Blackhawk airfence

[sryan296]

Was it just me or was there a lack of airfence at blackhawk this weekend? I know there was'nt any in turn 2 and it was bugging the S@#T out me!

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Well theres never been any at turn 2.  4 and 5 are the only corners with airfences. But the track is looking into some new stuff that is 1/3rd the price of the ones they have and are supposed to be able to be used with cars (to show how durable they are) and bikes and are more locally made. The ones they have are custom made by a London company.

[sryan296]

I did notice the airfence at 4, But it's not enough they really need to move that guardrail in 4 and 5 back. They might lose some paddock space but I don't think it would  be to exspensive.

[Sobottka]

seems like the airfence in 4 is in the wrong spot... ive seen lots of crashes there and never seen anyone hit the airfence???

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Well moving that fence back would be pricey (theres ALOT of dirt behind the concrete wall the tires sit in front of), but would be a good idea.

[weggieman]

sryan296 and robsob.... obviously you guys are new to Blackhawk.......

Correct, there never was air fence in 2 and yes, I agree there should be some there. I have made my suggestions known to the owners about turn 2 but so far no progress. If done right there would be no need for air fence in that area at all.

I don't know but since that air fence went up in 4 and 5 I have seen a lot of riders hit that fence in 4. Ask around and I think you'll find that to be true. before the change to the carousel there were a lot more bikes and riders into that wall.

A few years ago by my persuasion the track owners cut down 18 trees in turn 5 and moved that guard rail back at least 15-20 ft. in the entrance to 5.  At the apex to exit of 5 there is a ravine and creek that impedes any more movement back. They did move the railing back about 6 feet in that area but due to limitations that was it. The state DNR has a lot to say about messing with waterways. At the same time runoff all around the track was improved along with the entrance to pit road widened by a large margin.

The air fence being used is from Air Fence in Australia. It is called Air Fence Bike and was developed to be easily moved on and off track so it could be readily placed when bikes are using the track and removed when cars are on track.

Air Fence Bike is good stuff if it is maintained properly which Blackhawks has not. A lot of it needs repair. I volunteered and spent three days at the track building that stuff with the US rep for Air Fence, Mike Irwin, Jan Bloom and a couple other ocassional helpers. After that the track was supposed to maintain it. Well, they haven't kept up their end.

About a year ago I saw a list (dream sheet) of all the modifications/improvements that were supposed to be done at Blackhawk and they included a lot of track work. What got done? Some partial repaving and they took out the pay showers and did a little work in the rest rooms.

The sheet I saw had new showers, new rest rooms, new med shed, new almost everything.......if it's going to happen it's a long way off.

This is not the place to complain though. You need to direct your comments with accurate facts to the track owners. Make good suggestions with a possible solution, don't just complain.

[cbr806]

Yup - I've seen the fence in 4 used many times & 5 once this year.

[JBraun]

this guy thinks there should be more airfence in five-------->http://www.scooterphoto.com/id29.html
I heard he was okay.

[Jeff]

That pic is of T4, and airfence is not the problem there.

The solution would be to bring the run-off area up level with the track.  The fact that the track has a lip and the run-off falls away equals a launch pad.  The problem then goes into where the spectator line is, etc.

The airfence in T4 was and is in the correct place.  It's straight off of the corner, where the most velocity will be absorbed should a rider go straight off.  Does it happen?  Yes.  I went head-first into the tire wall in that corner.  I was lucky and only compressed a couple of vertebrae in my neck.  I thought my neck was broken...

Airfence is for the rider, not the bike.  The tirewall and barrels are for the bike.

More airfence is not really the answer in T4 at BHF.  Some significant work leveling out the area and moving the spectator line back is...  And this isn't something that BHF is oblivious of.  They know this is one of the most risky areas of the track for a rider.

[r1owner]

More airfence is not really the answer in T4 at BHF.  Some significant work leveling out the area and moving the spectator line back is...  And this isn't something that BHF is oblivious of.  They know this is one of the most risky areas of the track for a rider.

Why don't they do it then?  How much does it cost to move that fencing back?  I would imagine they could do that in a week or two.  I believe there are several trees that would need to be cut down as well.

I agree, it's obvious that turn needs more run off.

[sryan296]

I'm not new to blackhawk and neither is Rob. It's just that now that I've got a kid,house,etc. those tire walls just seem a lot closer   

[Jeff]

It's not just about moving fence back.  The track is by my estimation about 4 feet higher than the ground at the fence.  So, now you move the fence back and push dirt in to level the track off with the runoff.  So what you have now, is a spectator area that is instantly lower than the track and runoff which is unacceptably dangerous.

So...  They can either bring in or push around enough dirt to level that area out entirely, or they'd have to move the armco, concrete wall and fence back far enough to allow a flat run-off, and then a gradual descent into the spectator area.

It's not as simple as it seems...