Iowa track unsafe?

[Mongo]

It's up to the track to make the changes if they want to or can.  It's up to the orgs to schedule or not based on their view as to it being safe enough.  Then it's up to the riders to choose to race there or not. 

[Court Jester]

i'm not saying it's right. i wouldn't file suit on anyone over something like that. but it could happen and it may be ten years down the road, but sooner or later, it likely will.
12 million for spilling coffee on your own lap because of your own mistake says what the chances are. 

[Super Dave]

Oh, don't worry, it already happens.  No need to wait.

[251am]

It's up to the track to make the changes if they want to or can.  It's up to the orgs to schedule or not based on their view as to it being safe enough.  Then it's up to the riders to choose to race there or not. 

  OK, thanks Sean. Any suggestions, short of boycotts, for making safety changes happen? I think everybody would rather race, but there's some safety changes that gotta happen-even if it's in a 2-3 year window.   

[Mongo]

Put it in writing and send it to the sanctioning body.  Then it's up to them to deal with the track one way or another.  You could send them to the track too but that tends to put the sanctioning body in a bind depending on the letters, it's not that hard for a track to just not offer us dates and some will do it over letters that they feel are accusing them of being dangerous.

[Ducmarc]

isn't a track school out in willow springs being sued on behalf of a rider? my friend was named in a suit when a rider was killed at moroso. it's not the riders they know the risk it's their families that don't understand and don't believe in the risk.my wife loves racing but believes that many of the risks can and should be lowered. if something would happen i'm not sure she would not find fault.

[wvracer97]

As one of the racers that were injured at Iowa, I'd like to say a few things..........



Racing motorcycles is a professional sport, which most of all dictates a professional attitude with professional decisions.

This sport is not easy, nor is it for the faint of heart... otherwise everyone would do it.  There are inherent risks that come with the territory and it seems like most of you haven't figured this out yet.  I have found that 99% of the people that stand around all weekend and bitch about the track are the slow guys-- the glorified track day squids that don't understand what it takes to compete at the next level.  So bitch away and let the professionals do what we do.  Bitch to your hottie girfriends now, 'cause if you ever find the maturity and dedication to be fast at ANY venue, they won't be around for long.  AND that's because it takes commitment and sacrifice that, suprisingly enough, takes more than a shiney bike and fancy leathers.

True professionals assess risk, maximize the opportunities a track has to offer, and use their brain to race smartly and competitively.  They DO NOT cry about "what if's" and "end-around" a racing org that's trying to change the face of American road racing.

SO, as I sit here with facial contusions, a hole in my elbow, bruised ribs, bruised lungs, a mild concussion, and a sprained knee......

ROGER EDMONDSON HAS OUR FULL SUPPORT AT EVERY VENUE.  BECAUSE WE ARE RACERS, AND DEALING WITH THE GOOD AND BAD IS WHAT WE ARE EXPECTED TO DO.

  off

[Scotty Ryan]

As one of the racers that were injured at Iowa, I'd like to say a few things..........



Racing motorcycles is a professional sport, which most of all dictates a professional attitude with professional decisions.

This sport is not easy, nor is it for the faint of heart... otherwise everyone would do it.  There are inherent risks that come with the territory and it seems like most of you haven't figured this out yet.  I have found that 99% of the people that stand around all weekend and bitch about the track are the slow guys-- the glorified track day squids that don't understand what it takes to compete at the next level.  So bitch away and let the professionals do what we do.  Bitch to your hottie girfriends now, 'cause if you ever find the maturity and dedication to be fast at ANY venue, they won't be around for long.  AND that's because it takes commitment and sacrifice that, suprisingly enough, takes more than a shiney bike and fancy leathers.

True professionals assess risk, maximize the opportunities a track has to offer, and use their brain to race smartly and competitively.  They DO NOT cry about "what if's" and "end-around" a racing org that's trying to change the face of American road racing.

SO, as I sit here with facial contusions, a hole in my elbow, bruised ribs, bruised lungs, a mild concussion, and a sprained knee......

ROGER EDMONDSON HAS OUR FULL SUPPORT AT EVERY VENUE.  BECAUSE WE ARE RACERS, AND DEALING WITH THE GOOD AND BAD IS WHAT WE ARE EXPECTED TO DO.

  off

Amen brother - and how about our late night adventures getting lost in Desss Moinessss???? Good times man - Hope you heal up and see you soon.... Lata

[howlieboy]

agreed, racing is not for the faint of heat.   But the bottom line is, most of us do it for "fun" not a profession.  For most newer racers, until you have the "big one" you  don't realize how dangerous the sport can be.  When I first raced at Gateway, I thought it was awesome.  I didn't understand that crashing really hurts and what walls did to motorcycles.  Most of us aren't doing this for a living, the rest of us do it for fun.  I firmly believe it is up to the experienced racers who have been in the sport for awhile to speak our minds and make all the newer people aware of the dangers to better inform them of the potential risks of certain tracks.  I am amazed that when I talk with new racers, they don't even see walls.  While I wish it wasn't in the back of my mind, I'm glad it is to keep me alive. 
Bottom line... I totally agree you and only you decide to race.  If something bad happens, its because YOU made the decision to RACE.  YOU KNOW the risks, don't blame brakes, other rider etc... because you got hurt.  If the track is considered dangerous by the "expert" riders don't race!!  Everything has it's risks.  It's up to you to determine if you are willing to operate within those "risks" 

[Super_KC124]

As one of the racers that were injured at Iowa, I'd like to say a few things..........



Racing motorcycles is a professional sport, which most of all dictates a professional attitude with professional decisions.

This sport is not easy, nor is it for the faint of heart... otherwise everyone would do it.  There are inherent risks that come with the territory and it seems like most of you haven't figured this out yet.  I have found that 99% of the people that stand around all weekend and bitch about the track are the slow guys-- the glorified track day squids that don't understand what it takes to compete at the next level.  So bitch away and let the professionals do what we do.  Bitch to your hottie girfriends now, 'cause if you ever find the maturity and dedication to be fast at ANY venue, they won't be around for long.  AND that's because it takes commitment and sacrifice that, suprisingly enough, takes more than a shiney bike and fancy leathers.

True professionals assess risk, maximize the opportunities a track has to offer, and use their brain to race smartly and competitively.  They DO NOT cry about "what if's" and "end-around" a racing org that's trying to change the face of American road racing.

SO, as I sit here with facial contusions, a hole in my elbow, bruised ribs, bruised lungs, a mild concussion, and a sprained knee......

ROGER EDMONDSON HAS OUR FULL SUPPORT AT EVERY VENUE.  BECAUSE WE ARE RACERS, AND DEALING WITH THE GOOD AND BAD IS WHAT WE ARE EXPECTED TO DO.

  off

Bottom line, if you don't think it's safe, don't race.

That being said, your saying that you have to be a profesional racer to complain? You have to be a profesional racer to be injured or killed? San Jose BMW are just track day squids for protesting? Just wondering.

[p3afoster61]

Thanks Scotty Ryan, and especially my team-mate Scott Harwood for your posts. To answer an earlier post: Nascar 1 & 2 are fifth-gear pinned, knee down, as Scott and Scotty can verify.  I,m guessing with gearing that that's somewhere in the 120 mph range. Second Parriot was NOT fined for deciding not to race.  He was fined for trying to organize a rider's boycott.  This was made perfectly clear at an unscheduled impromptu meeting called by Roger Edmonson himself.  At this meeting Roger sincerely expressed his respect for any rider's decision not to race at a venue where he judged the risk to high.  But he firmly stressed that organizing a boycott crossed the line. It's tantamount to taking a shit on the whole series.  When you consider what the local community had invested in the speedway, what we teams have invested in the series, and what MOTO-ST and their sponsors have invested in hard work and cash, a boycott would have dealt a crippling blow to the prestige and credibility of the series. As it was, Roger told us at the meeting, that a track-promoter had traveled 800 miles to meet with Roger.  He was interested in hosting an event and posting prize money.  With the ongoing rumors of a boycott he was getting cold feet.  For those of you who were not there, it is important for you to understand that although we (MOTO-ST competitors) were there with both the Rolex GT and Daytona Prototypes, some teams with multi-million dollar budgets and some drivers with F1 experience, WE WERE THE FEATURE SHOW. As such we were treated to a pre-race autograph session where there were so many people waiting in line they had to eventually close it off. The AMA would be envious of that line of fans.
     Perhaps you can begin to see what was at stake.  Yes the track is dangerous.  Nonetheless almost everyone of us personally decided to assume this risk, with the new prestige of our series as the featured event as a large factor in our decision.
      Is Roger Edmonson perfect? No. But he is forthright, upstanding, visionary, extremely well-spoken, and inspirational. (Scott Harwood commented to me how moved he was by Roger's speech at the meeting.) We are damned lucky to have someone with his class, commitment, and charisma behind this new series.
     By the way, according to RW, Parriot has apologized and his fine was negotiated in half.  Note also that all of the fine was to be paid , by Roger's request, to a children's charity (Newman's Whole-in-the-wall Gang.)
     I hope that  those of you who were beginning to see MOTO-ST as an evil organization can begin to see things differently. It is an organization with great potential, being led by an accomplished visionary through first year growing pains. I, like Scott Harwood, am firmly supportive of Roger Edmonson. I'd also like to thank all the Canadians from PMP for being simply wonderful to work with regarding tech and the running of the races.

                                                                                      John Foster, Entrant:
                                                                                          #60 Team Ducati Indianoplis
                                                                                           #60 Team Mid-Illini Motorsports

P.S. Harwood,  heal quickly brother!

[Ducmarc]

I don't consider the series or  Roger evil .I had planned participating this summer until my injury and hope to next year  It's a series that a club guy can do on a moderate budget (compared to AMA)I think it's great that it gets the press it does and I wish it would get some TV time.and every series has a track that is perceived more dangerous than the others I don't think there's any correlation between safe tracks , unsafe tracks and the injury rate  I seem to get hurt worse at the (safe) tracks because I push harder.and I am not very lucky. seems they are all unsafe and Iowa was just untested. But as usual the thread drifted of to generalizations and so have I . love those darvasets