UTV's have a great showing at the Silver State 300

[FRONTLINE2FINISHLINE]

As a team who races UTV, I completely agree that UTVs should start between 9s and 5/16s. I've raced tight lap races in Texas and have been bumped by TTs in the dust. Not fun! It's not an insult to the class to start with similar speed cars, it's about safety and competition. Getting blown by at double the speed is not my idea of fun, but getting to race other similar cars is. Yes you'd fight more dust but that's still better than getting rear ended by a TT or class1 going 60mph faster than you are. Now if it's a lap race, yeah you get lapped once usually, but if you start in front of TT, that would be twice, so it's still safer. Yes there are some guys in pro UTV that are really fast by comparison, but there probably isn't a single one of those top 10% guys who couldn't race a faster and more expensive class. So thinking about the safety and competition factor- it just makes sense to start UTVs with similar class vehicles towards the back.

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[Hog Wild]

Clearly, start with vehicles of similar speed!

In lap races, and for safety of bikes, and for everyone who wants to reduce collisions in dust and make passing a bit easier, consider something like this with these two functions...

1) Automatically beeps in both vehicles when one is about to catch the other (fast closing speed only).
2) Manually press the HORN button and vehicle ahead hears beep from their own in-car beeper (YOUR horn in THEIR ear).
* Beeper is incredibly loud, impossible to not hear. Includes lots of features to prevent abuse and annoyances.

[Pee Wee]

Clearly, start with vehicles of similar speed!

In lap races, and for safety of bikes, and for everyone who wants to reduce collisions in dust and make passing a bit easier, consider something like this with these two functions...

1) Automatically beeps in both vehicles when one is about to catch the other (fast closing speed only).
2) Manually press the HORN button and vehicle ahead hears beep from their own in-car beeper (YOUR horn in THEIR ear).
* Beeper is incredibly loud, impossible to not hear. Includes lots of features to prevent abuse and annoyances.

That thing makes too much sense so no room for it in this sport.

How much roundabout?

[Hog Wild]

That thing makes too much sense so no room for it in this sport. How much roundabout?

It’s a concept I’ve been working on for a while. A working device does not exist yet. What’s shown is a notional physical model. I’m just probing here to see what kind of interest there is. In the past, the reaction has been mixed, so I’m not sure it makes sense to build it. I know it can work, the question is . . . does it make sense to build it?

This same basic topic (collisions, passing, bikes vs cars, small slow cars vs big fast cars, inappropriate nerfing, etc.) comes up over and over again, but applied to different classes and slightly different situations each time. Some of it is just a part of racing, but sometimes it’s a serious safety issue that could be addressed and improved significantly. Nothing practical can completely eliminate these risks, but there are things, such as this device, that could help a lot.

In my mind, if such a device was available, it should not be sold, but rather rented for each event (like IRC trackers). The concept doesn’t work unless every vehicle has one. So it might have to be a mandatory thing, dictated by the race organization. This makes cost a sensitive issue. What I have in mind would perform most of the same functions as the IRC trackers but would also include the added functions I described above. So the cost would be about the same or cheaper than what IRC charges, replacing their devices. Though it would cost each competitor maybe $100 per race, that would be less than what many are paying now.

[michael_loomis]

I've read the whole thread, but my memory is a little foggy.. is anyone even arguing that they should stay putt? lol

[deano]

I've read the whole thread, but my memory is a little foggy.. is anyone even arguing that they should stay putt? lol

nice golf blast ... bwahaaaa

[JoeyD23]

I've read the whole thread, but my memory is a little foggy.. is anyone even arguing that they should stay putt? lol

Nope... But don't tell Luke that, then he'll have nothing to post about.

[Desert Toyz]

I have been racing off road for over 30 years and in a UTV for the last 7 years. I have never been hit hard from behind. My father started off road racing in the 60's, when the sport was born. It is has always been a rule that off road racers show mutual respect when passing, whether you are racing a TT truck, buggie, UTV, motorcycle or quad. At any given race any one of these vehicles could pass another regardless of where they start. It is absolutely reckless and irresponsible for any class of off-road vehicle to run blind through the dust and plow another competitor. We as off road racers must not put winning the race over the safety of our fellow competitors, it is not worth it. There is no one class that is "special" we are all equal!!! It is the reasonability of the co driver/navigator to constantly check their mirrors, especially on high speed sections. Let’s all stop whining about having to pass slower vehicles and take reasonability for our actions and the safety of our fellow competitors. Slowing down to pass in the dust safely is no different then stopping to help a injured racer, if you are not willing to do either one of these, than please go find another sport, don't let your EGO ruin the sport I LOVE. After the entire only thing we are racing for, is the LOVE OF THE SPORT AND BRAGGING RIGHTS!!! UTV racers we are receiving all the same respect that the other classes receive, if you are expecting something more it is not there. There is no less respect for our class that any other, maybe a few more sarcastic comments, but no less respect.
I believe that there are two things we can do to increase the safety when it comes to passing; 1 Every race vehicle should have a front LED amber light. 2 All classes that have a blue light should have a momentary off button that will allow the co driver to flash the blue light, this will be a universal signal to the vehicle behind, that the front vehicle has seen them and will be moving out of the way.
I am Cory Sappington and I endorse this message

[the stripping shop]

hey cory i think the blue light is a good idea. but for the front there was a utv racer that had his front lights flash i think that is way better and everyone could see him coming in dust when we were in the pits.

[Mark_Weyhrich]

I am Cory Sappington and I endorse this message

QUOTE: It is absolutely reckless and irresponsible for any class of off-road vehicle to run blind through the dust and plow another competitor.

You are joking, right? This is the only way to pass in off-road racing.

QUOTE: We as off road racers must not put winning the race over the safety of our fellow competitors, it is not worth it.

Exactly my point. But, since we must charge through the dust to pass, the only way to reasonably mitigate risk is to remove the dangerous elements; i.e., UTV's, M/C's and Quads.

QUOTE: There is no one class that is "special" we are all equal!!!

Agreed, we are all equal. However, the sizes and capabilities of our vehicles are not.

QUOTE: It is the reasonability of the co driver/navigator to constantly check their mirrors, especially on high speed sections. Let’s all stop whining about having to pass slower vehicles and take reasonability for our actions and the safety of our fellow competitors.

They will never see them coming. The problem does not occur with the first car/truck making the pass. The problem occurs with the subsequent vehicle(s) who are charging in the dust of THEIR COMPETITOR BECAUSE THEY ARE RACING. That is when an impact will happen.

QUOTE: Slowing down to pass in the dust safely is no different then stopping to help a injured racer, if you are not willing to do either one of these, than please go find another sport, don't let your EGO ruin the sport I LOVE.

Again, we can't slow down to pass. Nothing personal here, but if someone can't handle deal with the level of risks involved to succeed at a given sport, perhaps they are the ones who should look for another to compete in. I love this sport as well because it provides the most challenging driving conditions of any for of motorsport I have done. Pavement is lame.

QUTOE: After the entire only thing we are racing for, is the LOVE OF THE SPORT AND BRAGGING RIGHTS!!! UTV racers we are receiving all the same respect that the other classes receive, if you are expecting something more it is not there. There is no less respect for our class that any other, maybe a few more sarcastic comments, but no less respect.

Totally agree, but it needs to be modified to mitigate risk to all involved.


QUOTE: All classes that have a blue light should have a momentary off button that will allow the co driver to flash the blue light, this will be a universal signal to the vehicle behind, that the front vehicle has seen them and will be moving out of the way.

I like this idea, but there should be two blue lights; 1 that is constant and 1 that flashes. However I will say it again, it is not the first car/truck passing that is the problem. It is the guy trying to pass him. In that case a flashing blue will do nothing, nor will a front facing amber.

If you have 1 car/truck trying to pass 1 UTV, then I agree with pretty much all that you have said. The overtaking driver is responsible for doing so safely. And, I believe this is happening. Having said that, accidents can, do and will happen. So even from that standpoint why not mitigate the risk by doing as much as possible to provide physical separation of larger/faster and smaller/slower vehicles?