Dave Helms/Scuderia Rampante of Boulder

Truly hope he and his family are safe, we have friends that live just a mile up stream from him that lost everything. 12 foot wall of water ripped their home off its foundation and took it downstream. Very tough times for many here in Colorado.

 

Wow, forest fires last year, now floods.

What's next: locusts?

Dave and his family are great people: hope they weather the storm and continue their outstanding work in service of the Ferrari community.

 

+1

 

Yes, I have been in-touch via e-mail with Dave's daughter Jenni and both Dave and his wife Kris (and the dogs and horses) are fine, but stranded in the valley in their home. All roads leading to their valley are completely gone and washed away. Thus, it is impossible to get to Dave's home except by helicopter. They assured me that they have plenty of food/water and a generator. Dave and a house guest are out-and-about trying to help needy neighbors - a typical Helms response.

Before Dave lost Internet, he told me that the town of Lyons, CO had been pretty much destroyed. The National Guard is evacuating the remaining residents. The worst of the rain is purportedly over and things appear to be drying out to some degree. However, it will take major road reconstruction to repair the road below (and I believe) above their home to return access to normal.

Here's a picture of the road near their home:
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Good to hear they are OK. I think you have to cross a creek to get into their neighborhood and I imagine the bridge is either washed out or in danger. The worst has passed but there is still rain in the forecast, tapering off over the next couple of days.

Tell Dave lots of people are thinking about them and hoping and praying for their safety.

-F

 

We just had some bizarre flossing last week. People were wake boarding in the mall parking lot after a two hour rain storm. Nothing as destructive as Colorado though.

 

Thanks for posting. Glad they are OK.

We also have some friends stranded up Boulder Canyon. they are fine but have not roads to get out. all their neighbors have evauated and have left their homes open so our friends can get food if their supply runs out. I don't think a helicopter can get to them but they have some kind of phone service as my wife talked to them this morning.

Their house is on solid rock but many of their neighbors are in danger of losing their houses.

Just horrendous.

Let's hope things turn out for the best.

 

Flooding in Lyons

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPrA6S4prjI]Flooding in Lyons - YouTube[/ame]

Whoa.

 

9/12/2013 Colorados Big Thompson Canyon Extreme Flash Flooding - YouTube

 

Amazing guy Dave Helms is.

I hope he and his family are safe and able to recover from these enormous floods quickly.

As an owner of a 550, I can only say he is a real innovator and master technician.

Scuderia Rampante Ferrari Map

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+1 on hearing Dave is OK. I can't begin to count the number of times he's talked me through things over the phone and he's definitely a massive asset to the local Ferrari community.

 

Glad to hear Dave and Co and property are OK. How is the business location? My Bro is in Longmont and lives on a very slight hill so he is dry. Many roads in the area are washed out or impassable but most likely to get cleared soon as the population density is pretty high where he is. Maybe my bro can drive by if requested and if possible. The pics of devastation are just amazing.

 

I have friends who work right across the street from Dave's shop in Boulder --- that area of town is fine and did not get any of the flooding. Looks like it's going to be while though before Dave will be able to get back into the shop to resume work --- access to the area is restricted, plus Lyons about 10 miles away (where he lives) is nearly impossible to get out of right now.

 

That is good news. Lyons looks wiped out. I hope the effected people get all the help they need. From talking to my Brother in Longmont it sounds like Coloradans are taking charge doing what needs to be done unlike the hopelessness and lawlessness that was Katrina. Coloradans seem to be take charge people that are self-sufficient and neighborly too. They took a big kick to the gut but are quietly getting on to business. He says if this was Los Angeles it would be Armageddon.

 

+ 10000000000000000000000000 On hearing Dave, Family and property are OK.

Dave helping neighbors less fortunate is his stock in trade.

A TRUELY "Great Man."

 

What's the best place to send a contribution?

Red Cross?

 

Best wishes through and through to the Helms family, as they also cope with friends and colleagues.

 

That's great news Scott.

Amazing how Dave still finds it in him to assist others while he himself is in a crisis, which does not surprise me.

I will keep Dave and his family and all residents of this drastic situation in my thoughts during my daily prayers.

 

As Scott said earlier, Dave, Kris, and the dogs (and cats) are all fine, but totally hedged in by raging water. I'm having to assure my children that Mr. Dave and Mrs. Kris and the animals (horses too) are all fine. They are worried sick after seeing the pictures out of Lyons. Even his shooting range is flooded! He must be getting bored. I drove by the shop late Thursday before I made my last minute attempt to get up the canyon and all was fine. My office is across the street and there really wasn't any significant water in the area. Jenni will be holding down the fort while Dave and Kris wait for a way out. She and I are coordinating an air drop of beer, cigarettes and doggie treats.

The road I used to get home last Thursday collapsed down the canyon side shortly after I made it through. All of us up in the foothills west of Boulder are mostly trapped. Right now my only way out is to drive south on Peak to Peak highway and then cut over to Golden. However, Los Lagos reservoirs just south of us are close to being breached and if that happens then there will be absolutely no way out of the mountains for us. C-DOT, Boulder County, Sugarloaf Fire Dept. and National Guard Chinook helicopters have all been on/over my property monitoring the large pond and small retaining pond bordering our driveway. It's close to being breached and if it goes then so does our driveway and the neighborhood down the gulch will be completely flooded and require evacuation, not to mention the fact that we would then be stuck on our property. I've parked my truck across the culvert just in case, but I'm not sure I'd be able to cross the raging creek that would exist if my driveway is gone.

All this rain and flooding reminds me of being back in the South. All I need now is a good EF5 tornado and it'll feel just like home.

On a positive note, all this rain is turning to sleet and snow up on the continental divide just west of me. So at least that'll slow some of the runoff. I gotta go get my plow mounted on the new plow truck...and chop more firewood. It's getting chilly up in here.

 

The creek that runs thru my yard completely flooded the whole property. Got some water in the house with minor damage to my floors which are buckling with moisture. Looks like I got some work to do. Was pretty muddy downstairs on those floors. No big damage and the Ferrari is safe. It could have been a lot worse and it has been worse in the past. I feel bad for those who lost their homes and lives.
Stay high and dry!!!!
John

 

Glad to hear all safe and best wishes for the future.