New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors posted today.
September 28th, 2009

Maple Grove Raceway vice president/general manager Lex Dudas announced Saturday that the following rules for competitors at all events will go into effect immediately:

1. Pit vehicles – including golf carts, motor scooters and ATVs – are not permitted to be operated one hour after the end of track activities.

2. Unlicensed vehicles are not permitted to cross public roads per local police. Patrons who wish to visit the Finish Line Pub or the campgrounds, must park their vehicles inside Gate 4 and proceed on foot.

3. Fireworks are not permitted on Maple Grove Raceway property at any time.

4. If there is nothing scheduled the day after an event, all vehicles must exit the property 90 minutes after the conclusion of the day’s activities.

5. Checks must be picked up within 30 minutes of the final round of each class final. NO CHECKS WILL BE MAILED.
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Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

So what happened at the Bracket Finals this weekend?

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

This is an April Fools joke right?

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

Doesn't sound like the Lex Dudas I know. Sounds like somebody had "too much fun". Jim

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

Hello...

Wednesday evening at the Bracket Finals last week, someone fell off a golf cart and sustained a severe head injury. He had to be airlifted out of the track. This person is still in the hospital the last I heard.

Thursday AM, all racers were informed that no pit vehicles were to be used after 9 PM and that only one rider was going to be allowed per seat. I know the 9 PM rule was enforced. The one rider per seat wasn't being enforced much from what I saw.

I was told over the weekend that more injuries occur from pit vehicle accidents than anything else at NHRA events. This doesn't really suprise me.... If everyone doesn't start being a little more cautious on their pit vehicles, we might all be walking in the future.

As for the fireworks, someone was firing them off Wednesday evening at the track...

Jeff Jewell

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

Hi Jeff how have you been?
The problems stem from a few noodles who probably had a few too many or are just plain clueless.Allthey have to do is use the track security to monitor what's going on after the racing ends.In NJcops can issue a DWI,even on private property to riders of any wheeled vehicle,even bicycles.Saw it happen at the Englishtown swap meet 2 years ago.The numbskull really deserved it too.
In the end it's our own shooting us in the foot.

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

In West Virginia, we have a bad wrap for atv deaths as we usually lead the nation in that rate. All people talk about is how many people are killed riding on some of our back roads with no safety gear. they don't want to talk about how many are legally drunk, or jacked up on meth or other illegal drugs. It just ruins it for the rest of us.

Sounds like Maple Grove's rules are a little extreme to me though.

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

Rules 1-4....OK....but tell me exactly why one is to forfiet the money that they've earned if they forget to pick it up. Deduct a $1 (if you're that friggin' cheap) to cover the stamp and administrative cost.

That's funny...at an NHRA race we can't get our money and at Maple Grove you have to get your money...

Please someone, tell me what to do and how to do it...I need more rules...

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

Just more reasons not to go. If these people can't understand that we can do other things, if we are not treated fairly, they need to understand it. The poor economy is not the only reason there are fewer and fewer racers going to national events. The 9 P.M. curfew for pit vehicles is a joke. Just because some idiot fell off his scooter, why punish everyone. If NHRA and track operators don't understand that they are losing customers at a much faster rate than they are gaining them, they are idiots.

As a business why would you not go out of your way to accomodate your customers instead of alienating them? Can any of you imagine Bill Bader or Pat Joffroin, or Dallas Jones doing these idiotic things?

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

If this is all in response to the problems from the bracket finals, look what we're talking about. 50-75% of the racers that attend the brackets don't travel. This is probably the only time they leave their home track! They all want to party and things get crazy. Most of us that travel (most) know how far we can take it...and are professional lushes, why should we all be punished for the stupidity that happens every year at the bracket finals?

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

My thoughts exactly!!!!

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

Kids(under 16 with no license) driving motorized vehicles in the pits are a problem. I saw a child about 8-9 years old driving around in a golf cart at Maple Grove, and when I told the adult, (in the passenger side), that you need a drivers license to opperate a golf cart he said "he's with me". I told him that doesn't matter. This goof let the kid drive on the wrong side of the road, and was not looking where he was going. The next time I will just go straight to the NHRA. In the USA we drive on the RIGHT, A**HOLE!!! NHRA please through these A-HOLES out!!! If one of these idiots hits anything I own, It's going to get ugly in a hurry. Let your kids play on a playground, not at a dragstrip.

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

I'm not in your guy's neck of the woods, but I sure hate to see things like this happen. I'm sure it will eventually work its way this direction.

Fact is, liability is a reality and its truly amazing how today's judicial system works. A creative plaintiff's attorney can turn the perpetrator into the victim in a heartbeat and track owners are ultimately forced to do something to mitigate their risks .. such ashame.

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

They actually have enforced these rules at Cecil County earlier this year. I guess some kids were fooling around on a golf cart and rolled it. One of the bars went into the kids head and he had to have something like 90+ staples put into his head (Now I maybe wrong, just the story I heard from the Cecil officials and some of the local racers). I guess there was no officials or security on the track site when this happen and they had to have him air-lifted to the hospital. We went down for the Super Gas association race in July and we finished about 6pm. Of course if anyone has been to our Cecil S/G race Uncle Buck has the Giant Pig Roast. As we were getting on our bike to drive over to the BBQ one of the officials came over to us and told us "Hope your not planning to drive that bike over there" we were like yeah it's a long drive and then he was like "Don't plan on racing tomorrow then" we were like ???. He was like "now that racing is done for the night all pit bikes/golf carts/etc must be put away for the night". If you are caught on one you will be suspended from racing the next day. So we made the long walk on foot to the BBQ and they made several mentions on the PA to put all bikes away or don't race tomorrow.

I do agree with John on this subject, there are way too many young young kids who are driving around on Mini-Bikes/Golf Carts. It sucks cause they make us buy the NHRA motorized pit sticker to enforce it but nobody ever really does. I knew when I saw the e-mail come out yesterday from Lex that something must have happen at the bracket finals and it just really sucks for the people who travel all over to get the rules slapped on them because of non-traveling racers act up at one race and act like idiots.

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

The rule that the track CANNOT or WILL NOT send out checks that YOU , THE CUSTOMER, has earned is probably pretty close to theft.
If I was them, I would try to treat customers like they are the ones that bring in the cash....oh wait, we ARE THE ONES WHO BRING IN THE MONEY. Seems way too many track operators and especially NHRA has overlooked that one "little thing". Without us, the customers, their jobs would just go away.

WOW! How do you protect people from STUPID? Insurance companies have been trying to figure that out for years. Now they just admit they do offer coverage for STUPID.

C'mon, get real. Keep the kids off motorized vehicles, require lights and if you act STUPID, toss them out. If you are capable of driving around after 9pm in a golf cart you should be able to.

More rules, sure way to fix everything, right?

Jok

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

Fontana also has that rule. 60 minutes after racing no golf carts, scooters, etc, etc. Some dummy ran into the track manager after a race earlier this year.

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

i wonder if maple grove will tell john force he cant use his scooter after 9pm.

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

At the Northern Sports nats. last weekend there were some kids doing donuts and in general acting up on a golfcart not far from my pit area. I told myself not to go over and read them the riot act thinking whom ever they were with would see them and put a stop to it.Well they tried every way to roll that cart and never did thankfully. I really didn't want to get these kids in trouble, however if given the chance again I'd go get an official and let them deal with the kids. We like to go visit and ride around a bit after the racing is over I'd hate for some stupid actions of kids make me have to walk everywhere. I'm for having fun but we all have to be responsible for ours and our freinds and kids actions at the track it's easy for them if they get kicked out they just go away and don't have to come back. So please be responsible and report any antics to the track....wish I had. Joe

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

Watch for the requests for handicap permits skyrocket now.Don't get me wrong if you need a handicap exemption you should get it.The rest can use the two feet God gave them.

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

Do any of you have kids that are on here saying that kids should'nt be on pit vehicles? I don't have any kids, but I know for a fact that I could handle a golfcart when I was 8-9 because I was already using a lawn tractor to mow my parents grass.

Parents that know their kids should make this decision, not the track owners.

I have been to tracks that don't allow kids to ride bicycles. how fair is that? They can strap into a Jr dragster, but can't even ride a bike for fun or execrise during the down time.

and if you want to see people doing stupid things on a golf cart, just go to your local golf course especially when they have a scramble, or some type of tournament.. talk about a bunch of crazy drunks??

and also, if the track is sponsoring some sort of Bar B que, or feed, or party, why would they not let you ride a vehicle to it? what if you were pitted far away?

Track owners need to realize who the customers are.

and no I am not one of the crazies on a golf cart at three in the morning. but I think we are entitled to use our pit vehicles as we see fit whether that be going to see friends or a feed after the race, or going to the church service at 730 the next morning.

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

but I think we are entitled to use our pit vehicles as we see fit

Chris,maybe on your own property but not on theirs.We might not like it and it seems we are being punished for the actions of a few people who think they can do what they want when they want.We have the option of not showing up if we want.Not a good option but that's the way it is.
It might come down to the point of requiring insurance to ride a pit vehicle on the premises.Another outlay of cash and bureaucracy.

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

Unfortunately ,It sounds like a serious accident prompted the pit vehicle rule. ........As I understand it, someone fell off the back of a scooter Wed. nite ,and was run over by a golf cart following them. .......The injured person apperantly sustained a serious head injury,and had to be air lifted out from the track.........The rule may seem a little draconian, but put yourself in Lex's position . .....I'm sure there is pressure not only from the insurers, but probably the police also.........The only one I don't get is the check deal. ........Tom

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

It was posted by a track operator on another site(I was told) that the gentleman hurt was on an overloaded golf cart that took a turn too fast and he fell. He is hurt pretty bad and will be in the hospital for quite awhile. My prayers to the family. It was an accident, should cart have had more people on it that it could handle, probably not, but we've all been there. Again, it was an accident and I was not there, but dont think we all should be punished.

Question...Where was MG's crack security? The ones that chased me down with 2 vans when I was riding my Zuma back from the bar after having dinner with friends that were staying at a hotel? It was like something out of "Cops". All because I drove by the guy sleeping at the end of the road! What did they think I was doing, riding a scooter from Reading @ 12:30am just to sneak in the track? I'm getting off the subject and sure they had their reasons. Still, where was security?

No...I don't believe younger children should be riding around unsupervised. Motorized or not. It only takes a second for their eyes to wander and turn into the path of someone or something. A childs life is way to precious to chance.

I thought our pit bikes needed to registered and insured. How are they different than driving your car in and out? How can the track tell me I can't drive my legal vehicle in and out unless they lock the gates?

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

I still haven't figured out why people need pit bikes,quads, golf carts, motorized wagons and bar stools. We'd all be healthier if we walked more plus we could put the money saved on the scooter and better health in the race cars. Then we could all be fast and get rid of the shoe polish and get the fans back. See how easy it is.

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

Harry, when is the last time you walked a pair of slicks about a mile to get them changed, then walked them back to your pits? Much more practical with a golf cart.

Kids without a drivers license should not be operating pit vehicles.......period! If they are caught, throw the parents (racer) out of the event! That should be a good deterrant!! Just because some little kid can handle a lawn mower doesn't give him the right, or priviledge to operate any motorized vehicle anywhere else!

I have a question about the last rule.........what are they going to do if you are not leaving the track by the 90 minute mark???? Will they lock the gate and impound your stuff??? Will you get a fine and/or storage fee? What will they do??? This has to be the most ridiculous rule I've ever heard of!

When will they come up with rules on when we are allowed to use the restrooms? It seems to be coming to that!

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

I think it relates back to the "The one with the most toys, wins" rule.

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

The last time I raced at Sacramento Raceway they had the permanent restrooms padlocked and had limited porta-potties around. I inquired and was told that they locked the restrooms because the racers left a mess! That's when I decided my racing experience wasn't being enhanced at that facility and I haven't been back. Unfortunately, in my advancing years, I'm finding fewer and fewer tracks that are enjoyable to go to. I'm not Dan Fletcher, I don't race for a living, this is supposed to be fun. More and more it's ceasing to be fun.

Unlicensed drivers should not be allowed on motorized pit vehicles, that's the only way to enforce it. And, I agree, disqualify the racer if your child is caught driving one.

And the check deal? That is not right.

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

What happened to the Auxiliary Pit Vehicle Registration & Agreement?
I paid for mine at the first race of the season?

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

what is the release for that everyone signs when they come into the track?

how is it the tracks fault that someone wrecks a golf cart?

I was at a race a couple years ago at clay city where there was a guy there by himself with his elementary school aged son. The dad changed the engine in the car by himself while his son rode a bike and played around his pit area the whole time. there were no problems.

I am from an area where people let their kids ride dirt bikes, four wheelers, and help out on their farms at a fairly early age.

I apparently just see things differently that the rest of you.

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

I've never seen the age of the people involved in this so we may be getting off track a bit on the KIDS riding. Although I do agree that they should at the very least be supervised by an adult an accident can happen no matter what the age. Yes we ride our dog around, yes we chase parts and services, yes we go visit after hours, No I don't want to get hurt or hurt anyone else I have alot of $ in my stuff and I want to keep it nice so I try to be responsible. No matter the age if you don't care or aren't paying attention things such as this can happen. I have a very good freind who at times allows his son to drive him around the pit area, his son is probably more attentive than most adults while driving of course dad is always right there to make sure everything is OK. So I'm not sure the age of the people is rellevant here. Joe

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

So my question is, it says if you visit the lounge you must park your golfcarts/bike/etc at gate 4 and walk the rest of the way. So what do you do if racing is done at 10pm, you drive to gate 4 with your bike, drop it off, walk to the lounge and stay till 12:30am, do you have to walk back to your trailer on the other side of the track and leave your golf cart at gate 4 until the morning? I feel bad for the people who put money into the lounge to get it back open cause fewer and fewer racers will be visiting it.
I mean I agree with Lex on this part due to the fact that Insurance companies are looking for every little thing in the book to drop coverage on people. I got into a fender bender about 3 years ago and the insurance company I was with since I was 17 tells me, sorry we are dropping you. I was like WTF and I told them I have had a safe driving record for 10 years and they told me sorry we can't cover you anymore due to your fender bender. So someone falling off a golf cart and getting seriously injured on track property throws a red flag up to the insurance companies and then they start to pry around into other stuff. Hopefully PA doesn't get as bad as NJ with the police. Don't know if anyone has been to Atco lately but the place is crawling with NJ State Police to the point where they actually re-check your car after it goes through tech and give you a manual with rules and regulations.

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

Walk?!?!?! Walk?!?!?!

This dude has obviously never had an air bottle run out of air in the staging lanes or a delay in the race as the sun goes down so the 6.5 psi in your tires is now 6.25 psi. Heck, I won't even ride the golf cart to the lanes for that reason, sometimes, you need to go back to the pits and you only get maybe 5 minutes if that.

Kelli
1236 S/ST
1836 S/G

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

Why in the world would the state police be concerned with the rules and regulations at a sanctioned drag race on private property? If they are re-checking your car, what exactly are they looking for?

that was the whole idea of starting NHRA in the first place was to keep the law enforcement out of "speed competitions"?


what's next, will they be running radar on the return road?

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

Kelli,the ban is 1 hour after racing ceases.
Chris,the NJ State Police are watchdogs at all motorsport events in NJ.If there is an accident they do the accident investigations.Been like that for quite some time.

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

Thats why in NJ if there is any death involved in an Drag Racing Accident there is no more racing the rest of the day. The state police bring in a whole unit to investigate the accident just like they would if there was a accident on the highway. Thats why when Darrell Russell or Blaine Johnson died there were no real long reports on the accident, speed they were going, cause of accident, cause of death but, when Scott died at E-Town last year there was a long reports on everything that happened during his run and the autopsy. New Jersey does have a full blown 30-40 page New Jersey State Motorsports Rules and regulations that hand out to every racer after passing through tech. Every Tuesday night at Atco during the street/bracket race there is at least 2 uniformed police officers on site checking out every car that gets teched in.

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

Yeah, I know that, I'm just commenting on the dude that says we shouldn't have them at all and be healthy and crap.

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

The new rules were put into effect to avoid future situations at our facility. The local police advised us they would be ticketing any unlicensed vehicle riding on or crossing over the public road adjacent to the track. We don’t want our customers to receive citations, hence the rule. In the case of racers and crew having dinner at the “Finish Line Pub” security has been instructed to allow reentry to the pit area with their pit vehicles.
We all know fireworks can be a dangerous situation in the pit area and the disruption they cause to our guests trying to sleep, hence the new rule.
The one-hour after racing is completed for pit vehicles was put into effect on Thursday of the ET finals and resulted in much calmer and relaxing nights for our customers.
The new rule pertaining to picking up awards at the track was put into effect because we’ve mailed checks in the past and when we needed racer information such as social security numbers or business ID numbers the racer receiving the check didn’t reply which causes issues for us at the end of the season when we don’t have the proper information for the IRS. It’s not about saving a few bucks, we need to complete each event’s accountability in a timely fashion and having to mail checks and wait for driver or owner information slows the process.

Lex Dudas

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

Suggestion: provide a Form W-9 with each tech card. Establish a policy that checks will not be distributed and/or mailed unless a completed form is on file. That's what I tell my clients to do all the time; it's amazing how quick you get the forms when someone is waiting for their money! ;-)

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

Dude its called better planning. Check your pressures before 5 minutes to go. But I have to shift mine myself so I don't have a need for an air bottle. My air tank rides to the lanes than is carried back to the pits,no big deal. I just don't see a need for the carts to the extent they are used. I could see a need if you had move something heavy but I've moved transmissions, heads even a short block I had delivered to a race with a hand truck. Whatever turns your crank. Use them while you can.

Re: New rules for Maple Grove Raceway competitors
 

[QUOTE=Harry 6674;143813]Dude its called better planning. Check your pressures before 5 minutes to go. But I have to shift mine myself so I don't have a need for an air bottle. My air tank rides to the lanes than is carried back to the pits,no big deal. I just don't see a need for the carts to the extent they are used. I could see a need if you had move something heavy but I've moved transmissions, heads even a short block I had delivered to a race with a hand truck. Whatever turns your crank. Use them while you can.

Wow,now we have a "dude" bashing competition.