Accident/Lawsuit waiting to happen (Read 3,001 times)

[bingsta]

I again noticed the concerning number of kids/teenagers who were "hanging out" in the pits in Palmy last night right in the way of race cars.

They seem to be lingering around all the pit entrances to the stands.

Are they deaf or just stupid (probably both rolled up with teenage arrogance)? Can't they see or hear the cars RIGHT there waiting to either get to their trailers or moving onto the grids??

One of these days, and its only a matter of time, one of these kids will get hit and hurt.... and I am sure that they will sue for their injuries also.

Maybe its time that the pits were closed once racing starts?

This I am sure, is a huge concern for most drivers who have limited vision once they are belted into their cars.

[Abb0]

I tend to agree but from what (little?) I know they can't sue. ACC basically takes that avenue away.

[nogrip-31gm]

i think it happens at every track..

people just stare at you star struck looking at your blinging car, even though you are heading towards them,they dont move or think to move.

arm bands should be enforced a bit more i think....

pit lanes/drive lines should be clear at all times unless your crossing it, not walking down the middle of it..

id hate to hit someone especially when you have very limited vision archs...

[handbag]

Bingsta the little eggs are walking round the pit gate dummy grid area with I pods in their ears . Brainless they aren't even there to watch anyway. The late Liz Foot sidecar 77 used to hit anyone in her way if they were anywere they shouldn't of been my have to take her mantle

[marcia]

Nov 8, 2009 10:31:59 GMT 12 bingsta said:

Maybe its time that the pits were closed once racing starts?

I agree with what you saw - was thinking the same thing myself seeing them in groups around the steps and ramps.

However i disagree with closing the pits off for a couple of reasons.

The first is its very hard for the families of drivers if this happens and no children are allowed in the pits - (like they sometimes do at Meeane, they also did this at a couple of places in the uk - so I'm talking from first hand experience here) My children like to go backwards and forwards watch the races then come back to help clean the car - get a drink - get extra clothing when its cold etc - when we are not allowed in the pits it makes it very hard. i have two older ones 12 and 14 who wander around themselves and have been taught from a young age to be on alert and aware in the pits - i would never allow them to wear headphones or iods in the pits - our youngest is always with someone else but is already aware of the dangers.


The second reason it is unfair to stop the fans being able to go around take photos of the cars, and have a chat to the drivers - its a very social sport and the fans and driver s would miss out if the contact wasn't available.

The use of wristbands like at Rotorua is the best idea - but would be harder to enforce at palmy with the set out of the pits etc.

i agree its a problem and one day the health and safety inspectors will be onto it as well!

[nogrip-31gm]

would most drivers have the time to stop and chat between races?
not for long anyway..

have the pits open to joe public for 15-20min before racing and say 15min after racing, not during, too much chaos going on..

give the families/pit crew etc wristbands.. everyone else stay out during racing,its that easy..

[strx7]

yip, its not just a Palmy problem by any stretch, when pushing sprintcars back into the pits at baypark, I have lost count at the number of near misses due to people who appear to be in lala land walking across infront of us.

[StockcarFan991]

Hey no grip, Have you ever been to palmerston speedway?

theres like 3 ways into the pits. unless the build up fences and gates theres no way the can keep the public out of the pit area

[scott]

i think pits need to be closed off to the general public. I was up at palmy a few weeks back a wondered how no serious injurys had occured due to idiots. i think the pits should only be for pitcrew and families of drivers (basically people who understand the risks of a pit area). Too many people came into the pits to be nosey and got right in the way when i was up there. Safety should come first, NOT the inconvenience or cost of putting up fences etc

[Murray Guy (Grandad)]

FACT: 130,000 plus children under 15 seriously injured in and around their homes last year, 6 fatally.


Competitors, take responsibility - never reverse without a guide, drive slow in the pits!

If there is an issue, and there is at some venues, manage it, don't ban it! And keep the problem in perspective!
Rotorua manages it by allowing, on application to the club, family members of genuine racers. Approval is a privilege, not a 'right', and can be lost.

Huntly has closed off pits to anyone other than crew in uniform and drivers, officials and others if the officials like you.
My family (wife rarely, daughter, grandchildren) doesn't attend Huntly. Even as a driver and club member I could not go into the pits to catch up with friends. ?

[superstock]

to my eyes at palmy its not the fans who are into the cars its the idoits who use the pits as a pick up party, hang out zone who wouldnt have a clue what a stock car is nor care that to me is the issue why kill the pleasure for a few idoits ..i never see any security in the pits , its easy to see who the fools are , mainly young girls and dorks in baggy pants wearing those hoodies

[froggy]

I for one would not like to see a public ban as visiting the pits when a yougster was part of the highlight of going to speedway, however just recently it has become a problem in Palmy and last meeting with the huge crowd just made it even worse, we had a car that was in need of repairs in a hurry to get out racing and we were focused on that and getting to scrutineering etc only to be held up for some time on a couple of occasions by public not moving out of the way and if they did there was another lot coming from all directions. Maybe there is a need for more patrolling of that area and some announcements through the night and prior to the meeting to hopefully make the public aware of how hard it can be to actually see and avoid them at short notice, especially after coming off after a race

[Saloon29s]

The biggest problem that I have noticed at Palmy is the area by the toilets on the start/finish straight. There is a path there that used to be for pedestrians but now that they have extended the pits it is just a big bottle neck with the cars driving through there and the people trying to get through there as well. A simple option would be to dig into the banking a bit and make a footpath. I know this wouldn't fix the whole problem but at least would sort that area out.

[Devilracer]

I'm glad that Rotorua has stopped public from entering the pits, its great, and i take my hat off to Huntly and any other track that has done this, they obviously prefer prevention rather than cure.
While i had the modified i had so many close calls and the stupid dick that did walk out in front of me learnt the hard way. I DONT STOP. The pits is an area for those that should be there, not wanderers. Now i have the stockcar, it'll hurt twice as much.

[bingsta]

Glad to know that I am not the only one who is concerned about this problem.

I agree, it is not the families of the crew who are the problem, it is not the fans that are the problem, it is the general idiots who aren't even interested in the racing.

How hard would it be to put security by the steps/ramps to stop the general public entering the pits after racing starts (allowing people with wristbands entrance to pits ie. family & crew)? There are 2 other gates which the public can enter through should they wish to come to racing after it has started (waldegrave & pascal sts).

I hope the promotions department of Palmy Speedway are reading this discussion to realise that it is a major concern.

[stockcar18c]

Love Rotoruas policy enabled us to have the kids in the pits. like the closed off pits at the Glen so not everyone can be hanging around but Drivers Children should be able to get an exemption for all the reasons mentioned above and more. It will never happen and if it does mine will probably be old enough anyway lol but there are some adults in the pits at the Glen who are more at risk of being injured than children who are very aware of the cars and supervised. But everone knows my opinion on it already. Helen

[ross56y]

we had our first meeting today !!!!!
was surprised by the local lads thinking yep i know him lets go and see his car ........... big mistake by them and us
we soon stopped that by placing some at a gate and asking where is there stamp ?
that worked today at sunset speedway . but at ch ch or oxford you need a wrist band and have to go past bouncers gate staff

i think its a time we say enough ........ ether pit crew or see you at the end of racing !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[StockcarFan991]

also in the palmy pits they have a foodstand were the cars line up. fairly stupid idea even though have the metal barrier sourrounding it. but the line goes way outside of it sometimes and gets in the way of the racers coming upto the lining up grid

People say its the young people who go there to hook up blah blah blah, i agree theres so many 12,13,14 and 15 yr olds just roaming around the main driving areas they should have security walking around and asking people to leave the pit area if there not there for a purpose