Another deer darted out on the track during my race on Sunday, narrowly missing me and another racer. This happened right after turn 1. I was watching it running along side the track when it decided to hang a right and shoot right in front of us. One of the reasons I got off the street was to avoid dangers like animals crossing paths. I can imagine outcome would not be good if I tagged a deer @ 100+.
Glad you did not hit it. We were told in the Team challenge about the deer but it was a little late at that point.
I would like to thank the corner-worker at the top of the chute during the Team Challenge race. On about lap 6 or 7, I came railing out of T3 and as I approached the crest of the hill, I saw the corner worker jumping up and down in the tower, waiving both arms and the debris flag like he was on fire. I rolled out of the gas and saw 3 deer bounding across the track in-between the crest of the hill and the T4 - right where the WERA racer hit one earlier this year - Not 50 feet from me.
Had the corner worker not have done such a great job in getting my attention, I'm not sure I would have hit one of them or not, but it is reassuring to know that the MARRC crew is there and looking out for us.
I'm not sure anything can be "done" about the deer. Maybe an organized hunt or something. But the fact that apple orchards and farm land surround the track means that the forest rats will always be around in relatively large numbers.
I don't put much faith in the track management to do anything resembling an effective solution. Considering they had unknown personnel operating under unknown guidance took it upon themselves to put sealer down in T5 and T6 an hour before practice was supposed to start on Sunday, I wouldn't be surprised if they scheduled an organized hunt to coincide with a race event.
But thats another thread....
Thanks Chute Corner-worker!!
So instead of blaming race orgs or track owners, blame the wildlife. How dare they! I mean, can't they understand the simple danger of being in that area?!?!
Seriously... Provide a WORKABLE solution. Go on, I dare ya!
I'm with you, Jeff - I don't think there is one and I love to race at Summit.
That said, I've seen more deer this year than ever before and it is an un-nerving experience.
Everyone jokes about it, but every racer that heads to the grid at Summit Point has to factor deer into their mental race preparation.
Its just a huge variable with potentially life-taking proportions.
And still, I'm not sure that there is anything that can really be done about it - its just kind of fucked up.
Mount guns on the bikes. :thumb:
agreed it's unnerving, but for deer especially there's little to nothing that can be done. I've encountered deer, turkeys, geese, squirrels, chipmunks and a turtle while racing. Thing is, the race tracks are generally out in the middle of nowhere, kinda like where the wildlife is...
Quote from: Jeff on August 30, 2010, 01:48:50 PM
agreed it's unnerving, but for deer especially there's little to nothing that can be done. I've encountered deer, turkeys, geese, squirrels, chipmunks and a turtle while racing. Thing is, the race tracks are generally out in the middle of nowhere, kinda like where the wildlife is...
They don't tend to show up at municipal meetings to complain about noise, either. <wink>
Outfit the corner workers with 50 cal sniper rifles! :thumb:
An organized hunt doesn't sound like a bad idea.
Hunting Regs for WV, Summit is in Jefferson County. http://www.wvdnr.gov/Hunting/Regs1011/Deer_Season.pdf
Jeff, I've got an easy solution. Kill them with rifles/shotguns during hunting season. 30-06, 30-30, shotgun w/slugs - take your pick. Free up one or two weekends during the hunting season (no racing, no Gov't training). Permit a few licensed hunters to knock a few of these bastards down.
The deer was running along side the outside of the exit of turn 1/ turn 2 entry.
I remember saying a little prayer of,
"don't come on the track, don't come on the track, don't come on track"
stupid fuck came on the track. i WOT and missed him by maybe 5-10 feet.
Most of the deer cross from inside to outside. In the morning line up two dozen racers from the pits to T9 and do a "FOD walk" towards T3-T5 and chase them out.
The deer was running along side the outside of the exit of turn 1/ turn 2 entry.
I remember saying a little prayer of,
"don't come on the track, don't come on the track, don't come on track"
stupid fuck came on the track. i WOT and missed him by maybe 5-10 feet.
Race 13, right?
I was right behind you when it crossed your path.
Man that track has character. Which is not always a good thing but it's a place to race.
Quote from: SVbadguy on August 30, 2010, 03:30:47 PM
Most of the deer cross from inside to outside. In the morning line up two dozen racers from the pits to T9 and do a "FOD walk" towards T3-T5 and chase them out.
Actually not a bad idea...
how about a big fence we could have a deer fence action fund i allready mentioned the sat. deer hunt and barbecue. don't think you can dog hunt deer in WVA but there are hunters with bear dogs contact them for help. plus farmers get 10 times the damage stamps than we got. maybe they would not mind culling them if they were allowed to hunt on the track property. might be their dogs chasing them to the track out of spite. that's the way it was when i lived in Grandview WVA
Quote from: Jeff on August 30, 2010, 01:00:24 PM
So instead of blaming race orgs or track owners, blame the wildlife. How dare they! I mean, can't they understand the simple danger of being in that area?!?!
Seriously... Provide a WORKABLE solution. Go on, I dare ya!
Yeah, maybe they should put up signs so the deer know where and when it's safe to cross.
Quote from: Jeff on August 30, 2010, 01:48:50 PM
agreed it's unnerving, but for deer especially there's little to nothing that can be done. I've encountered deer, turkeys, geese, squirrels, chipmunks and a turtle while racing. Thing is, the race tracks are generally out in the middle of nowhere, kinda like where the wildlife is...
All they have to do is MOVE the DEER CROSSING SIGN down the road a piece! ;-)
i was right behind you guys as well, there was about 4 or 5 of us in a tight group when that happened.. its amazing that we all made it through.. thats enough to mess with your concentration for the rest of the race... between that damn deer and those stupid effin cones bein knocked all over the place, we had plenty of distractions to deal with
Quote from: The Speedy Carrot on August 30, 2010, 07:18:39 AM
Another deer darted out on the track during my race on Sunday, narrowly missing me and another racer. This happened right after turn 1. I was watching it running along side the track when it decided to hang a right and shoot right in front of us. One of the reasons I got off the street was to avoid dangers like animals crossing paths. I can imagine outcome would not be good if I tagged a deer @ 100+.
Quote from: MotoHick on August 30, 2010, 03:06:36 PM
Jeff, I've got an easy solution. Kill them with rifles/shotguns during hunting season. 30-06, 30-30, shotgun w/slugs - take your pick. Free up one or two weekends during the hunting season (no racing, no Gov't training). Permit a few licensed hunters to knock a few of these bastards down.
I heart Brett. You crack me up.
Quote from: GSXR RACER MIKE on August 30, 2010, 01:55:32 PM
Outfit the corner workers with 50 cal sniper rifles! :thumb:
They wont let me bring mine out. :biggrin:
Quote from: Woofentino Pugrossi on August 31, 2010, 01:40:19 AM
They wont let me bring mine out. :biggrin:
I wonder why............
Quote from: The Speedy Carrot on August 30, 2010, 04:20:34 PM
The deer was running along side the outside of the exit of turn 1/ turn 2 entry.
I remember saying a little prayer of,
"don't come on the track, don't come on the track, don't come on track"
stupid fuck came on the track. i WOT and missed him by maybe 5-10 feet.
Race 13, right?
I was right behind you when it crossed your path.
yep, that was me.
that's it corner worker tree stands have a sign up sheet for volunteer shooters blow your motor in practice go man the the tree stand and take out your frustrations, might have to put some plate on them encase there's a cross fire . wonder if coyote tapes would run them off
Actually godzilla I was right behind you and speedy carrot I was in front of you. Blue white and green 636 #188. Godzilla the deer started running on the track when you passed and he ran RIGHT in front of me. You went to the right of him and I went to the left of him. Pretty crazy...
Quote from: bel-biv on August 30, 2010, 10:17:32 AM
I would like to thank the corner-worker at the top of the chute during the Team Challenge race.
That was Bob! ! He told me about that! His heart was probably beating as fast as yours was!
Tell Bob that I'm buying him a beer the next time I see him.
Will he be working at VIR?