>>>Time to P#@%-OFF a Few <<<

[Lucho]

In a perfect world, you off-roaders-wannabes, you pseudo-writers, you amateur racers would have cramps on your hands and could not type. But that’s not possible. So let’s get some education before you totally reveal yourself to the masses:

1. THIS IS RACING!
No, not a family ride, not an interpretive venture to see the flora and fauna of the desert or be at-one with nature. Certainly it’s not an easy weekend drive down the coast. RACING is an extremely dangerous sport, and no matter what conditions exist or come up; whether they are created by nature or the race, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE WHEN YOU ENTER THE EVENT OR ARE A PARTICIPANT IN SOME WAY! Be prepared to meet all those challenges, whether obvious or hidden before you consider yourself a racer.

And thank God that the young man who was hit by a UTV at the V2R event is doing fine.

So what to do about the current conditions? Please read on...

2. “Glamis Gurlie” (in another thread) hit it right on the money: Promoters are having a tough time nowadays just putting on an event (what with all the bul$%@t with various Federal and State agencies and higher costs to put on events), that to expand an event into a two- or three-day affair, with bikes and quads racing on one day and the rest the next day, is nearly impossible unless the promoter hires paid workers to take care of all those spots and location and have helicopters or fixed wings in the air reporting on possible incidents. Maybe some of you have $8,000 to $10,000 or much more for an entry, like the Dakar races, to have that luxury.
3. Of course if that were to happen, your entry fee would be astronomically affected to the point that it would be nearly impossible for some events to take place or for many to participate.
4. Due-diligence is a must AT ALL LEVELS. From the promoter to the racer, to the chaser, to volunteers, we must all do our best to make it safe and still challenging.
5. Here are some ideas: On a point-to-point race, start bikes, quads & UTVs at 6 a.m., start all four-wheel classes at Noon. In a “loop” race, those times can be changed (plus or minus starting times) to make sure that there’s no overlapping. But that doesn’t mean that there will not be any traffic from slower-running racers or vehicles. So what does a racer have to do at all times? Use your head when racing and be prepared for ALL possible circumstances.
6. Some of you have grown up in a world of video games where you race, never letting off the throttle and if you crash, a couple of seconds later, you are back up racing again. That is NOT REAL RACING. To most of us, a really good racer is the one who knows when to speed up, when to back-off, when to pass and when not to pass. That is the ART OF BEING AN EXCELLENT RACER. Just ask, for example, a racer like Larry Roeseler, who has raced motorcycles and cars/truck longer than many of you have been in the sport. I can’t think of a time when he’s hit people or been hit, yet he is one of the winningest off-road racers in the world. How does he do it? ANSWER: He uses his muscles between his ears quite well, thank you. Everyone else who thinks that you are a great racer because you always have your foot down to the wall is an idiot and an accident waiting to happen!
7. Racers such as Roeseler, McCachren, Ragland, and a slew of other winning drivers are the ones you should emulate.

Having said all that, I'm sure all of us lose a bit of control when the engine is roaring and you're racing. But the good ones, good racers, I mean, always keep everything in prospective.

Now that I've pissseeed off a few of you, let me have it, I can take it.

Lou Peralta

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[DesertDoll]

Lou - Very well said! Just as a racer keeping it in perspective, I do on these forums too but listening to the whining can get exhausting. What you said is right on the money and anyone truly in love and active in the sport would agree with your perspective. Race hard, race fast, race safe!

[5racer]

well said "bravo"

[Weatherman]

I would also suggest that the bikes g0 off at least two at a time. This will get all the handlebars started within one hour, leaving a five hour split. I also would encourage the pits to display sinage to allow the handlebars to know the steering wheels are close behind and/or that bikes are just ahead! Also I will find and post the safety reccomendations that a Safety Committee came up with.

[Lucho]

i would also suggest that the bikes g0 off at least two at a time. This will get all the handlebars started within one hour, leaving a five hour split. I also would encourage the pits to display sinage to allow the handlebars to know the steering wheels are close behind and/or that bikes are just ahead! Also i will find and post the safety reccomendations that a safety committee came up with.

solid!

[mitbroracing]

Full on agree. Just because you have the knowledge and ability to bend and stick steel together, doesnt mean you have the knowledge and ability to drive that steel through the desert and past crowds of people.

[Ol' Curmudgeon]

LOL, are either LR fabbers?

Must fighter pilots build their own jet engines and avionics?

Does a railroad magnate need to be a boilermaker as a pre-requisite?

[JON-E]

Way back in the day when I raced ADRA the bikes started 3 at a time. That was really a fun way and all of the racers got out on the course quicker. Some say to start the bikes after the cars and TT but your still going to have bikes and cars mixed together at some point. I think at each pit and checkpoint you have someone with a dry erase board simply giving the the time gap between you and the lead car.