Sick of watching riders get hurt due to unsafe race tracks
- Thread starter Dead
- Start date
Germany
New Member
some of the midwest guys are fast dudes....
I think the owner of the track would be all for it, but the cost are probably more than he will be able to come up with, we are talking about more money than he spend to buy the track and he already put a lot back in it.
I could bet if the track would be deemed unsafe for motorcycles by whomever, it would be the end of motorcycles at blackhawk.
The air fence is there, but with everything in safety, the fence helps, but does not totally take the risk out of it. I have seen people hit that fence with 100+ mph, and the fence will reduce the impact, but not make it as if nothing ever happened...
sorry for the uhm.... I did't look at your location until after I posted...
j_fuggin_t
Member
don't forget to add that little bit that you did sunday about tracks refusing our money because they don't want to maintain it
It's not a scale drawing but you'll get the picture.
Search for Rockton Bog Nature Preserve,
http://www.satelliteviews.net/cgi-bin/g.cgi?fid=2054041&state=IL&ftype=park
switch to maps and you see where that preserve boundary lines are, it will also show you the walls when you zoom in on satellite view.
design-engine
Member
I have a pdf i can upload ... I'm at the Rockford Memorial Hospital and just learned there were two air lifts that weekend. With that money the track could bribe the water table authorities.
design-engine
Member
Who is the contact person at the Army Corps of Engineers? He needs a letter or a bribe or both. I would donate a thousand dollars. Where do I send the check? Fred?
gkotlin
New Member
Motorcyclists are just part of the tracks revenue. Just because we are vocal and willing to help, doesn't mean we'll be heard. Cars would rather have the inside guard rails in some areas. They spin out in a corner and can go inwards towards guard rails. How often does a car crash in turn 4? I don't know.
Cars also dislike gravel traps. Cars dig into the grave and then roll. So I don't know that the car patrons want gravel in all the corner exits.
Just some other things to think about.
I appreciate the discussion. But you all have to realize, this is not new news. The track has to balance where their time and money is spent. By no means should anyone think that the owner of the track is not aware of these issues and does not care. From what I hear second hand, he has been VERY receptive to the needs of motorcyclists at the facility since taking over ownership. He is a car racer and has been coming to to the track for a long time, so he is aware of our cause.
As with most things in life, we'll have a better chance of getting support and making changes if we present a solution, not just reiterate the problem. That doesn't mean say "move the wall back." But laying out a plan, taking time to research the issues and quoting a cost for the work. A LOT more time and money then I'm sure any one person wants to donate. We've come a long way. There didn't used to be a bus stop! SCARY. The track has done a great amount to make the track better and safer. Please remember that before you take your stance. We need to work with them to develop a long term plan. It would be terrible if they just closed the doors to motorcycles.
I'm glad to see this discussion. Let's keep in on track and focused and perhaps future fund raisers will be for improvements and not air fence. We've put the band aids on, now maybe we need to really work hard to keep from getting the cuts in the first place. (Figuratively of course)
Cars also dislike gravel traps. Cars dig into the grave and then roll. So I don't know that the car patrons want gravel in all the corner exits.
Just some other things to think about.
I appreciate the discussion. But you all have to realize, this is not new news. The track has to balance where their time and money is spent. By no means should anyone think that the owner of the track is not aware of these issues and does not care. From what I hear second hand, he has been VERY receptive to the needs of motorcyclists at the facility since taking over ownership. He is a car racer and has been coming to to the track for a long time, so he is aware of our cause.
As with most things in life, we'll have a better chance of getting support and making changes if we present a solution, not just reiterate the problem. That doesn't mean say "move the wall back." But laying out a plan, taking time to research the issues and quoting a cost for the work. A LOT more time and money then I'm sure any one person wants to donate. We've come a long way. There didn't used to be a bus stop! SCARY. The track has done a great amount to make the track better and safer. Please remember that before you take your stance. We need to work with them to develop a long term plan. It would be terrible if they just closed the doors to motorcycles.
I'm glad to see this discussion. Let's keep in on track and focused and perhaps future fund raisers will be for improvements and not air fence. We've put the band aids on, now maybe we need to really work hard to keep from getting the cuts in the first place. (Figuratively of course)
Thinkmoto
New Member
As a Trackday noob this year, I have never once felt in danger at BHF. I think the track is safe and greatly appreciate Nesba's efforts with the airfencing. In all honesty if someone feels its not safe, go home and don't ride there. Compared to some of the MX tracks around WI/IL its far safer at BHF.
I apologize if i offended anyone by starting this thread. I wasn't trying to talk smack. And Tom and the safety crew at Blackhawk do a great job. Were also doing an excellent job with the air fence. It greatly reduces injury. Maybe I should have worded what I was trying to say differently. I'm not a wall moving engineer, i just think it shouldn't cost that much to move a wall. They can repave an entire track for $100,000. I looked at Blackhawk via google maps and it looks like the nature preserve is on the outside of the track. The main 2 areas that concern me are Turn 2 & 5 which would require cutting down trees on the inside of the track. It just sucks that people have to get hurt because of walls. Thanks,
Kyle
Kyle
j_fuggin_t
Member
if they could repave a track for a mere 100k i can tell you 100% it would be repaved every 2-3 years, unfortunately i don't know the cost & blackhawk was repaved i believe in 06, but when you do as many events and as many car events as they do the pavement will suffer (please see turn 1 & turn 7)
