I, like most, think of safety at the track as being related to the drivers safety inside the cars. The recent rollover by a racer from the community can be a testimony to the need of a well built car. There wasn’t much left of the car, but he walked away. This is not exactly the safety that I want to talk about.
I want to talk about the tracks‘ and their pit areas. The pits have become more and more dangerous for all that walk around. The pit areas are dark, way to dark. For the life of me, I don’t understand why the owners don’t see what the concern is, oh wait, they can’t see because it’s too “dark”. Now I know I’m not the smartest guy in the world, I know it cost to turn the lights on, but what is the value of everyone’s safety as they enter, sit in, or walk around in the pits. Here’s that “catch” thing again, what exactly does that disclaimer form say that I sign before entering the pits. Hmmm.
Once the sun sets in the West, and I learned that while attending school in the public school system, the pits get dark. Now don’t misunderstand me, there are a few lights in the pits, just not near enough. In today’s environment, you not only have to dodge race cars coming off the track either after the race or coming in to change a flat, but you have to dodge 4 wheelers. Over the last few years, the 4 wheeler has become the motorized choice for walking around the pits. Frankly, I don’t understand what it is that makes parents give one to their kids and then let them drive around and around and around, I think you get my drift, the pits and at a speed that makes it unsafe for pedestrians as well as the riders. I’ve come close to hitting one myself a couple of times, once while inside my race car, now that will increase your heart rate to say the least. This is not a park or riverbed or even a daycare, there needs to be a restriction on the 4 wheelers in the pits and it needs to be enforced.
I call for track owners to “light up” the pits, put restrictions on 4 wheelers in the pits and to enforce the restrictions. Let’s all do our part in making the pit areas safe for both the racer and the spectator.
Sooner 44
October 30, 2009 at 7:06 am |
Safety sould be the first concideration in any decision, and this is a no brainer. Anyone under 18 should not be on a four wheeler and they should only be used in case a car won’t start or to push a car to the lineup area. Someone had a gator type vehicle out there a few weeks ago and had a young girl driving them around. She nearly hit several people and was nearly hit by cars twice. She was luckey that we were looking out for them.
January 17, 2010 at 9:30 am |
I totally agree that fourwheelers and other such vehicles are a becoming more of a problem especially since these types of recreation vehicles are more affordable through import trading. Not to mention the fact that some parents use the pit pass, $10 and ATV with a full tank as a sitter. However, I find it really hard to tell a young person that they are old enough to drive a racecar and become the track champ but they can’t use the fourwheeler to go to the bathroom, drivers meeting or check the lineup….. The issue really isn’t just all or none.