Ok, this has been annoying me on and off for a few years now, so I thought I'd put the subject up for discussion and see what others think.
Over the last couple of decades I've been tooling around in this country attending track days and race events I've noticed the rather amateur and perhaps suicidal approach some people here seem to have to safety both their own, and that of others. It was pointed out to me some time ago that its due to the #8 fencing wire mentality - get a cheap and nasty solution to a problem and ignore everything else - either that or the 'she'll be right' quote can be heard to be said.
By safety I mean the 'prevention of accidents' rather than clearing up the mess after they happen (and this applies to organized as well as informal events). I think perhaps that it really is the time for clubs to start making a collective effort to start improving on this before someone gets killed and the old legal battles start again (as has already happened after a certain pushbike event).
Over the last year or so I've noticed that the problem seems to have gotten worse (when the sbk was here, rules and regs seemed to be very tight, even at local clubs, but it seems to have gotten lax). I've seen riders who have just got bike licenses out doing club days, race starts and proper racing with only a few months’ road experience, let alone track training. No orange bib, nothing. I've seen track marshals that don't have the faintest about what to do in different situations, some even have to wait for someone more senior to tell them what to do - even when there is an injured rider lying in front of them.
The other day I was out at a track and examined a bike, there was a puddle of pet-roil on the back of the engine that had leaked out of the carb (which was running no filter, or catch tank). Not enough to cause any real problem, but enough to show the owner wasn’t really paying too much in the care and consideration to others dept (and I've seen bikes go out pissin petrol with no catch tanks). It seems that once scrutinering has been passed, the bike is never again checked, so could be a disaster waiting to happen later in the day, but 'she'll be right' is often the response given (once I was told by a chap how he managed to fool the scrutineers into getting his bike ok’d – been doing it for years and never harmed anyone).
Recent events in other threads (and some observations) at track days show that people (novices) are being injured, the most common form seems to be those overcooking a corner (a very very basic racing mistake) or dumping it thru cold tires. I don’t think I’ve ever been at a track day and heard at the briefing, what the correct passing rules are (who has the line etc).
Ok, that’s the rant, but what can be done about the situation to improve it.
Well, when I was overseas, one idea was that people should have little passbooks that they register each ride/event in. When they turn up at each event, they have to show the passbook, if they can’t, then they get treated as a novice (even if they are the countries leading racer – soon stops em from forgetting the book).
I have one I have to show when I go skydiving, and Honda used to issue one to their mechanics to show what machines they are trained for, also the ACU used to use one as well (you had to show it when you registered). If you don’t have one you could buy one at the club for a fiver or something. Clubs could keep a copy (members records) or could hold on to the riders/marshals one til the end of the day (to stop em being lost and make sure they are checked). They are good to have for track day enthusiasts as well, its like getting a certificate at the end of the event and something you can banter over at the pub.
Basically, if you marshal at the track, your passbook gets signed by a senior marshal to say what you did. If you attend track marshalling training, it gets signed. That way, people can 'see' your level of experience. Kind of like first aid training, you have to do refreshers every year. I'd like to see clubs do regular marshal training days - and - I’d also like to see the riders turn up to em (no point if waving a flag at someone if they just smile and wave back). Even novice marshals feel good when they get their book signed (bit of a sigh of relieve you made it thru the day).
Orange bibs - should be compulsory for learners - i.e. Those with out signed log books proving they aint learners. In the UK it used to be a year as a novice (with a minimum number of races) then you could be put in C class events, then B class and eventually you might even qualify for international events. They checked when you registered. Not sure what they do now but it’s an idea. At least we would be able to see the mobile chicanes without waking up 10 mins later wondering what happened.
At the end of each race, or event, the riders log book gets signed to show what they did (even for partial days).
Scrutinering, I think there should be random checks throughout the day. Bikes that are seen to be failing should be blocked from racing until they can pass another proper check. It would also be good to see people check basic bits when the bikes are lined up waiting to go out. To be honest I’d also like to see riders checking each others bikes – I know with the friendly attitude in the paddock, if someone is missing a catch tank, there will be others who dig around in their bits box and come up with a solution – racings good like that. But looking out for fellow riders should be a mental attitude and normal way of life, rather than an afterthought because a senior club member said so.
Track days. Log books would be good here. It would make it easier to see who is a first time attendee and who is a regular. And would stop the 'I have a big bike and should be in group A' syndrome that I see often (group A is ex racers or experienced track day people). It would also limit those who start in class C and end up in A because they think they know it all (rather than having written proof). There is absolutely no difference between a track day and a club race to be honest and I think they should at least try to be treated the same. At track days I would like to see a riders briefing, and a riders training session (for novices and for those who forget their log books). Things like making sure you don’t go fast on cold tires, overcooking corners and last session exuberance should be continually harped on about.
I think the people that actually run these events will probably have an idea what I'm talking about, and they have probably seen the odd accident that when you really think about the cause could probably have been prevented or minimized.
Anyway, that’s my rant and some suggestions. And I must point out that I've been to a few events where things have been great with a lot of effort put in to safety and the like. I know how hard it is to organize events as it is, and a lot of it does come down to the attitude of the people that attend, but if the safety mentality is fostered, then the safety attitude tends to follow.
Be interesting to see what other people can come up with or what views others have.
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Originally Posted by scracha
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