Drug testing?

[haydes55]

but there are many over the counter remidies that contain banned SUBSTANCES, have you seen the list of every banned drug, its pretty dam long,

my point is, we are amatuer competitors, spending shit loads of money racing things in circles, if i take an over the counter hay fever tablet which has a banned Performance Enhancing Drug in it, its really no advantage, but could put a competitor out with a 2 year ban,

(and your 100K prize money figure is a bit over the top, show me one speedway meeting that pays that, about 50K is the highest i have seen since the Kihikihi Superstock Champs Debacle a few years ago)

there are also over the counter alternatives which don't contain banned substances. It's not a performance issue it's a safety issue of those drugs being abused.

Have you ever been to the springs? The big meetings there I've seen 1st place holding a $50,000 check 2nd holding a $25,000 and 3rd $10,000. That was just the top 3 in one class. The midgets were paying similar that night. I'd say $150,000 in prize money was probably given away that night. World of outlaws sprintcar series and midget meetings can attract huge sponsors and international professional racers. Michael pickens brad mosen etc. Are some local boys making a career out of speedway.

[Katman]

If there's a test that does and piss testing doesn't, what is it?

I don't know Drew - that's why I was asking.

If the current batch of 'legal highs' are not picked up by the current testing methods then I'd suggest that MNZ and SNZ have a far greater problem on their hands than that of people who may have smoked dope a few weeks ago.

[scott411]

there are also over the counter alternatives which don't contain banned substances. It's not a performance issue it's a safety issue of those drugs being abused.

Have you ever been to the springs? The big meetings there I've seen 1st place holding a $50,000 check 2nd holding a $25,000 and 3rd $10,000. That was just the top 3 in one class. The midgets were paying similar that night. I'd say $150,000 in prize money was probably given away that night. World of outlaws sprintcar series and midget meetings can attract huge sponsors and international professional racers. Michael pickens brad mosen etc. Are some local boys making a career out of speedway.

please show me where they pay 50K for a win at the springs,

NZ midget Champs entry form, total prize pool $36K (to be raced at the springs 07/12/13)
http://www.speedway.co.nz/pdf/Forms/...try%20Form.pdf

I know the 50 lapper and the World Sprintcars pay more, but i thought it was around 10K for the win and about 40k total prize pool

NZ Superstocks, even less, $3000K to win, plus heat money,
http://www.speedway.co.nz/pdf/Forms/...try%20Form.pdf

[scott411]

Are some local boys making a career out of speedway.

Pickens was working last year for BSL racing, Mosen is a sign writer, no one i know of is making a living out of racing speedway, PIckens may do next year if he goes well in the states

[Drew]

I don't know Drew - that's why I was asking.

If the current batch of 'legal highs' are not picked up by the current testing methods then I'd suggest that MNZ and SNZ have a far greater problem on their hands than that of people who may have smoked dope a few weeks ago.

I do understand what you're saying, but there's a flip side to it.

Untill authorities have actually studied something and it is put on a list, it's technically all good for people to be taking it at the track. Track steward, and clark of the course are allowed to make a judgement call on any competitor of course. In that instance, if someone raised a concern it would be looked into and appropriate (according to the MNZ guidlines) action would be taken.

So though there are countless mind altering substances out there, that might not show up in testing, there is a fall back.

Christ, someone really 'jonesing' might just start sniffing the petrol in their containers. There's no full proof way to do it. But since a piss test shows up most of the known and banned shit, stick with it and kick anyone failing the test to the curb I say.

[haydes55]

Pickens was working last year for BSL racing, Mosen is a sign writer, no one i know of is making a living out of racing speedway, PIckens may do next year if he goes well in the states

I know previous years when Pickens etc went to USA they raced 2+ times per week in NZ over our summer then went to USA for their summer and raced 2-3 times per week and weren't working just racing. Bryce Townsend is doing those open wheel experiences and is helping kiwis get experience etc to make it over in USA now he's retired from driving.

That was a few years back but with the travel I presumed they had no time to work.

[scott411]

I know previous years when Pickens etc went to USA they raced 2+ times per week in NZ over our summer then went to USA for their summer and raced 2-3 times per week and weren't working just racing. Bryce Townsend is doing those open wheel experiences and is helping kiwis get experience etc to make it over in USA now he's retired from driving.

That was a few years back but with the travel I presumed they had no time to work.

I have done Bryce's school a couple of times and hope to get out and race a midget next year if time allows, hopefully at Huntly or Baypark, maybe at the springs, (as long as the track is not anywhere

the twice a week is really only for 3 weeks just after christmas, while the internationals are here, but that has got shorter as they want to get back to the chili bowl

[Katman]

I do understand what you're saying, but there's a flip side to it.

Untill authorities have actually studied something and it is put on a list, it's technically all good for people to be taking it at the track. Track steward, and clark of the course are allowed to make a judgement call on any competitor of course. In that instance, if someone raised a concern it would be looked into and appropriate (according to the MNZ guidlines) action would be taken.

So though there are countless mind altering substances out there, that might not show up in testing, there is a fall back.

Christ, someone really 'jonesing' might just start sniffing the petrol in their containers. There's no full proof way to do it. But since a piss test shows up most of the known and banned shit, stick with it and kick anyone failing the test to the curb I say.

Your argument is going from bad to worse Drew.

What you're effectively saying is that a competitor can have a good old session on Puff Super Strength and as long as they can act straight in front of the officials then they're good to go.

[ellipsis]

...although I agree with the op generally, he is also fairly naive, and if speedway is paying that good these days, I'm going back there...eight bucks or maybe ten was the most start money I ever saw at a speedway, although I'm sure it has changed since then...

...although Madness is talking rather sensibly, IMO, the black and the white of it is...no substances allowed...

...then there's Drew...what can you say...

.....that's entertainment...


...in all my years of being around motorsport, I dont think I have ever run across the smell of pot in the pits...not saying that it may not have happened though...I would be much more worried about the smell of stale piss on a competitors breath...

[Madness]

What you're effectively saying is that a competitor can have a good old session on Puff Super Strength and as long as they can act straight in front of the officials then they're good to go.

I love it. Chuff through half an ounce of herbal highs on the way to the track & you're all good, it's the Johnny who smoked half a J of natures-own 6 weeks prior that's the real threat to safety.

[Drew]

Your argument is going from bad to worse Drew.

What you're effectively saying is that a competitor can have a good old session on Puff Super Strength and as long as they can act straight in front of the officials then they're good to go.

I didn't offer an argument.

It might be possible for a racer to get high if they really want to, and go unnoticed. Yes. I wasn't in any way promoting the idea, or suggesting anything one way or the other. All I did was state some stuff.

[Drew]

I love it. Chuff through half an ounce of herbal highs on the way to the track & you're all good, it's the Johnny who smoked half a J of natures-own 6 weeks prior that's the real threat to safety.

I have never said that someone smoking weed six weeks ago was a threat to safety. I said I don't give a fuck if they don't get to race because of it, to remove someone else who is high and can be detected and removed. Their rights are not being violated in any way shape or form, so fuck 'em.

[skippa1]

Far canal.........this is entertaining

[Madness]

I have never said that someone smoking weed six weeks ago was a threat to safety and despite there being better test methods available, I say fuck 'em.

Not much more to say really, is there?

[haydes55]

How is a swab test better? It can't pick up as many drugs as a urine test, it costs more and it's apparently less reliable.

The only down side to urine testing you can see is it breaches your right to break the law when you want. In the eyes of an official organisation, they don't give a flying fuck. And why should they give a fuck?