31 -0800

All I gotta say is that when I finally snap and steal a tank, the one thing that's gonna be different: I'm going to bring a gunner with me.

By: jimmythefish

jimmythefish — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 11:45:47 -0800

By: knave

knave — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 11:47:33 -0800

It's just kind of weird to FPP a news story that we all saw on TV a couple lustrums ago.

By: loquacious

loquacious — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 11:52:15 -0800

Apparently during the San Diego tank rampage, a little conversation between various local LEOs probably went a little something like this: "What do we have that can stop a tank?" "A tank!?" "Yeah, a tank." "Uh, nothing." "What!? Nothing at all? What about the National Guard?" "Hang on, let me check... Uh, nope." "Well, shit. What the hell are we supposed to do now?" "Hope it runs out of gas?"

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 11:55:52 -0800

Whoa deejay jaydee, I didn't even realize the filmmaker had passed away. Thanks for the additional links. .

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 11:58:22 -0800

It's just kind of weird to FPP a news story that we all saw on TV a couple lustrums ago. Oh, snap. :)

By: nj_subgenius

nj_subgenius — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 12:03:23 -0800

The thread provides, sorry for the bad link gnfti

By: loquacious

loquacious — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 12:03:41 -0800

By: ROU_Xenophobe

ROU_Xenophobe — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 12:31:06 -0800

All I gotta say is that when I finally snap and steal a tank, the one thing that's gonna be different: I'm going to bring a gunner with me. Whatcha gonna do for the second round, me bucko? Or will you just be sure to steal a T-72?

By: deejay jaydee

deejay jaydee — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 12:57:40 -0800

I didn't even realize the filmmaker had passed away. Well, hovercraft mentioned his very untimely passing above, but I wanted to make sure that a post that kept Garrett's work (and memory) in our minds would carry documentation sufficient to show that comments such nj_subgenius' below are uninformed, at best: Or is it that this 11-year-old news event, and a specious reference to a 2002 documentary is just special because it happened in America? It's neither of those, nj_sub . . . it's just chance and the internets allowing a promising filmmaker to say "hello" from beyond. No one here will make you watch if you don't like it. And gnfti? Thank you for the FPP. Again. It meant a lot to me, at least.

By: Heywood Mogroot

Heywood Mogroot — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 15:52:07 -0800

This was one of the handful of US stories from the 90s of such note that made it over the transom to Japanese TV when I was living there, actually. Great fpp. Seriously. I think I'll put together a FPP on the OJ chase or the impeachment process. Can't get enough of the 90s.

By: quin

quin — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:04:42 -0800

ROU_Xenophobe : Or will you just be sure to steal a T-72? Oh hell yeah! I figure if I'm on my way to wreck some shit up, might as well do it Commie style. (And I'd bet in a pinch the driver could stop driving and help the gunner load. But your idea is better.) I've always had a soft spot for the T-72. It entered production the same year I did.

By: mrbill

mrbill — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:57:24 -0800

Makes me wonder how well a LAW, AT4, or Carl Gustav would work against our own tanks.

By: SPrintF

SPrintF — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 18:53:20 -0800

The "military installation" mentioned in the video was a National Guard armory. (This is why the tank's treads weren't tearing up the street; they were rubberized.) I was living across the street from the armory with this happened. It was actually pretty hilarious up to the point the guy was shot.

By: nj_subgenius

nj_subgenius — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 19:55:49 -0800

I don't know, mrbill, maybe we should send one over so you can test your svenska weaps.

By: mrbill

mrbill — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 13:41:12 -0800

subgenius: all three weapons I listed have been or are currently used by the US armed forces. Hence why I asked - I suppose in a "worst case" scenario if someone stole a tank, an anti-tank weapon could be against it.

By: me & my monkey

me & my monkey — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 15:15:27 -0800

The first time I saw the video I was a little dismayed by the aesthetic of the turret facing backwards. I always envision tanks with the turret (and gun barrel) facing forwards. Given that he was an experienced tank driver, might this be a way of protecting the gun barrel? That's how tanks are normally driven, when there's no one controlling the turret. Otherwise, bad things can happen. The M60 even has a mounting ring on the back to hold the gun in place. Tanks are typically parked that way in the track park. This is why quin wants a gunner. Tanks usually require 2 or more people to crew fully. Generally the driver (at least on vintage tanks) doesn't control the turret or gun. This may not hold true on modern tank with advanced fire control systems. No, still true. (And I'd bet in a pinch the driver could stop driving and help the gunner load. But your idea is better.) The gun turret generally has to be facing to the rear to let the driver move from his compartment to the turret. And anyway, there wouldn't be rounds in a tank at a NG track park. They'd be somewhere else, locked up. The tank itself would typically have a padlock on the loader's hatch, but once you cut that you don't need an ignition key to start it up - there's just a big red starter button.

By: me & my monkey

me & my monkey — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 15:21:56 -0800

I suppose in a "worst case" scenario if someone stole a tank, an anti-tank weapon could be against it. I think you could use any of those to break the track, which would immobilize the tank. In the case of a stolen tank, that would be all you need to do, really. Beyond that, I suspect that most of those weapons would be effective against an M60, less so against an M1.

By: PreteFunkEra

PreteFunkEra — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 16:46:46 -0800

In New Jersey they use this footage for a strip club.