TT Races Bad News

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jun 12 2007, 09:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>2. It is impossible to ensure the safety of spectators at a motorsport event. We all know motorsport can be dangerous, but reasonable measures are taken to keep people safe at the TT.Why is it that the riders at the TT have been slating the organisers for the prehistoric approach to safety and the poor or in many cases non existant training given to marshalls?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jun 12 2007, 09:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>But again, being able to get so close to the action makes the TT a special event for the spectators as well as riders, its truly thrilling to watch and nowhere else can you get so close to the action and with that comes obvious risks. All the people there know what they are watching and the majority of people (with help from the marshalls) sit in the safest and most sensible positions they can.How silly is that Tom? Let's all sit trackside at Donnongton. People always use the 'it's part of it' or the 'that's what we've always done at roadraces' excuse. How crazy is it to let a guy and his family sit with their heads poking through a hole in a hedge at the roadside to watch bikes whizzing by at 200mph in places, only feet away from them? What century is it?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (skidmark @ Jun 12 2007, 09:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>1. Why is it that the riders at the TT have been slating the organisers for the prehistoric approach to safety and the poor or in many cases non existant training given to marshalls?

2. How silly is that Tom? Let's all sit trackside at Donnongton. People always use the 'it's part of it' or the 'that's what we've always done at roadraces' excuse. How crazy is it to let a guy and his family sit with their heads poking through a hole in a hedge at the roadside to watch bikes whizzing by at 200mph in places, only feet away from them? What century is it?

1. I believe that was a few years ago, when in fairness the organizers were understaffed and the marshals undertrained. I agree that was poor, but i believe it has been dealt with. But the marshalling and approach to safety has been questioned in motogp quite recently also. If nobody complains then we wont progress, but at the TT progression is difficult to achieve so every little bit needs to be grabbed.

2. As long as they stay out of the riders way the only craziness is coming from the guy who sits there with his family. I have said before i think more should be done to educate the spectators about the risks they are taking and they event they are at, but most are sensible. To stop people from getting near the racing and pin them back so they could barely see it would totally destroy the event for spectators, and its already hard enough to get a good view.

in ireland we only have one track event

so when ever there is a road race i always try to make it apart from that annual track event its the only time to see bikes of that calibre in their full glory unless i take a tip into europe

spectators and racers know the risk invovled

it adds to the buzz for both the rider and the spectator,

for spectator being close enough to reach out your hand and touch the rider/bike as it passes by at ...MPH is crazy but a rush

for the racer im sure he would prefer if the spectator were not so close to the track/road, i think for them its the speed, being on the limit for a long time on a very technical track/road and the brush of death factor

im sure there was others but the only rider i ever heard callin for a ban was barry sheen

its terrible that people die but i would not like to see road racing banned

its only a couple of years ago since Daijiro Kato died

for the rider safety is only a word...

Has anyone got a link to a more detailed report of what actually happened?

Where the riders are concerned I'm in the "they know the risks" club and I'd hate to see the race scrapped.

Specator wise. Well, sometimes accidents just happen regardless of trying to cater for every conceivable eventuality. However, I think that there has to be a degree of common sense applied to the situation. Hell, have you seen those phtographers taking pictures of rally cars as they go past, they actually stand on the bloody track and I'm thinking "sht what the feck are you standing there for"?!?!?!?

There's no excuse for slack marshalling, but a bit of common sense is also a requirement !!!!!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Baylistic @ Jun 12 2007, 10:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Has anyone got a link to a more detailed report of what actually happened?

I doubt very much that details of the incident will be revealed, the accident was certainly very serious, and i don't think it was caught on any cameras. I heard a few rumors at the airport before i left, but i will not repeat any of them.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jun 12 2007, 10:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I heard a few rumors at the airport before i left, but i will not repeat any of them.


why not...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (raven46 @ Jun 12 2007, 10:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>why not...

I just think its rude and distasteful to circulate rumors of such an event without any reliable source.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jun 12 2007, 10:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I just think its rude and distasteful to circulate rumors of such an event without any reliable source.



point taken...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (skidmark @ Jun 12 2007, 06:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Why is it that the riders at the TT have been slating the organisers for the prehistoric approach to safety and the poor or in many cases non existant training given to marshalls?

How silly is that Tom? Let's all sit trackside at Donnongton. People always use the 'it's part of it' or the 'that's what we've always done at roadraces' excuse. How crazy is it to let a guy and his family sit with their heads poking through a hole in a hedge at the roadside to watch bikes whizzing by at 200mph in places, only feet away from them? What century is it?

Read my mind. The TT cant move on, so thats it. Its crazy. Why is it improvements to safety for riders and spectators is always seen as butchering or choking the event. Being able to reach out and touch a rider shouldn't be possible at the speeds these guys go. Its not responsible or reasonable for the organisers to let this happen. In 77 when it lost world champ status I'm sure everyone thought the world had ended and the TT was done for. It wasn't. Change for my and your safety should never be viewed negatively,

I think the TT needs to be held to a higher standard in terms of safety. Common sense isn't the problem if the definition of safety seems to be, its road racing, its ok to be right in close to the action, its how it always been. When we set the bar lower we shouldn't expect much.

Being close to the action is great, but no one needs to see the stitching on the guys leathers to enjoy it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (raven46 @ Jun 12 2007, 10:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>in ireland we only have one track eventhi raven, …… only one?


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jun 12 2007, 09:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I believe that was a few years ago, when in fairness the organizers were understaffed and the marshals undertrained. I agree that was poor, but i believe it has been dealt with.It got a few column inches at the time but in actual fact little has changed. I must point out, this is NOT the fault of the marshalls. All praise to them, they are all volunteers, who give their time genorously and without marshalls you could not hold a race meeting. It is the inadequate and out-of-touch men who run the meeting who really know little about safety in the context of todays machines and are more in tune with commerce than the safety concerns of a very dangerous motorsport event. We have the exact same problem in Ireland.



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jun 12 2007, 09:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>As long as they stay out of the riders way the only craziness is coming from the guy who sits there with his family. I have said before i think more should be done to educate the spectators about the risks they are taking and they event they are at, but most are sensible. To stop people from getting near the racing and pin them back so they could barely see it would totally destroy the event for spectators, and its already hard enough to get a good view.Is it Tom? I know how you could think that but what happens at races? Spectators are all ages, so it's not like women and children not allowed, I know that sounds sarcastic but it's not meant to be, I'm only stating the obvious in my view. Motor racing is dangerous and a certain amount of that danger is transferred to the spectator because they are in close proximity to the racing, as they are at say, Valencia. The difference is, and I suspect that this was a factor in the recent tragedy in the IOM, the unpredictability of where a bike will end up when separated with its rider at say, 130/140mph. Will it hit a ditch or a telegraph pole or a gate-post and be catapulted on some other completely unpredictable trajectory? How much of it's speed will it have lost before hitting something? In all probability, very little, because there is no run off and no gravel traps at a roadrace. It was likely all fine and dandy when the 'gentlemen of the day' raced pushbikes with pushrod engines and wore tweed, but Jesus what century is it?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jun 12 2007, 10:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I heard a few rumors at the airport before i left, but i will not repeat any of them.Good call, forget you ever heard them, that's all they are. There are always 'horror story vultures' that crawl out from under some rock after something like that happens. Pisses me off.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vale4607 @ Jun 12 2007, 11:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Read my mind. The TT cant move on, so thats it. Its crazy. Why is it improvements to safety for riders and spectators is always seen as butchering or choking the event. Being able to reach out and touch a rider shouldn't be possible at the speeds these guys go. Its not responsible or reasonable for the organisers to let this happen. In 77 when it lost world champ status I'm sure everyone thought the world had ended and the TT was done for. It wasn't. Change for my and your safety should never be viewed negativelyit's the negative effect on tourism that scares the .... out of those guys.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (skidmark @ Jun 12 2007, 11:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Is it Tom? I know how you could think that but what happens at races? Spectators are all ages, so it's not like women and children not allowed, I know that sounds sarcastic but it's not meant to be, I'm only stating the obvious in my view. Motor racing is dangerous and a certain amount of that danger is transferred to the spectator because they are in close proximity to the racing, as they are at say, Valencia. The difference is, and I suspect that this was a factor in the recent tragedy in the IOM, the unpredictability of where a bike will end up when separated with its rider at say, 130/140mph. Will it hit a ditch or a telegraph pole or a gate-post and be catapulted on some other trajectory? How much of it's speed will it have lost before hitting something? In all probability, very little, because there is no run off and no gravel traps at a roadrace. It was likely all fine and dandy when the 'gentlemen of the day' raced pushbikes with pushrod engines and wore tweed, but Jesus what century is it?

I understand your point, but at the end of the day i don't think any of us on here no what we are talking about as much as the people in charge of rider and spectator safety at the event. They will obviously doing all they can to make it safe for everyone involved but at an event like this some risks just cannot be eliminated. Ultimately why ban an event because you think its too dangerous? Stay safe by staying away if the risk makes you uncomfortable. But some people accept the risks and enjoy on the thrill of being there or competing in it, and taking that decision out of their hands would be a negative move.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (skidmark @ Jun 12 2007, 11:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>hi raven, …… only one?



alright man....

yeah to the best of my knowledge we have only one track event......

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (raven46 @ Jun 12 2007, 12:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>alright man....

yeah to the best of my knowledge we have only one track event......

Try these raven, there's also a full calendar for club racing too.

2007 ISB / National Series - 2007 dates

Open 17/03/07 Kirkistown
1 17/03/07 Mondello Park
1 18/03/07 Mondello Park
2 7/04/07 Bishopscourt
3 9/04/07 Kirkistown
4 26/05/07 Mondello Park
4 27/05/07 Mondello Park
5 9/06/07 Bishopscourt
6 14/07/07 Aghadowey
7 25/08/07 Mondello Park
7 26/08/07 Mondello Park
8 1/09/07 Kirkistown - B&D
Open 2/09/07 Mondello


Whereabouts you from?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jun 12 2007, 11:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I understand your point, but at the end of the day i don't think any of us on here no what we are talking about as much as the people in charge of rider and spectator safety at the eventDon't be so sure Tom, at a GP or BSB yes, but road racing is not governed in the same way. In Ireland, it's a shambles.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (skidmark @ Jun 12 2007, 03:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'> Try these raven, there's also a full calendar for club racing too.

2007 ISB / National Series - 2007 dates

Open 17/03/07 Kirkistown
1 17/03/07 Mondello Park
1 18/03/07 Mondello Park
2 7/04/07 Bishopscourt
3 9/04/07 Kirkistown
4 26/05/07 Mondello Park
4 27/05/07 Mondello Park
5 9/06/07 Bishopscourt
6 14/07/07 Aghadowey
7 25/08/07 Mondello Park
7 26/08/07 Mondello Park
8 1/09/07 Kirkistown - B&D
Open 2/09/07 Mondello
Whereabouts you from?

Don't be so sure Tom, at a GP or BSB yes, but road racing is not governed in the same way. In Ireland, it's a shambles.


hey there is only one of those tracks in the republic

im in limerick....

and the best race at mondello is the BSB

where else do they do road racing apart from ireland and the manTT

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (raven46 @ Jun 12 2007, 03:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>hey there is only one of those tracks in the republic

im in limerick....

and the best race at mondello is the BSB

where else do they do road racing apart from ireland and the manTTHey it's all Ireland man, I'm in the occupied 6 though I grew up in Cavan.

They actually roadrace in New Zealand of all places, that's where they turn out guys like Bruce Anstey and Shaun Harris. There's nowhere else in the world that I know of anyway.

Mondello BSB is the best race in Ireland all year!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (skidmark @ Jun 13 2007, 12:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hey it's all Ireland man, I'm in the occupied 6 though I grew up in Cavan.

They actually roadrace in New Zealand of all places, that's where they turn out guys like Bruce Anstey. Nowhere else in the world that I know of anyway.

Mondello BSB is the best race in Ireland all year!

I live in Aus now, but yeah we have a few street races down in NZ, I saw one guy smash his leg up pretty bad after coming off and sliding into a curb. Guess what the track is called? The Cemetery circuit

http://www.cemeterycircuit.co.nz/

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (skidmark @ Jun 12 2007, 03:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hey it's all Ireland man, I'm in the occupied 6 though I grew up in Cavan.

They actually roadrace in New Zealand of all places, that's where they turn out guys like Bruce Anstey and Shaun Harris. There's nowhere else in the world that I know of anyway.

Mondello BSB is the best race in Ireland all year!


my condolences on that man but at least you had a lot more races to attend

thats pretty cool that they road race in new zealand must do a google search, i would think it would be better and mabey/probably safer, i hear that the road surface and conditions are great there...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vale4607 @ Jun 12 2007, 03:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I live in Aus now, but yeah we have a few street races down in NZ, I saw one guy smash his leg up pretty bad after coming off and sliding into a curb. Guess what the track is called? The Cemetery circuit

http://www.cemeterycircuit.co.nz/



nice one, did'nt have to do that google search


great name for a circut BTW

That 'cemetry' race has been on TV here, 'motors tv or 'men and motors', can't remember but it looked feckin hairy. Imagine loosing the front at 100mph headed straight for a nice, big, high, rock-hard KERB! Not for me.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (raven46 @ Jun 13 2007, 12:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>nice one, did'nt have to do that google search
great name for a circut BTW

The name cracks me up too. We have the Battle of the Streets series. Im pretty sure it only runs at 2 circuits now for 2 rounds, the 2nd track is called "The Hacksaw"

another great name

Check out this ad for the exhibition held last year.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vale4607 @ Jun 12 2007, 03:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The name cracks me up too. There is the Battle of the Streets series. Im pretty sure it only runs at 2 circuits now for 2 rounds, the 2nd track is called "The Hacksaw"

another great name



defo great name

whats the point in giving a track a nice flowerly name at least their gettin straight to the point about it