Truck in the race line Turn 12

[RMGSXR124]

Let me get this straight. There was a bike/rider down in a hazardous location? They didn't want anyone hitting this person or safety workers? So they put a 5000 lb. metal barricade in front of them? On the race track? In the race line? How long was it between the crash and placing the truck there? What do they have against red flags?

[cbr806]

Let me get this straight. There was a bike/rider down in a hazardous location? They didn't want anyone hitting this person or safety workers? So they put a 5000 lb. metal barricade in front of them? On the race track? In the race line? How long was it between the crash and placing the truck there? What do they have against red flags?

That's right - The only way it could have been worse would have been if the truck was further on the track or crossways on the track.  I was on the exit of the corner where you'd touch the out-side rumble strip, but you couldn't, as the truck was there three feet onto the track beyond the rumble strip.  In THE place your momentum will take you if you crash anywhere in that corner but the entrance of the corner.  The rider was over by the wall as was the ambulance (a little further down track).

If you were in the race and didn't think it required a red flag - I hope I never piss you off in a race - because you're crazy.  If you were not in the race, I don't know if you can really appreciate it.  It was a creepy feeling.

Again - what if the first rider had gone down due to a spot of oil/coolant???  National news - multiple fatality accident ...

My opinion - just trying to make it safer in the future.

[Johnson]

I was also in that race, and the fact that there was NOT a red flag thrown was absoulutely rediculous. The first of several times that I passed the truck, I would estimate that my left knee was within 3-4 feet of the rear corner of  the truck........scary!!  I toned it down a bit after that, but thinking back, I was a bit irate at the time that the truck was still there lap after lap, and still no red flag.

IMO The absolute only safe scenario there was a red flag. That was an extremely weak move by whoever was in charge, and we can only hope that whoever that is, now realizes that.

[Super_KC124]

Same thing happend at the 2nd Joliet race last year. LWGP maybe? 1st lap crash at the right hander at the end of the back straight. A FSUA Thunderbike regular crashed and ended up laying in the impact zone. The ambulance parked in the impact zone and stayed there the whole race. No red flag either.  Very fast entry into that corner. WTF?

[G 97]

Garth, I like and respect you, but must disagree.  I've actually worked as the voice of control in the tower at Road America for a CCS racing event, and know the procedure firsthand.  Carson works seperately from CCS, and calls his own shots concerning the dispatch and recall of his safety vehicles, pausing only to wait for the CCS workers to get the necessary flags up.  CCS DOES NOT dictate ANYTHING to Carson.  (Who also happens to be a buddy of mine.)
About the only aspect CCS had control of once that vehicle rolled was that they could have red flagged the race if they didn't like where the ambulance was sitting.  I didn't see the incident, but have experienced similar situations as a racer, a worker, and as the wounded rider twitching in the gravel pit.  In this type of incident, the racers are responsible for seeing the flags, assessing the situation, and riding through the scene accordingly.  Those are the rules as taught in Learning Curves.  Like it or not, this whole situation sounds like proper prociedure to me!

I guess we will have to agree to disagree then.  I'm not debating procedure only stating that when I have ran over 20 events At Road America employing the exact same crew that CCS does.  Prior to each event there is a discussion held addressing rider gets offs, crash truck and ambulance procedure, red flags etc.  In other words the renting organization can influence procedure.   It very may well have been RA's call but with that being said CCS condoned/allowed it.   

[EmerWil]

just out of curiousity...

1) how much distance was there between the vehicle parked on the race surface and the downed rider?

2) was there a reason that the vehicle had not pulled off the race surface to be closer to the downed rider?

3) was the race past half way?

[Zippy]

Actually, safety crew safety trumps racer safety.  If the truck was there to protect the people trying to help the rider, that would be the correct priority.  Some racers might like to have their safety put first, ahead of the corner workers.  I can understand the desire, but as a racer, you are accepting a greater risk than the safety crew is accepting.   Wasn't this just an implimentation of that reality? 

Remember, the corner workers are barely paid, wear no safety gear, and don't get the thrills that racers get.  They are only there because they want to keep the racers safe.  But we're not going to put them in harms way as payment for their altruism.

[Super Dave]

Hey, Zippy, I agree with some of it.

As racers, we'd don't get paid.  We actually spend unbelieveable amounts of money.  Without racers, there is no need for a track, a racing body, etc.  Because there are racers, whole cottage industries are developed.  If there were no racers, there would be no need for air fences and things like that.

I totally agree that a cornerworkers potential for risk is very high.  As a result of that peril, protection can be provided to reduce your potential for physical damage. 

But, if that places something in a location that places all racers in risk, I think it should be shut down.  That reduces your risk and the risk to a very large group of racers that are at speed.

[motobenco]

Actually to make sure everyone is on the same page we should have a rider / cornerworker / safety crew meeting. Everyone can express their concerns and understand what each persons responsibility or position entails for the weekend.