[randyrad]

Originally Posted by 767 ...WHAT WAS SO UNSAFE???

just an interested spectator here, never been to that track, trying to follow the debate.

What's the story on the grader with the tree growing through it? If it's close enough that an airborne/tumbling midget could hit it, that's unsafe, no? The pictures of the parked cars tells you something. As well as the pole with the hay bales. If the operator/ promoter had to have the fans repark & USAC personnel were trying to correct other hazard which had been identified, but not corrected, just prior to the race, you'd have to wonder what else the operator/promoter had overlooked. Just because Late Models race there & nothing bad had happened there - yet, doesn't make everything ok. The idea is to id & fix the hazards in advance, rather than wait 'til they cause a problem.

All the references to races being run under these conditions in the "old days" fail to mention all the safety advances & reduction in deaths & injuries since then.
USAC has stated that enhancing safety is a priority - they've even invested in their safety trucks. Why shouldn't grassroots racetracks be as safe as reasonably possible?

Something was mentioned in this thread about problems at Hagerstown. I was at both USAC races there. What did I miss?

[Tony Barhorst]

Mike M had a problem with photos of the event being posted? There were posters on this thread asking if races were held multiple times....the answer is yes. Mr. Morrison writes for many, many publications...What is wrong with posting the race results, story, photos and payout?....

The answers are...We had safe races, people need to know that. A good crowd, had a good time.

[767]

Its real simple, the drivers not usac said the track was unsafe. All i want to know is what was unsafe? If it is the grader issue, I have a cutting torch, chain saw, and a truck and trailer I will start on it tomorrow night, if thats what it takes to get sprints to show up for mscs race. I am going to stay hard headed until someone tells me what was so unsafe.

[Seadog]

Originally Posted by 767 Its real simple, the drivers not usac said the track was unsafe. All i want to know is what was unsafe? If it is the grader issue, I have a cutting torch, chain saw, and a truck and trailer I will start on it tomorrow night, if thats what it takes to get sprints to show up for mscs race. I am going to stay hard headed until someone tells me what was so unsafe.

Unless you are a midget driver putting YOUR life on the line, maybe you don't see the problems. It's easy to be an armchair quarterback.

If you are a driver and the conditions bother you, don't drive. If you are a spectator and don't like what you see, don't go.

Get over it and move on with your life.

[767]

Seadog, i am one that would like to see good raceing at this track. I wan to know what needs to be fixed. I live close enough I will volunteer time to help out. But nobody wants to pinpoint exactly what needs to be fixed. U diehard faithful need to get your drivers to speak up! I am tired of the unsafe rant, and no one will say exactly what they don't like! And yes until they say what needs to be fixed, tony is right!!!!!!!!

[randyrad]

Originally Posted by 767 Its real simple, the drivers not usac said the track was unsafe. All i want to know is what was unsafe? If it is the grader issue, I have a cutting torch, chain saw, and a truck and trailer I will start on it tomorrow night, if thats what it takes to get sprints to show up for mscs race. I am going to stay hard headed until someone tells me what was so unsafe.

Thanks for that info. Drivers were the force that finally prompted long overdue safety measures in F-1 & other forms of racing. Safety had always lagged behind other technical advances that had increased all other performance aspects.

...too bad you weren't at the track early raceday with your rig so you could bring the track up to spec for the operator/ promoter. New promotional slant on Fan Appreciation Night.

Yes. They ran the race, safely, thankfully. That has nothing to do with the validity of the drivers' safety issues.

Had I been there, I'd have stayed & enjoyed the race. Especially since the winner is a guy I watch (& pull for) all the time, who came all the way from E.PA. He also took the wing off his Sprint Car & helped fill the field & provide some local interest when the USAC Sprints came east - something none of the PA Posse hotshots had the cojones to try.

Maybe something good will come from this, if potential safety issues at this & other grassroots tracks are taken more seriously. ...& a nice win & purse for :thumb Steve Buckwalter.

[PJ Wright]

The first race I ever attended in Indiana was the sprintweek race at Bloomington (year 2000) when Kasey Kahne hit the water truck during a heat race. Do they still keep it parked off of turn one?
It just seems to me that either the concern for safety is somewhat inconsistent or that there are other factors in play here.
Please don't label me as a USAC hater, I'm probably the only person living in SC with a USAC tag on the front of their truck

[Mud Packer]

Originally Posted by PJ Wright The first race I ever attended in Indiana was the sprintweek race at Bloomington (year 2000) when Kasey Kahne hit the water truck during a heat race. Do they still keep it parked off of turn one? It just seems to me that either the concern for safety is somewhat inconsistent or that there are other factors in play here. Please don't label me as a USAC hater, I'm probably the only person living in SC with a USAC tag on the front of their truck

PJ,

Yes the water truck is still parked in turn one.

[ossuks]

Tony B.

You posted that USAC sent Greg S. out 9 months ago and that he gave you a list of things to be completed. You then say that Union Co. Speedway did not make the improvements.

Now you want to blame everyone involved ? YOU WERE OUT TO LINE YOUR POCKETS WITH NO REGARD FOR ANYONE ELSE, YOU WERE AWARE THAT THE FACILITY WAS UNSAFE, GREG S. GAVE YOU THAT INFO. YOU COULD NOT GET THE COOPERATIN OF THE TRACK TO FIX THE ISSUES, THEN CANCEL THE EVENT! BUT YOU CAN NOT DO THAT BECAUSE YOU WILL LOSE MONEY! THEN YOU SAY YOU " WANT POEPLE TO WORK THROUGH THIS EVENT WITH YOU"

BOTTOM LINE IS YOU CARE NOTHING ABOUT THE "PANSIES" JUST YOUR WALLET! SHAME ON YOU FOR THE DAMAGE YOU CAUSED THIS SPORT!!

[DonMoore10]

Once again you people keep posting all these reactionary statements. IT DOESN'T MATTER!! USAC is in charge of the racing issues including track safety and they didn't do their job. Read Kevin Miller's first post. Mr. Miller and his vice presidents approved the facility or they wouldn't have shown up Thursday. Bottom line!!! If I were on the Board of Directors of the Uinited States Auto Club, Mr. Miller and his followers would have been fired immediately. You people need to understand the difference between the sanctioning body (USAC) and the promoter (Tony Barhorst in this case). Mr. Barhorst hired the United States Auto Club to administer the issues that you people keep harping on. Once again, they didn't do their job. Plain and simple.