Pit Bikes at Blackhawk Farms

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Blackhawk Farms Raceway has instituted a new policy surrounding Support Pit Vehicles for the 2006 season.

As most of those discussing this post may (or may not) know, there has been a recent history of abuse, flagrant disregard for safety, track rules and event specific guidelines at Blackhawk Farms Raceway during various events with Pit Vehicles.

Last year's experience from both a safety perspective & blatant disregard for Track rules forced BFR mgmt. to develop a zero tolerance policy to deter this behaviour, while still allowing for the appropriate usage of Pit Vehicles for Race Support in the safest manner possible for participants.

Unfortunately, such a policy has business costs involved, hence the registration fee.

to clarify the new pit vehicle policy for Blackhawk Farms Raceway, please reference the link below:

http://www.blackhawkfarms.com//bhf/pdfs/bfr_pit_vehicle_policy.pdf

This registration form / process is now required by ALL competitors, crew, event workers, vendors that would like to utilize Pit Vehicles on BFR facilities. Spectators are NOT ALLOWED TO RIDE, OPERATE PIT VEHICLES FOR ANY REASON. Those who wish to use a Pit Vehicle must purchase a single event or an annual sticker, in addition to agreeing to BFR Pit Vehicle rules. Pedal Bikes are excluded from this consideration.

This policy shall be in force beginning April 1, 2006.

Blackhawk Farms Raceway Mgmt.

Still it doesnt clarify if "pit vehicle" includes a STREET TITLED & REGISTERED bike. So if someone brings thier normal streetbike in a trailer is that considered now a "pit bike"?

[251am]

Funny, lawsuits and insurance companies are always getting the responsibility. Why didn't management take responsibilty and kick those offenders out last year, or fine them, and then kick them out?

We all sign a waiver each weekend. How is an extra $50 gonna put more teeth in the waiver? (Shit, I ride my bicycle around as PB, anyway...)

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

 But I'm probably going to blow off Prom to be there at Blackhawk.

A girl with the proper priorieties! ;D

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

 Another 5k/year in pit bike fees means nothing to their bottom line (that's not the motivation 

Not entirely true.  Autobahn has taken a ton of revenue away from Blackhawk, especially midweek.  They're feeling the pinch, believe me.  Why do you think they built new bathrooms?  Suddenly, Blackhawk isn't the only game in town.

[Super Dave]

Funny, lawsuits and insurance companies are always getting the responsibility. Why didn't management take responsibilty and kick those offenders out last year, or fine them, and then kick them out?

We all sign a waiver each weekend. How is an extra $50 gonna put more teeth in the waiver? (Shit, I ride my bicycle around as PB, anyway...)

I guess I have to ask this question...

Did the offenders last year get injured?  Not that I know of.  However, there were two injuries last year.  That was what I was told.  So, the BS that was going on would not be directly related to a potential increase in insurance costs, but pit bike injuries would.

We pay fees for entering races.  That covers various insurance costs.  If one has a street bike, I would assume that your insurance coverage might cover injuries that one might sustain on private property, but I don't know.

Perhaps some are connecting the dots correctly.  Yeah, the hooliganism isn't right, but it might not have had the result of requiring the pit bike fee, but the injuries while on pit bikes did.

[Super Dave]

Still it doesnt clarify if "pit vehicle" includes a STREET TITLED & REGISTERED bike. So if someone brings thier normal streetbike in a trailer is that considered now a "pit bike"?

Actual questions should be given to Blackhawk Farms at 815-389-2000.

[Super Dave]

Not entirely true.  Autobahn has taken a ton of revenue away from Blackhawk, especially midweek.  They're feeling the pinch, believe me.  Why do you think they built new bathrooms?  Suddenly, Blackhawk isn't the only game in town.

Biggest substantial revenue loss for Blackhawk Farms Raceway was the repaving.  The repaving cost nearly a half a million dollars and it caused the good number of Formula Atlantic teams to stop testing at Blackhawk because it no longer was a good track to test and set up racers for rough street courses.  Car people pay a great deal of money for practice time.

[Super Dave]

I understand the frustration completely, but if I owned the track and my insurance went up, or I got sued because of that, I'd do something similar.  

I don't think it has anything to do with frustration.  It's just a cost.  Cost of the track went up when insurance costs went up.  Cost of the track went up when the new pavement went up.  Costs when up when Blackhawk had to hire lawyers in 2001/2002 to make sure that they could make noise, even though the track has been there for nearly 40 years.  Costs went up when IEPA and IDNR showed up and declared Blackhawk a used tire depot and that the tires had a risk for West Nile Disease.  

I think those things get passed through as part of the overall track rental to organizations in the form of entry fees, etc.  However, pit bikes, or however other items might be related, are not entered into races.  These might have a different cost or K&K is starting to view them differently.  

Again, I don't think this is directly related to the hooliganism, but directly related to the injuries.   I've seen them, pit bike injuries, before at other tracks.  

Yeah, the messin' around needs to stop.  Needs to be taken care of, but I don't think it's necessarily related to the $50 pit bike registration.

[HPT]

Still it doesnt clarify if "pit vehicle" includes a STREET TITLED & REGISTERED bike. So if someone brings thier normal streetbike in a trailer is that considered now a "pit bike"?

so long as you have proof of valid registration, and a valid license on the vehicle in question, this would be excluded from the new policy. In this case, standard IDOT rules/laws apply.

[Super Dave]

This program is being extended to all clubs at Blackhawk Farms Raceway, not just motorcycle programs.

[Super Dave]

I was referring to racer's or spectator's frustration here, like watching stunters ride wheelies and dump antifreeze all over the track during lunch while we walk around the pits.

Now that's a separate issue...LOL!

UNIONIZE NOW!

[R1abuser]

I REFUSE to be nickled and dimed... when a race weekend at BHF comes up I will stay home and GOLF !

I have never been associated with anyother hobby that so many people try and get in your pockets in one way or another...