Vegas to Reno thread

[bajaxp]

In what other form of racing does slower and/or lapped traffic putz around in front of the leaders, holding them up?

Parker 425?

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[D Bergstrom]

IF YOU have never been in a Trophy Truck or class 1 car and are crying about the "riders" right to race I suggest backing off your high horse and really thinking about what you are stating.

I agree with all you said PAB, but I will elaborate a little on the above. When I mentioned "we" have the right to be out there, I meant my team and myself. You would never be on my bumper trying to get by, I would be well out off the way before you even got close. I use every chance I can to look over my shoulder when cars are coming.

I fully agree that there are some riders that should not be out there. Problem is, how do you make sure they are not out there? I don't think Casey has the staff to check everyones racing background to make sure they should be there. Maybe he has to get the staff? Even if he did check, what would he be looking for? What type of experience would be the cutoff to allow/ not allow someone to race? I don't know the answer to this one. I consider my self an experienced desert racer, but even I feel on a good day, I still could get caught near the end of the race depending on the exact distance. I will say one thing, if I was getting caught at mile 100 something, then yes, I would probably be loading the quad up in my truck and heading home.

Hasn't the gap between the last UTV and first car always been greater in the past? I always remember the first truck/car off the line at 10 or 10:30? Maybe I am wrong and it has always been a 9:30 start. I find that crazy that BITD let that bike go off the line that late.

Doug

[HSDMORGAN]

First I will be clear that I have raced bikes and trucks..... This is not posted out of hate, spite or thinking anyone is better than anyone. I agree everyone has the right to race as long as it is with good sense (relativly) and with safety in mind.

The first problem is many of these moto/quad "riders" have no business being in a "race" of this magnatude in these conditions, 100 plus degrees all day ... there is an adventure ride in this area at a different time of year and that's a good place for many of these "riders".

I would start 5 hours after the bikes in our unlimited vehicle if these "riders" were pulled off the course when they prove they are not "racing" or their equiptment has failed them. When the Trucks/Cars get within an hour of a bike/quad they get timed out and exit the track.

Bike 52$ at this race.... I saw him and his bike struggling at the start to get his bike running.... an hour after his class left..... if you can't get your bike to the start ready to go I have to assume you are equally not as ready and him getting the okay to go WAY later than his start time is not well thought out. We passed this rider around 60ish miles in I think.... this is not an adventure ride, there are 60 or so 4-6000lbs race vehicles capable of 130mph starting behind you. Even with them all being careful there are no guarentees.

Anyone of you bike guys wants to call me out I say bring it. I say if you are not ready to race then go ride somewhere else, this is a possible disaster we don't need to be waiting for.

13 year old children soloing on a quad.... yes this is a great idea for him to almost receive the worst possible outcome even before he reaches puperty. I started racing off road at 12, in a cab with a cage with my Dad driving and we were way in the back in a 5-1600. He taught me a lot and I wanted to learn. Again we were in the back 25% of race cars and my Dad was in charge. I can tell you FOR SURE that I was not ready to race 500 mile races for many reasons at that age. Maybe this kid is Superman but I stood next to him at the drivers meeting and he looked like a normal 13 year old to me.

The "golf carts" (not a dig but a fun comment for my friends with them), really I have a huge issue here. Why, WHY, WHY if they have a cage, lights, radios and emergency rations like cars are they treated like motorcycles? They can carry flashlights and supplies and should be treated like a car. They need to start in the back, where ever their time justifies them starting.... one of the top UTV drivers/teams said in this thread that all but 1, ONE, only 1 UTV was not caught by Trucks and buggies. 2000lbs cars(?) where the drivers (or are they riders) sit right about bumper height of 6000lb unlimited vehicle.

This race I had the non-pleasure of catching tons of UTVs, quads and bikes, many caught so early it is frightening. One super sweet quad guy that I wish I could remember his number so I could OUT his ignorance.... 800hp engine and siren going right off his back door at 50ish mph down a 4 mile 120mph road..... I will let you know if the in car caught his style so we can share.....

Maybe the "riders" should have to prove their ability at one of the races not run with cars and trucks before they are allowed to start in front of the unlimited vehicles?

The only way to help these guys understand is to explain it, if I'm not being nice its probably because it is not safe in many ways that these "racers" come so unprepared and so ill trained and they enter one of the toughest most grueling races in the world just so they can check it off their "bucket list"...... I hope it doesn't become the end of their bucket.

IF YOU have never been in a Trophy Truck or class 1 car and are crying about the "riders" right to race I suggest backing off your high horse and really thinking about what you are stating. I know I am preaching my opinions but I am somewhat uniquely qualified if I don't say so myself.....

Off-road bike racer
Off-road truck racer
Never raced a Quad but it looks tough (respect)
32 years of off-road racing experiance in Nevada and Baja

You really can't say it any better than that. Also I never really paid attention to the bike/quad classes but there shouldn't even be an amateur class of any kind at this race or the farm equipment quads/ utvs for that matter.

[offrd43]

then why dont everyone talk to casey and start the first truck seven hours after the last quad to leave the line,start the utv's last and tighten up the pit closing times for mc/q

[ADTR14]

Maybe the tt/cl1's should start behind ALL the classes. That way they can run over someone with a cage...

[SF@DERTCO]

Maybe the tt/cl1's should start behind ALL the classes. That way they can run over someone with a cage...

Ya thats the answer... WAJ. The people being caught way early in race should just go home.
I can understand getting caught maybe the last 100 miles. Give the guys on the bikes and quads that had problems time to finish..

But if you get caught by a truck and your not even half way done with the race. Try again next year. You're obviously not ready. Harsh but reality. Its not worth getting run over.. Or Just start the bikes at 3am.

[lil manny]

If I'm not mistaken I believe SCORE started the UTV's at the back at this year's 250 & 500 so why hasn't BITD switch that as well?

But no matter what a race promoter does there's always going to be someone unhappy with the change.. Remember last year's baja 1000 when score added an hour to the gap? Some of the TT guys complained like crazy because they were going to have to run a lot of the race at "night"(common Is it really night when you have 15-20 10inch HIDs on the front of your truck?)Just my opinion but was that not what you guys are asking for? a bigger gap ?

Don't get me wrong driving a tt at the speeds they do over that terrain is in no way an easy task and I admire all them! I'm on quads and even I agree an Ideal race would be bikes/quads/utvs on friday trucks/cars on sat however that's nearly impossible

[offrd43]

Ya thats the answer... WAJ. The people being caught way early in race should just go home.
I can understand getting caught maybe the last 100 miles. Give the guys on the bikes and quads that had problems time to finish..

But if you get caught by a truck and your not even half way done with the race. Try again next year. You're obviously not ready. Harsh but reality. Its not worth getting run over.. Or Just start the bikes at 3am.

start the trucks later not the bikes earlier,you have all the fancy lights and travel night should not be a problem

[A Vance]

PAB. You have more pull than anyone. You should take it up with Casey. I race bikes and cars. I agree a lot of the guys should not even be out there. I had the idea of closing the pits on the bikes. If you are in a pit after a certain time you pull off and are done. Bikes and quads have the same right to make a finish as anyone else. They paid like the cars and trucks and also could be going for season points. Instead of everyone throwing out digs on each other everyone needs to come together to make this work for everyone. The current way is old school and not working anymore. The top bike only beat the top car by what 2 min overall. Let's throw out some positive ideas and as a group go to Casey to resolve it. Just my thought

[ADTR14]

Ya thats the answer... WAJ.

Pretty absurd right!? Have you read the other comments on this "issue"? Seems like theres an overall lack of common sense on both sides...

It'd be nice if someone actually came up with some logical solutions where both sides would benefeit, instead of complaining after every race. But most would rather complain about getting dust in their eyes...Oh I forgot, this is just a safety issue

(and yes it was a joke, good job!)