Jalopnik has a pretty extensive photo gallery of the second-generation Tornado Intercept Vehicle (TIV) from Discovery’s Storm Chasers series. For the uninitiated, the tank-like TIV is able to drive into the middle of tornados, allowing owner Sean Casey to film from the inside out in high definition. If you haven’t seen the show, check it out.
The TIV2 weighs a staggering nine tons and gets 12 MPG from its 92-gallon gas tank. Its key feature is the 360-degree steel turret that sticks out the top of the vehicle. That’s where Casey and his camera spend most of their time.
I live in Kansas in an older house with no storm shelter nor basement. My town was nearly hit by the same tornado that just about wiped Greensburg from the face of the earth. Given that, I despise these ’storm chasers’ who aren’t out there to warn people of danger, but are merely engaging in sick, TV-financed voyeurism thinly wrapped in a tissue of lies about ’science’. This whole thing can be wrapped up with a quote from Don Henley’s song Dirty Laundry: “It’s interesting when people die”. I suspect the ratings for this series is much higher in those areas of the US rarely threatened by tornadoes. Enjoy it all you want, but acknowledge what it really is: an nature-driven snuff film.
it isnt just a sick nature snuff film. some ppl actually dream of being storm chasers as little kiddies. ppl just have different dreams.
and im sure they really do get excited about the storm coming, but it isnt b/c they cant wait for the homes to be blown to shit- they have new hightech toys to play with and r dreaming of discovering something amazing about a tornado. i do acknowledge that ppl watching probly r really excited about your homes being blown to hell though.
finding ways to make tornado proof homes and whatever else should go priority over a van to see in the storm but its a process, the van will help them find ways to make better building and such
You don’t understand what you are talking about. The guys in this storm chaser show are people who are trying to understand tornadoes better and are seriously interested in the science behind it, but in order for scientists to carry out their research, they have to get FUNDING. Now, there are several ways to get scientific funding, but if what you are researching is interesting and marketable enough, you get funding from a network like the Discovery Channel. So, yes, the show exists for entertainment, but the research exists for science. Sorry about your house, but you have the wrong perceptions about storm chasers.
TheHoldSteady, you are an idiot.
TheHoldSteady, you are moron.
Instert a after are and before moron. Typo!
The last episode of “Storm Chasers” showed the chasers stop mid-chase to help those who were hit by the storm. They were also telling people on the road to turn around because they were driving into a tornado. Sure the TV show is about making a buck, but the chasers are serious about getting data. With that data they can understand tornadoes better and help build better structures and early warning methods.
This is not voyeurism but more fronterism and discovery there are not many places we haven’t explored the center of storms is just another frontier to explore and understand.
This is not about watching people die you mong.
Its about analysing and understanding some of the most dangerous and hazardous environments to human beings.
This show and this vehicle is no different to filming great white sharks from inside a shark proof cage.
Its about observing and experiencing something that would normally be extremely dangerous from a position of invulnerability.
It allows you to see the beauty of nature most Ferocious creations which would otherwise be obscured by your fear for you life.
Shut up stupid idiot. He has a right to an opinion, although If I were him I would either move, or get a storm shelter.
why r u telling him to shut up b/c the other guy has an opinion?
he had his opinion that the stom guys were assholes_next guy has an opinion that the first guy is a douchbag_u have an opinion to tell him to not say his opinion b/c u dont agree with it?
my opinion is your an illiterate that doesnt know what opinian means. and dont tell me “your iliiterate, u cant even spell” b/c im obviously not trying to spell everything right and u would be missing the whole point
Dude lives in an area of the world that has a ’season’ for one of the most destructive elements in nature. Move but sorry, don’t expect people outside your natural disaster zone to understand it. When you label 6 months out of the year as “Hurricane Season”, what do you expect is going to happen?
Hey doods, I ROCK
I am going to be surprised when TIV-2 dosnt fly away.
I like little boys
dont blame the ppl that live in earthquake/tornado/volcano prone places. blame the ppl that built entire cities there in the first place
I don’t give a flying fuck what it’s supposed to do. It just looks to damn awesome to care.
well now i know what i want for christmas
“That thing IS one Hell of a monster. Can you make it eny bigger?
What is a tornadoes hit the town?
You are all idiots!
Its obvious by the first comment that the guy has never watched the show once in his whole life. If he did he would understand that they do this to understand tornadoes so they will be able to warn people before they happen so stfu and actually watch show before you post a comment like that. As for the Tiv-2 its totally awesome its a shame though that it broke early on in the season Atleast they still have Tiv 1 :D
Dear T.I.V Team,
I know what I want to be when I grow up. I want to be a storm chaser! I didn’t want to until I started watching Storm Chasers on Discovery Channel. You and your team inspired me to want to want to be just like you. I think you were funny when the T.I.V lost 2 tires and the rear end snapped. Shaun is it? Or is it Sean? Anyway you lost 2 tires and YOU snapped! You started talking to the tire… that was weird. Any way it would be so cool if you would send me some IMax videos that you got. I have always dreamed of Intercepting a beast. Thankyou and i think your awsome T.I.V. Team.
From Savannah
P.s I am your BIGGEST FAN!
i love the t.i.v -1 and 2 ….just the idea of driving into a tornado is wild! i am a performance diesel mechanic and welder/fabricator and would love a chance to build the 3rd t.i.v……i have drawings and a ton of ideas…..out of all the shows i watch they are always pushing the t.i.v hard and it doesn’t look like it goes anywhere. i can make a diesel push 800+ horse and 14-1900+ ft lbs of torque and be reliable with better mileage and that’s what the t.i.v’s are in desperate need of!
I don’t want to belittle anyone’s point of view, esp someone who lives in Tornado alley. I live in Hurricane prone area so I know what kind of damage that mother nature can havoc. I have a benefit, that I can get out of the way. Although there may be renegade/inexperienced storm chasers out there, these guys aren’t that. For most storm chasers including these guys, they are out to find new and improved ways to get the news out to people to try and save lives and give more warning time, I can’t think of any reasons why people should be against that!!!!
No one wants a killer tornado to touch down or destroy a town, but the main focus is getting the warning out sooner!! If they make money on a photo.. it is there job and it helps in funding.
I just don’t get it.
Be thankful that they rund toward the storm and not away from it.
Sean C. Casey will be a guest on “That Morning Show” (http://www.thatmorningshow.com) this MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, to discuss the show and his experiences.
Catch Sean’s interview on “That Morning Show” from 6AM – 9AM on E! Entertainment network!