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kal · Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 22 Location: Greenwood, SC

This is being discussed on several message boards do to the passing of another young rider. To me, it sounds like a great simple concept that should make any track using it safer. I know that most the tracks in D4 follow the concept of seperating practices, but thought I would pass it on anyways.

http://ktmtalk.com/index.php?showtopic=278598

Kal

Here is the artical. Sorry didn't know you had to be a member to view it.

saw this on a couple other forums. It looks like a move in the right direction.

http://www.motodrive.com/forum/viewtopic.p...php?f=2&t=51808

http://www.motodrive.com/forum/viewtopic.p...php?f=2&t=51820

Simple suggestion for big bike killing little kids problem
by whipmeister on Sun Mar 23, 2008 10:37 am

Hearing this stuff tears me up. And it's not getting better. I've listened to all the 'freedom of choice' advocates who, basically, don't think anything should change and push the burden of responsibility onto the kid and his/her parents to make the proper choices about whether to ride or not.

Guess what? That ain't working. Kids young enough to ride 65s aren't mature enough to curb their enthusiasm with the simple logic that they might get hurt. And parents often put their trust in the notion that they are paying fees to ride at organized events run by track management people that have experience structuring things to prevent obvious safety issues. Sometimes the parents aren't even present, as kids frequently go riding with friends. Well, guess what? Many tracks aren't as proactive as some might expect.

I think track owners have an implicit responsibility they assume as soon as they open their gate and start charging money to ride. They CAN and SHOULD apply a little common sense to how they organize practice sessions. Too often we hear how they can't afford to hire flaggers and med techs, that there often aren't enough riders to split practices, etc. I get that, I really do. But just throwing open the gate and filling the coffee can with cash is not enough, either. Signs advising there are no flaggers or paramedics and to 'ride at your own risk' is not quite enough. You can do more and it won't cost you anything but a little time, some paint, word of mouth and some monitoring and encouragement in the beginning to get everyone to know the program. If it catches on in the riding community, it will help. It's not a guarantee, but I think it will improve the risk.

I propose the LAST 20 RULE. Create and post this sign at every track entrance. If you really want to improve it, add one of those cheap battery-powered clocks somewhere on the sign at the finish line. Go around and remind people in the pits about it. Put it on your flyers. Make sure that everyone in the riding community has heard about LAST 20. It'll cost you very little and reward you with a little peace of mind.

This one, simple, cheap, step could save a couple of little kids. It leaves the ultimate responsibility in the hands of the riders, but suggests a simple common sense approach. 40 minutes of every hour for the grown ups. 20 minutes for the kiddos. Tweak it, if you want. It's just an idea. Make it the FIRST 20 RULE or the FIRST 15 RULE or KIDS RULE THE FIRST 20. But I think this could really improve the odds if it catches on.

willierides · Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 43 Location: Waverly NY

Looks like you have to joing ktmtalk to view it. Rolling Eyes

Dirtman812 · Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Posts: 18

kal,
very nice post, alot of folks don't know the dangers of a "free for all". most adult mxers look out for the little guys, but it is hard to do at the different speeds that happen between a little bike and a big one. not to mention blind spots. the first 20 works for me, after the track is ran in,because after all the little guys are what it's really all about!

steve 812

BKehoe05 · Joined: 12 Jan 2008 Posts: 46 Location: Wellsboro, PA

I have to agree with this insite. It is a growing concern and is something that should be taken seriously.

I do believe though that Miles Mountain covers this during their practices. They split it up pretty well during practice days. Specifically, on the quad track I believe it goes 20 minutes for big quads, 20 minutes for little quads, and 20 minutes for little bikes. Don't quote me on it but I believe they split it up for the bikes too. I don't know how Mapleshade or other tracks like it run though.
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willierides · Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 43 Location: Waverly NY

Practice at Miles is definitely well-run and broken up into groups. Even if there are only a few riders, it's broken up at least by big bikes and little bikes. Usually it's A & B together, C and mini's (separately). Makes it nice and you still get all kinds of track time. I love practice days at Miles. I hope more tracks get into it and hold open practices more often, not just the day before a race.

kal · Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 22 Location: Greenwood, SC

I agree the tracks in D4 have noramlly followed a similar concept, but we have been to other places that do a free for all or even 50's with 85 and 150's, which I think is a accident waiting to happen. Since moving down here I have noticed that NC has started legislation to ban little bikes with big bikes.

I just posted so that people new to the sport think about things such as this before sending their child out with everyone thinking all is well. I have read to many times in the last year of such accidents and it tears me up when they are things such of this that could easily have been prevented.

We should be up in June, hope to see ya'll up at Miles in a few months.

Kal