BHF Crashfest

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

I just got the 5th degree from my mgr at work about riding a motorcycle.  ::)

[motomadness]

In my first statement I said #58 was passed cleanly, that was not the case.  If you read the statements following that, you will see that I meant the negative.  I think #58 got punted off, but my crash was my fault, I was doing the passing.

[cstem]

Wow, I just sat here and read all five pages!!  Here is my $.25 ;)

As far as HJC helmets, Corey Sarros split his open at Streets of Willow and did not hit a solid object (besides the ground) and now yours is crushed?  I put my vote in for no HJC- maybe there is a reason Shoei and Arai cost more?  

As far as "that's racing", I have a viewpoint here based on many types of racing and over 20 years working motorcycle roadracing (7 announcing so I see what happens out there).  Take the case of a guy trying to make a pass on the inside over the patch.  One guy says the patch is a no passing zone, another not involvedd in the crash says it is okay and has traction.  Maybe the dude that smacked you had been on that line all day and just happened to freak when passing you?  I see a lot of riders complaining that " he is not in the line and trying to pass"- well maybe that is the new line and he or she can get it right.  Note, usually hear this when the complainer just lost a money race to the 'offender'.  Before anyone gets their panties on a wad- remember I am speculating and opinionating- besides, wadding panties is no way to take care of them.  Now the other crash- a dude riding a wheelie, carrying too far then not able to make the turn safely.  Well in my CCS rule book it says no wheelies!  So this guy is definitely in the wrong and that is not a 'racing' incident.  If I saw that- a DQ and possibly more would be on the table.  
Dave and others are right, when contingency or cash are on the line- the riding gets more aggressive. If you do not like aggressive riding, try a class where there is no contingency or cash being given (I mean big four money- not brake or tire bucks).  Or petition to stay an amatuer.  Note, amatuers are watched closely inthe SW region as it is a 'learning' class.  We hold our experts to high standards and try to counsel, harrangue or fine the molesters of the safe racing rules.  Safe racing is not track day rules, Dave hit that right on the head and I noticed that too.  

Now as far as kicking a rider who is trying to pass (I mean a real kick- not lifting a foot from outside peg to freak the passer out) if I see that, the kicker will have their ass kicked off the track for life.  (I do remember my buddy Roger dragging his left palm on the track through a bumpy left hairpin at Firebird and guys behind him going bananas!  Good stuff)

So I stop with this- When racing in an expert class for money or vouchers, whether or not you are 1st or 21st, even if you don't want a $10 dollar check- the guy behind you might, and you should be ready to either hold him off or let him by.  If you are the guy wanting to pass- take your chances but with a calculated risk, and don't be an insensitive idiot for a freakin' wood plaque and a few bones.  

To the riders who were injured- no matter how badly or how it happened- get well soon, see you at the races-cuz we know you can't stay away!! ;D

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

 One guy says the patch is a no passing zone, another not involvedd in the crash says it is okay and has traction.  Maybe the dude that smacked you had been on that line all day and just happened to freak when passing you?  I see a lot of riders complaining that " he is not in the line and trying to pass"- well maybe that is the new line and he or she can get it right.  Note, usually hear this when the complainer just lost a money race to the 'offender'.

     Just in case you missed it previously I mentioned that the patch was about 1 foot wide and is on the inner most edge of the track, so with me leaned over another motorcycle physically isn't going to fit thru there. Benji is probably right about the patch being able to be used as good race surface, he would know since he was on fire that weekend. Also that race was not a money race as far as I was concerned, maybe for others though. The line I was taking was the line I normally take on that bike, it allows someone faster to pass me on either the inside or outside at the exit of the turn, I wasn't trying to block anyone by holding an extremely tight line, but that was exploited by this individual.

     I am just writing off this incident as a learning experience and am going to be glued to the inside from now on in that turn. If someone wants to pass me in the future at that point their going to be going around me on the outside, more power to them if they can pull it off!  :)

[r6_philly]

cstem very good words!

I don't really want to make a big deal out of and be viewed as a whiner, and it didn't seem like officials at the track was very much interested in looking into my incident anyway (well maybe they just didn't know what happened really) and I don't really feel good to go and complain about it the next time we go racing (is that correct?)

I would have liked to see T4 at summit point being mentioned at riders meeting and tell everyone to watch there speed going into that turn because a lot of people misjudge lines/speed and end up making a mistake, and there is a concrete wall 50 feel off the racing surface. I would also would have been extremely satisfied to see the offender at least being talked to. I don't necessarily want to see anyone reprimanded, but I felt that some action should have been taken by the officals to make sure this doesn't happen again. It has been very hard to swallow this one so far because doesn't seem like anyone was interested in the whole situation because I wasn't injured (badly).

Last year I was ran into at the same place by another rider, crashed hard into the wall and broke my pelvis and arm and got knocked out for quite a while. But I was not angry about that because the person who ran into me made the best effort to apologize to me and helped me anyway he could.To me that is sportsman like and I really appreciated it, even though I was harmed more so in that incident.

[cstem]

Mike, I did misunderstand your line in the corner, but you have it right now.  Make whoever is going to pass you make the pass, no where is the rule book does it state that you must make it easier for someone to get by.  It does however clearly state that it is the overtaking riders responsibility to safely pass other traffic.

Philly, at your nest riders meeting pipe up.  I bet you will find some agreement witht the other riders.  Also, when you see an infraction- calmly let the officials know.  Good officials will watch the guy and see what is up.  I tell riders to talk to the offender first, because coming from a rider it is a peer talking to them.  When a official does, it is the 'man' getting down on him.  But let the officials know, they can't see everything, especially where youguys race due to the number of entries you get- they are probably busier than a one legged man in a ass kicking contest.  

[Super Dave]

Make whoever is going to pass you make the pass, no where is the rule book does it state that you must make it easier for someone to get by.

Bingo...

By leaving room at the apex, you ensure that you won't have enough room at the exit, for someone...

The line is picked by a faster rider before a slower rider picks his.

But I don't think that Mike was being passed by a "faster" rider;  it was a competitor.

I've made the 6 Gate pass on Larry Denning before.  It's a small window, and I had to be confident in making it stick.  I though the little patch was a fair bit more slick than the regular pavement, but I wasn't hitting it regularly either.  Anyway...

We have a number of the offender?  Sometimes bad things follow people.  
 ???

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

We have a number of the offender?  Sometimes bad things follow people.  
 ???

     I never saw the number on his plate, and I can't remember what color the front of the bike was, but I do remember seeing the white number plate background. I think the only real reason I would want to know who it was now is to see what he does in the future and not trust him like I do the majority of the other experts if near him on the track in the future.

[Super Dave]

I'm with ya...

Sometimes some riders just ride a certain weird way...and we recognize it, but maybe we don't talk about it.  

If we can put together who it was, well, we might have some ideas on riding strategy...