Track safety! Racers/Marshalls PLEASE read!
07-22-2011, 07:49 PM
#1
Track safety! Racers/Marshalls PLEASE read!
Guys I had a terrible night at my local track 
. Managed to catch an unlucky marshal in the head with an 1/8th buggy during practice. Fortunately it looks like he will be just fine but I did gash him pretty good. I was not out of control and I was within the race track lines. There was nothing I could do once i was in the air. I know turn marshals should be aware of oncoming cars but of course I cant help but feel responsible for hurting him. Safety is a shared responsibility of both the marshals and racers so...
Please Marshals and Racers be careful! Everyone be as aware of your surroundings as possible!!! SAFETY IS PRIORITY #1!
I am very lucky, the situation could have easily been much worse. The track owner was there and responded immediately with first aid. Everyone was understanding of the situation. This type of thing is just not good for anyone, the person who was hurt, the track/owner, and myself.
. Managed to catch an unlucky marshal in the head with an 1/8th buggy during practice. Fortunately it looks like he will be just fine but I did gash him pretty good. I was not out of control and I was within the race track lines. There was nothing I could do once i was in the air. I know turn marshals should be aware of oncoming cars but of course I cant help but feel responsible for hurting him. Safety is a shared responsibility of both the marshals and racers so...Please Marshals and Racers be careful! Everyone be as aware of your surroundings as possible!!! SAFETY IS PRIORITY #1!
I am very lucky, the situation could have easily been much worse. The track owner was there and responded immediately with first aid. Everyone was understanding of the situation. This type of thing is just not good for anyone, the person who was hurt, the track/owner, and myself.
07-22-2011, 07:59 PM
#2
i agree with you some tracks require people, to sign a libity so you pretty much can not sue for doing something at your own risk .
if i get hit by one thats my problem for not paying attention i did sprain my ackle from turn marshing .
i mean yes if somebody gets hurt by a 1/8 scale in the air, or on the ground i do feel bad but than again its at your own risk.
believe this story i used to have a local offroad track, and there was a boy there with his dad and he broke his arm from what i remember i think he triped on something on the track.
well he was drinking and the fool still wanted to sue after a year later !
if i get hit by one thats my problem for not paying attention i did sprain my ackle from turn marshing .
i mean yes if somebody gets hurt by a 1/8 scale in the air, or on the ground i do feel bad but than again its at your own risk.
believe this story i used to have a local offroad track, and there was a boy there with his dad and he broke his arm from what i remember i think he triped on something on the track.
well he was drinking and the fool still wanted to sue after a year later !
07-22-2011, 08:56 PM
#3
I hear ya , a couple weeks ago I got tagged in the foot during a truggy race trying to marshal an over turned truck at the end of a long straighaway and the guy had it pinned when he hit me .
This pic was from the same night , believe it or not it wasnt broken .
This pic was from the same night , believe it or not it wasnt broken .
07-22-2011, 09:28 PM
#4
Wow that looks painful. Certainly helps to prove my point! It really could happen to anyone so be careful out there.
Oh, and dont wear flip/flops or sandles lol or that could have been even worse.
Oh, and dont wear flip/flops or sandles lol or that could have been even worse.
07-23-2011, 07:17 AM
#5
My biggest pet peeve is with guys practicing between rounds while we are out on the track triing to prepare it for the upcoming round of heats... It burns me that they think they are entitled to every second of practice while the races aren't being ran, but the thing that really gets my blood boiling is that they think they have to run full race speed while we are sweeping, fixing pipes, or what not.... They have no concideration for the fact that there are people on the track that cannot pay full attention to their cars..... if they crash I just ignore them for little while....lol I personally have been hit too many times to count.... Just wait someday..... RC SKEET SHOOT....LOL
07-23-2011, 07:29 AM
#6
I was standing next to professorcake when this happened and he is correct, there was nothing he could have done. Very unfortunate accident and fortunately the man that was hit wasn't injured seriously. I've been hit before and it hurts but both times I wasn't paying attention. Momentary lapse of concentration and "whack". We need to be concentrating on track marshaling just as hard as we do when we are driving. No race is worth losing an eye or worse yet being killed.
Dennis
Dennis
07-23-2011, 07:48 AM
#7
What about requiring some sort of helmet, possibly similar to a lacrosse helmet? (They appear lighter than a football helmet and have face guards.) It would be a requirement to race, you bring a helmet so you can marshal, and if you can't marshal you can't race. Also possibly some sort of shin guards, similar to but not as tall as baseball catchers. They extend down over the top of the foot, and might have helped above.
Something not mentioned here is children marshaling. I think no one under about 14 should ever be allowed on a track for any reason. We can tell the racer/marshals, "Always look up the track before stepping on it," and hope they do it. But young children? Nah. I've watched them skipping and jumping around on the track during both practices and races, and am amazed we have not had a death. The hit described above probably would have killed a 6-year old.
At some point somebody, probably a young kid, is going to be paralyzed or killed, and when that happens the lawyers will have a field day. They will sue the property owner, track owner, race director, and everyone signed up for the race. Even if you don't lose your house, the cost of defending yourself will bankrupt you and you'll have to move.
Don't say, "Chazz you're crazy." I talked to my insurance agent about opening a track, and when I described the above he refused even to quote on the policy. I suspect no insurance agent has yet thought of the above, which is why R/C tracks can exist in the U.S.
Something not mentioned here is children marshaling. I think no one under about 14 should ever be allowed on a track for any reason. We can tell the racer/marshals, "Always look up the track before stepping on it," and hope they do it. But young children? Nah. I've watched them skipping and jumping around on the track during both practices and races, and am amazed we have not had a death. The hit described above probably would have killed a 6-year old.
At some point somebody, probably a young kid, is going to be paralyzed or killed, and when that happens the lawyers will have a field day. They will sue the property owner, track owner, race director, and everyone signed up for the race. Even if you don't lose your house, the cost of defending yourself will bankrupt you and you'll have to move.
Don't say, "Chazz you're crazy." I talked to my insurance agent about opening a track, and when I described the above he refused even to quote on the policy. I suspect no insurance agent has yet thought of the above, which is why R/C tracks can exist in the U.S.
07-23-2011, 08:16 AM
#8
My biggest pet peeve is with guys practicing between rounds while we are out on the track triing to prepare it for the upcoming round of heats... It burns me that they think they are entitled to every second of practice while the races aren't being ran, but the thing that really gets my blood boiling is that they think they have to run full race speed while we are sweeping, fixing pipes, or what not.... They have no concideration for the fact that there are people on the track that cannot pay full attention to their cars..... if they crash I just ignore them for little while....lol I personally have been hit too many times to count.... Just wait someday..... RC SKEET SHOOT....LOL
07-23-2011, 08:22 AM
#9
1/8 racing is dangerous for the marshalls, especially indoor on small technical tracks. I already got a 1/8 buggy smashed in the back of my head. I was lucky because of its angle I almost felt nothing but if I would have it in the face I don't think I would heve looked very pretty 
. Everybody has to be conscious of the danger, it can be really painful
. Everybody has to be conscious of the danger, it can be really painful
07-23-2011, 08:26 AM
#10
Tech Fanatic
iTrader: (7)
At our local track no kids allowed to marshall 1/8 scale adults only. For the most part that has worked very well. I wait to marshall a car if in a questionable area, if multiple cars are launching at me on a jump simply out of safety. Its the responsibility of the marshall to make sure they can safely marshall the car first and second to perform the action as quickly as possible. Sure it might piss of the guy racing but its my noggin and not his. I try to respect them back the same way.(by not getting pissed if i am sitting upside down cause i wrecked)
07-23-2011, 09:23 AM
#11
Adopt no marshalling races like 1.1 scale then. It would completely change how we race.
But then of course, I suspect that we would have to provide boxing gloves. Imagine driving 4 hours to a big race and get taken out corner 1 in the A.
But then of course, I suspect that we would have to provide boxing gloves. Imagine driving 4 hours to a big race and get taken out corner 1 in the A.
07-23-2011, 09:32 AM
#12
At our local track no kids allowed to marshall 1/8 scale adults only. For the most part that has worked very well. I wait to marshall a car if in a questionable area, if multiple cars are launching at me on a jump simply out of safety. Its the responsibility of the marshall to make sure they can safely marshall the car first and second to perform the action as quickly as possible. Sure it might piss of the guy racing but its my noggin and not his. I try to respect them back the same way.(by not getting pissed if i am sitting upside down cause i wrecked)
And anybody ever yells at me while I marshall...well hope they don't crash in the main
Any type of racing is dangerous and our danger is running into someone! !!Toys cars can Kill!!!Be Careful!!!
07-23-2011, 10:13 AM
#13
What about requiring some sort of helmet, possibly similar to a lacrosse helmet? (They appear lighter than a football helmet and have face guards.) It would be a requirement to race, you bring a helmet so you can marshal, and if you can't marshal you can't race. Also possibly some sort of shin guards, similar to but not as tall as baseball catchers. They extend down over the top of the foot, and might have helped above.
Something not mentioned here is children marshaling. I think no one under about 14 should ever be allowed on a track for any reason. We can tell the racer/marshals, "Always look up the track before stepping on it," and hope they do it. But young children? Nah. I've watched them skipping and jumping around on the track during both practices and races, and am amazed we have not had a death. The hit described above probably would have killed a 6-year old.
At some point somebody, probably a young kid, is going to be paralyzed or killed, and when that happens the lawyers will have a field day. They will sue the property owner, track owner, race director, and everyone signed up for the race. Even if you don't lose your house, the cost of defending yourself will bankrupt you and you'll have to move.
Don't say, "Chazz you're crazy." I talked to my insurance agent about opening a track, and when I described the above he refused even to quote on the policy. I suspect no insurance agent has yet thought of the above, which is why R/C tracks can exist in the U.S.
Something not mentioned here is children marshaling. I think no one under about 14 should ever be allowed on a track for any reason. We can tell the racer/marshals, "Always look up the track before stepping on it," and hope they do it. But young children? Nah. I've watched them skipping and jumping around on the track during both practices and races, and am amazed we have not had a death. The hit described above probably would have killed a 6-year old.
At some point somebody, probably a young kid, is going to be paralyzed or killed, and when that happens the lawyers will have a field day. They will sue the property owner, track owner, race director, and everyone signed up for the race. Even if you don't lose your house, the cost of defending yourself will bankrupt you and you'll have to move.
Don't say, "Chazz you're crazy." I talked to my insurance agent about opening a track, and when I described the above he refused even to quote on the policy. I suspect no insurance agent has yet thought of the above, which is why R/C tracks can exist in the U.S.
wearing helmets during marshalling and racing no thank you i dont think that would ever work out right.all you need to do is have a waiver and a sign that says at your own risk than somebody cant sue.
07-23-2011, 10:16 AM
#14
dam ouch
yea i got hit by a truggy in the turns, while fliping over somebody elses truggy on my ackle i got hit sure it hurt but it happens.
07-23-2011, 10:33 AM
#15
What about requiring some sort of helmet, possibly similar to a lacrosse helmet? (They appear lighter than a football helmet and have face guards.) It would be a requirement to race, you bring a helmet so you can marshal, and if you can't marshal you can't race. Also possibly some sort of shin guards, similar to but not as tall as baseball catchers. They extend down over the top of the foot, and might have helped above.
Something not mentioned here is children marshaling. I think no one under about 14 should ever be allowed on a track for any reason. We can tell the racer/marshals, "Always look up the track before stepping on it," and hope they do it. But young children? Nah. I've watched them skipping and jumping around on the track during both practices and races, and am amazed we have not had a death. The hit described above probably would have killed a 6-year old.
At some point somebody, probably a young kid, is going to be paralyzed or killed, and when that happens the lawyers will have a field day. They will sue the property owner, track owner, race director, and everyone signed up for the race. Even if you don't lose your house, the cost of defending yourself will bankrupt you and you'll have to move.
Don't say, "Chazz you're crazy." I talked to my insurance agent about opening a track, and when I described the above he refused even to quote on the policy. I suspect no insurance agent has yet thought of the above, which is why R/C tracks can exist in the U.S.
Something not mentioned here is children marshaling. I think no one under about 14 should ever be allowed on a track for any reason. We can tell the racer/marshals, "Always look up the track before stepping on it," and hope they do it. But young children? Nah. I've watched them skipping and jumping around on the track during both practices and races, and am amazed we have not had a death. The hit described above probably would have killed a 6-year old.
At some point somebody, probably a young kid, is going to be paralyzed or killed, and when that happens the lawyers will have a field day. They will sue the property owner, track owner, race director, and everyone signed up for the race. Even if you don't lose your house, the cost of defending yourself will bankrupt you and you'll have to move.
Don't say, "Chazz you're crazy." I talked to my insurance agent about opening a track, and when I described the above he refused even to quote on the policy. I suspect no insurance agent has yet thought of the above, which is why R/C tracks can exist in the U.S.
Dennis/Rustyfingers, thanks for the support, it was nice to meet you and ill see you around the track.
