Image Credit: Elynews.com

This past weekend saw the annual Silver State Classic Challenge(SSCC) on the open roads of Nevada. In its 24th year of existence, the event takes place on the wide roads of Ely, Nevada. The challenge draws in over 200 drivers from all over the world to pit man and machine against the open road.

It’s easy to see why so many drivers show up for the event, it’s a car guys dream. The local police shuts down 90 miles of road and then it’s just you and the road. When the Silver State Classic Challenge debuted on Sunday, September 25, 1988, it was the first legal open-road rally of its kind in the U.S. in a half-century. What type of speeds can you expect to see during the challenge? According to their website, The current record now stands at 207.7801 mph set by Chuck Shafer and his navigator Gary Bockman at the May 2000 event.

The Ely Times is reporting that, The 2011 event was going smoothly until tragedy struck on Sunday morning. 41 year old Merle Hill of Ely, California, the navigator in the car, and driver Rick DeKneef, 53, of California blew a tire traveling at over 200 mph, flipped violently, and caught fire. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.

The SSCC is strict with it’s safety regulations, during the 2011 event there were four different times where tires were inspected by officials to ensure safety. In the 24 year history of the SSCC there had only been 2 previous deaths, and none since 1992.

From all of us at ChevyHardcore.com we would like to extend our deepest condolences to the families involved. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.