Laughlin Speed Limit

[JohnMarking]

Copy of an e-mail sent to SCORE

Sal Fish & Ric Miller,

As both a racer, contingency sponsor and a spectator, I would ask you to reconsider your proposed pit lane speed limit.

Laughlin is a great race, my personal favorite. This is the race I invite my family to come watch.
It is however, a very difficult race to spectate.
From a spectator’s point of view, the beauty of Off-Road racing has always been the fact you can observe the race as close to race- course as you dare. (From a driver’s point of view, sometimes too close!!)
At Laughlin however, it has become too controlled.
The BLM over controls this event. Spectators, racers and pit personal should be allowed to watch from the various hills in and around the pits. The other 363 days of the year, this area is completely open to all forms of Off Road entertainment.

As a racer, I understand the need for safety as well as some limited access areas. However, far more people watch the race from the pit road than any other place on the course. You will ruin this race with a pit road speed limit! Period!

If I may, I would like to make the following suggestions instead of your proposed speed limit.

1) Regarding the NE pits, there is a dirt berm separating the pit lane from the racecourse. I see no safety issues.
2) Regarding the NW pits, I understand you worry about a loss of control in this area. The odds of a car loosing control without help, are slight! Your proposed 30’ safety corridor will help out. I would also like to suggest a no contact rule in this area. No nerfing from the pit road access crossing to the end of the pits.

Thanks for your consideration in this matter.

John Marking

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[scoobs]

Is there two pits or is this just opposite sides of the pits?

[mccallumracing]

well said john. i find it difficult to start 2 at a time in the infield and race to the end of the infield to get on the brakes and do 50 all the way up pit rd, whats it going to be like at the end of pit rd when we resume racing? i hope score will take what john said into consideration.

[Will_Higman]

John

I totally agree with you, they will ruin this race for the spectators!! Besides that the course is so short we need all the racing room we can get to help spread out the vehicles. I guarantee that no matter how far apart cars start at the beginning of the limited speed zone that they will be bumper to bumper at the end. It only takes a couple miles per hour of the "allowed gray area" to gain the advantage.

I hope Score will seriously consider your suggestions.

Will Higman

[frankh]

I heard a rumor that it is racing the other way, But we will have to wait and see.

I agree with John too. Pretty soon it will not be true off road racing it will be who can maintain a constant set speed the best.

I would also like to see SCORE do something with the black Box, while I have no problem with it we only race Laughlin and SF with SCORE because of are racing budget. But this year it went up by $400. So that is a $200 a race increase that really does nothing for me. I say nothing for me because everything the black box does could be accomplish if SCORE would uphold their rules and DQ people with or without someone protesting. Anyway why not talk to the rally logger people and make a deal for the racers. At least 5 race over two years. It does not seem that SCORE looked at the low budget people when he cut the deal.

[JohnMarking]

The North East pits are where the Semi's are.
North West pits are the rest of us!

[Mark_Weyhrich]

John,

I also wrote a letter to Sal this week regarding the speed limit. However, my concern was a little different than yours.

I am very concerned about starting two abreast, then racing through the infield only to have to slow to 50 mph. This will create little or no separation between vehicles, so when we all crank it up at the end of the pit road we will be right on top of one another. As you and I both know, two cars cannot fit through that left/right set of turns at the same time. I am very concerned that you will see accidents in this area and will not have time to warn the next two cars before they get there.

Adding to that problem is the fact that the bigger, heavier vehicles usually lose in the infield section. So, let's say Herbst (Only using Troy as an example because he has the heaviest Class 1 out there) gets beat and he is right on the bumper of the other guy. He would normally have an opportunity to safely pass that vehicle, but due to the speed limit, he cannot. So, when they get to the top of the road, he just "moves" that guy out of the way. We all know what kind of problems that can create.

I have asked Sal to consider starting 1 every 15 seconds, rather than 2 every 30 seconds. This is much safer all around and it does not handicap 1/2 of the field right from the start.

As far as spectating goes, everyone can still watch from the main pit area, they just have to walk down to the wash where we end our laps. This is a much more fun area to watch than the main pit road. Also, I do not feel we put on much of a show starting side by side.

[scoobs]

What kind of spectating is on highway 163.They are selling tickets but what can you see.

[offroadracer516]

I think if this speed limit does happen the race is ruined it will boring to watch and frusterating in the race i dont know why they are making this happen there has never ben any problems in the past why are they doin this if it isnt broke dont fix it i think the 2 side by side is fun to watch and even funner to race why wont sal just leave it alone?

[chuckharrisjr]

What kind of spectating is on highway 163.They are selling tickets but what can you see.

where is this? Selling tickets? who where?