Pit Vehicle vs Race Car Right of Way
 

This weekend on Saturday at Heartland Park there was a serious accident regarding a racer on their way to the staging lanes. A truck t-boned the race vehicle and the racers vehicle was badly damaged. It seems everyone while at the track forgets the racers should have right of way to get to and from the lanes and back to their pit space. We almost got hit from a person pulling their trailer while on the way to the staging lanes as well. Do not take for granted that someone is looking out for you and is paying attention. I know it's common sense but there seems to be a lot less of that with everyone's entitlement these days.

Be safe and have fun at the track this season!

Sean

Re: Pit Vehicle vs Race Car Right of Way
 

Bowling Green is a nightmare at times with pedestrians, golf carts, personal vehicles and pit bikes...even on pit road.

Re: Pit Vehicle vs Race Car Right of Way
 

Driving in the pits is more dangerous then driving in a shopping center parking lot. There are people and kids driving around on golf carts and atv and utv that have no idea what they are doing acting like it is a play ground.. People do not realize that when you are in your race car you have very limited vision other then right in front of you and drivers in motorhomes and trucks and tow vehicles also need more room and have limited visibility. Everyone must be alert and stay far away from any race car moving in the pits. Be extra careful

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I know I'm going to get someone mad but here goes, when driving any vehicle you must use caution. I've seen many racers thinking that they're to important for the show that they must drive like stupid idiots. If you waited to long to come to the staging lanes then it's your fault. This is something you see at divisional, national and your local track. You're not the show, so slow down and try not to kill anyone or damage other racers car. Don't forget spectators also paid for the privilege to view the show without expecting to be run over my an ahole.CR

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Not exactly how I view it at all. Spectators pay for the privilege of "viewing" the event...not to block pit road with their bodies or golf carts. Most won't even swing off the pavement for approaching vehicles. Nothing like burning your car down on pit road trying to get to staging or back to your pit space after a run...

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another issue is cars being towed back on the return road , i feel they should move over for a running car being driven back. but usually they go 5mph right down the middle,

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Topeka can be dangerous going to staging lanes. It is a long ways and you try to get enough speed to get over the hill.....then coast into the lanes.

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I have noticed that people walk through the pit down the center and won't move over for race cars going to staging or going back to their pit spot.even with open exhaust they don't move. so a few years ago i installed a horn in my car.It works great

Re: Pit Vehicle vs Race Car Right of Way
 

Sean, did they have the road course open? Safest way to staging lanes from the back pits.

Re: Pit Vehicle vs Race Car Right of Way
 

Hi Tom,
Myself and several others were pitted North of the tech building, The road course was open, as I saw a few cars using it it to bypass the regular route. The accident was on the main road going to the staging lanes and 1 side road to the south of the tunnel.

The accident at Topeka was not a dented fender but a badly damaged race car. If it was a golf cart or scooter that was hit the outcome would have been on the news as a fatality at a drag race.

Everyone has their opinion on who has right of way, being safe and not ruining someones property and having some awareness is why I posted this to begin with. There is no doubt, safe speeds should be followed, and looking out for each other should be a high priority.

Sean

Re: Pit Vehicle vs Race Car Right of Way
 

The kids at our National Open race on scooters was crazy, i don't understand why they are riding around like the own the road.

Re: Pit Vehicle vs Race Car Right of Way
 

That's the parents fault!

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I thought there was a minimum age on scooters in the pits, how about we just enforce the rule? Secondly, why don't they stop letting non-racers driving their cars into pits? I see a steady flow of street rods, motorcycles, etc just 'cruising' the pit lanes. This isn't supposed to be a rod run, keep vehicles not associated to the function of a racer out of the pits.

Jim Caughlin
6019 SS

Re: Pit Vehicle vs Race Car Right of Way
 

The time to complain about a problem is when it happens and not days later on a forum that has no control over the issue. Do you think that the people doing this will read about it here and, miraculously, change there behavior? Go to the tower and talk to the DD and make a real report about it. You may actually save someone injury or worse.
This is also one of the reasons that I have insurance on my car that covers it while driving in the pits.
Dan Foley
SC 4698

Re: Pit Vehicle vs Race Car Right of Way
 

Dan, I can't speak for Div 4 but I can tell you I would be in the tower at every Divisional race on the west coast if I were start complaining about kids bombing around on motorized vehicles. Yes, you are correct that we are lucky so far that (to my knowledge) no one has been hurt but if I am seeing it, are you telling me that multiple NHRA officials aren't seeing the same thing? My 4 year old comes to the races with me, he is not allowed to even touch his bicycle (non-motorized) until all of the cars are shut down for the night and then only with me supervising.

Jim Caughlin
SS 6019

Re: Pit Vehicle vs Race Car Right of Way
 

A few years back at LVMS during Nationals: Darren Smith's National champion Superstock Dart was hit by the crew of another car who ran a stop sign at a pretty fast speed. Darren was bang up (He is a tough Kid)..... BUT his beautiful race car was virtually destroyed! He was coasting slowly right on the big wide main road down to the staging lanes. The crew in the SUV that hit really must have be flying by the looks of what was left of the Smith's car!

I do not believe the crew of the Alcohol Dragster received any sanctions or fines of any kind! Darren and his Dad Dave were much calmer throughout the whole ordeal than we would have been in that deal!

Re: Pit Vehicle vs Race Car Right of Way
 

Last year at Norwalk Divisional I had a heated exchange with a very well known TS driver after he ran his cart in front of me while I was pulling into my pit spot on Saturday after a pass. We were pitted right next to one another the entire weekend. I was willing to let it pass but he approached me in my pit spot and threatened to kick my *** if I didn't calm down. They came flying down the pit lane and I was 2/3 of the way through my turn when they zipped in front of me coming from the blind spot in my car. I didn't call them any names but I did shout an expletive INSIDE my car. The guy is a real piece of work. A couple of wally's and a fast car doesn't give you the right to act like an arsehole. I've noticed a huge lack of respect in the last few years regarding this topic. It's only going to get worse....

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Sounds like my deal...normal raceday at Englishtown like 15 years ago and a track employee t-boned my Nova right in the door coming from a side road as I was going to the lanes for the semis. Thankfully I only got a couple of bumps and bruises as opposed to what could have happened, but the car was hurt bad. Dude drilled the door all the way to the door bar on the cage, wiped out the quarterpanel, bent the rear, spun me around 180 degrees. Funny part was the door glass didn't get broken (I still have it!).

To say I wasn't happy would be an understatement and in my 20 year old youth probably went a bit overboard expressing my anger, disgust and contempt and probably warrented the rest of the year vacation I got plus losing my job working the burnout box there. Kicker was the kid kept his job and I got 2 tickets, one for reckless driving and other for failure to produce insurance or registration.

Name of the game is keep your eyes on the lookout all the time...people are, well, stupid...

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While we are on this subject......watch out for the SPEEDING COASTER into the staging lanes......gets a running start at 60 mph and kills the engine while coasting at 35 mph between lanes of cars in the staging lanes.......I have seen people almost ran over by STEPPING OUT IN FRONT of the " SILENT SPEEDER" rolling into the lanes....BUT ITS SO COOL FOR THE CAR TEMP !!!!!!! GEEEEEEEEEESSSS

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I always pit at the far end of the track where the return road enters the pits , opposite end of where staging lanes are. 70% of the field does this , It really is a dangerous act. But this so far away from any track personnel no one will address it. Sooner or later someone will be hurt from this. Sad that it takes an injury or loss to have racers follow the rules of 10 MPH on the return road and pit area.......

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Think it is time for mandatory HORNS

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My Comet was hit by someone last year when parked in the pits, the left front bumper still has a nice dent, it was a hit and run. Brian Seaberg

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I had my share of near misses when I was drag racing in the '70s and '80s, but back then we didn't have to deal with the current number of tow cars, tow trucks, tow vans, off-road quads, off-road side-by-sides, golf carts, mopeds, go-peds, motor scooters, off-road pit motorcycles, bicycles, electric bicycles, skateboards, hover boards, roller skates, Razor-type scooters, electric-powered Razor-type scooters, inline skates, Heelys, and so on.

In my opinion, children have no business being on ANYTHING with wheels in the pits. We don't allow that in motorcycle road racing, except for racers in full safety gear, on race bikes, heading directly from their pits to the track entrance and back, at not more than the pit speed limit.

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Scussbags

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Sounds familiar, Jon. I had trouble many years ago, also at Norwalk with a TS racing team as well. The team owner wanted me to move from my own pit spot and when I refused, called my car a "piece of ****". I suspect the same clan.

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I'm not the vindictive type but have had damaged race cars due to others being neglectful and downright rude. You should call out active racers who act like this so others can avoid pitting in the same vicinity; same goes for obnoxious generators or failure to mount generator exhaust stacks and subsequent fuming your trailer/motorhome all night long.

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this subject is ugly and the ONLY way it will be fixed is, Im sorry to say is
when some one is serouisly hurt and the track owner and nhra are
sued, under age kids on atv's, golf carts etc. Parents have to teach there
kids or let the12 year old kid drive a golf cart on I-75 and learn the hard way
its bad enough some racers are also guilty of poor judgement.
the fix before someone is badly hurt be tough or pay for your neglect
down the road.
$200.00 fee for atv golf cart's scooters per event div&nat event
sign a letter of responsibilty making the cart owner responsible
race tracks are private property, the event is sanctioned by nhra
you don't have to be an attorney to figure it out