Crash at Sonoma raceway 2/22/2020

[stangmx13]

nothing in this thread has suggested there was any "reckless riding" to me.

1. should that rider have been talked to by TDP staff - yes, safe track exit is practically rule #2 after safe track entry.
2. should they be allowed to not ride the rest of the day - no, not without being a repeat offender.
3. should they be banned entirely - no, not without being a gross repeat offender.

the most common cause ive seen for a rider getting a "free pass" is because the TDP didnt know what happened or who did what. they arent omniscient and cant catch everything. requesting that a staff member talk to or pay attention to a rider is ez.

we hold the best riders on the planet to a MUCH higher standard than C-group trackday riders. comparing the two is silly.

 

[FXCLM5]

?? Why? do you know him?
Your saying I am lying.
Go fuck yourself!

No I dont know him, again your posted video does not clearly support your claim of said rider.

Also I have been rear ended on the track, needed surgery couldn't walk/drive for 6 months, easily lost 20k+ from loss of work and bike etc. Like I said hope your not trying to sue him or provider.

 

[Holeshot]

And believe me, there's a blacklist out there and lots of riders who no longer are allowed at any events. You will never see it though.

We should better coordinate these with AFM and the TD providers. We do this pretty well with other clubs.

 

[black cx]

That sucks. Heal up

 

[Entropy]

You ride the track long enough and shit happens as they say. I’ve been on both ends, being taken out and taking someone else out. The last time was at Laguna Seca, where some poor dude was just cruising through turn three and a took him out. I went to apologize afterwards but the guy was rightfully heated and probably didn’t hear anything I said. He thought I was going too fast, my tires too cold etc... As a rider I knew I was riding well within my limits but as a recipient the other guy assumed I wasn’t. As it turns out (and I only discovered after I talked to the guy) my rear brake line came loose at the mastercylider oiling my tire when I came into turn two. When I hit turn three I had a tire covered in brake fluid and I went down quick with no warning. I was probably riding at 60-70% when I passed my victim. I got ran over so I guess Karma was served.
My point is that shit happens. Sometimes it’s the red mist, others it’s mechanical and sometimes it is just the tiniest of mental lapses compounded by the small increments of time you deal with while at speed.
You are hurt, you are angry and you want to be able to understand why. Those are normal reactions. Unfortunately you might not get those answers. I hope you heal well and quickly and rejoin us on track soon.

 

[NorCal Factory]

I’ve found the riskiest group is B. B is the same inexperience as C, but with more speed and less margin for error. Then add extra risk of newbs trying to brake harder or drag knee - that’s B.

But rly, it doesn’t matter much. Crashes and contact happen in all groups. I’ve been to trackdays w 0 crashes all day and ones w excessive crashes in all groups. Shit happens. U can do a few things to stay safer:
- pay attention to your surroundings
- don’t hold up a group of riders
- avoid idiots
- ride within your skills, esp if you are near others

The OP is a newb to the track and BARF. Unfortunately he learned the hard way with both. Well, hopefully he learned. Jury is still out.

B group usually has the widest to range of riders with unsafe behavior, but we see it all in A and C (B-) too.

Every day at Sonoma I pull over at least a couple people not exiting the track safely. Usually due to no hand up and failing to stay left from turn 9 on.
Sometimes you get dealt a bad hand in life. How you deal with it is what defines you. Heal up and come back to the track - it’s still safer than the street in most respects.

 

[slydrite]

As it turns out (and I only discovered after I talked to the guy) my rear brake line came loose at the mastercylider oiling my tire when I came into turn two. When I hit turn three I had a tire covered in brake fluid and I went down quick with no warning. I was probably riding at 60-70% when I passed my victim.

:wtf

Who is working on your bike?? That should never happen

 

[richbobby]

:wtf

Who is working on your bike?? That should never happen

This is one of the scarier things about trackdays to me.

Not to knock on the providers, but most tech sessions are more legal checkboxing than actually inspecting the bikes, beyond major issues. It would take ages if you did. Riders also are free to adjust or "fix" their bikes throughout the day on their own.

one day the guy pitted next to me lost his oil fill cap. luckily he noticed smoke/oil spraying on his boots before he crashed. "Yeah the o-ring broke so i just put it back in. Bike got loose so I started looking around and spotted it lolol"

:rolleyes

 

[slydrite]

It's not about Tech. It's about who is working on the bike. Brake lines don't just loosen themselves

 

[richbobby]

It's not about Tech. It's about who is working on the bike. Brake lines don't just loosen themselves

I guess that's kinda my point...

 

[stangmx13]

This is one of the scarier things about trackdays to me.

Not to knock on the providers, but most tech sessions are more legal checkboxing than actually inspecting the bikes, beyond major issues. It would take ages if you did. Riders also are free to adjust or "fix" their bikes throughout the day on their own.

one day the guy pitted next to me lost his oil fill cap. luckily he noticed smoke/oil spraying on his boots before he crashed. "Yeah the o-ring broke so i just put it back in. Bike got loose so I started looking around and spotted it lolol"

:rolleyes

this is life with motor vehicles. people in general do some stupid shit to and with their vehicles. its unavoidable. personally, I dont find theres any extra risk from idiots and mechanicals at the track compared to say riding on the freeway. at least at the track there are extra safety measures in place, everyone has the same intent and directions, and theres an ambulance right there.

as I said previously in this thread - if you want to mitigate the risk even further - pay attention and get away from anything suspect ASAP. of course, this applies to riding on the freeway too.