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Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
Having been involved in auto racing since before woman where allowed in the pits I personally am having difficulty with the new rule to allow small children in the pits during racing activity. While this practice that now seems to be the norm may work for teams that travel in totter type rigs that have living accommodations in them. IMHO it doesn't work in the pits of race tracks like Oswego Speedway when such rigs have to be removed for the racing activity and the children are left to roam freely during racing activity, as I witnessed in mid July during the King of Wings race.
Ironically, last Wed. I was sitting with one of my girlfriends who's husband and son-in-law are push truck drivers at Oswego Speedway when another friend called to say she had been invited to take her four year old son into the track with her on Thursday for a four hour practice. For those of you that have never attended a supermodified race at Oswego full size pick up trucks are used to push start the supers. Having children roam the pits is a very dangerous situation. Needless to say when I hung up my phone, I heard in length from my girlfriend who's family pushes at Oswego how unsafe it is to have children in the pits. She didn't have to sell me, we had a crew member that would bring his son in the pits even though he was under age, sure enough he was injured one week doing something he shouldn't have been doing. So my views of children in the pits were formed years ago, in most cases it is an unsafe situation. In the end my girlfriend took her son in the pits before racing started but watched practice from the stands, another mother however had her under two year old toddler in the pits during practice. I wonder if she thought twice about taking her small child in the pits when she turned on the evening news in Oswego last Wed.. Last Wed. afternoon a small child was hit by a car an fighting for their life in what first was reported as a hit an run accident. As the events of this tragic accident unfolded the 21 year old driver that hit the child had no idea they had hit a baby. (Here is where the irony came into play for me, I had just had this conversation with my girlfriend earlier that day about push truck drivers not being able to see small chidren roaming around the pits at Oswego). As my brother and I sat there listening to the evening news and learned that this accident happended on Cayuga St., my brother turned to me and asked me how I came home? He was the first to tell me that Cayuga St. was blocked off by the police at Liberty St. a block and a half away from my brothers house. When my brother told me that my breath was taken away, I have a cousin that lives in that area who has two small granddaughters that come to visit him. This tragic accident actually happend two houses away from my cousin's, the baby that was first reported to be a year and a half old was two. This precious little child died from his injuries on Friday. While this tragic accident is not racing related there is a message here. If you take your small child into the pits at any race track think twice about this practice, small children are usually very active with short attention spans; in my opinion small children don't belong in the pits during racing activity unless they have some type of RV type hauler to stay in. What do you think,? We had a seven page thread on putting blankets down at the the race track before the nights events, can we have a seven page thread on the safety of our children and grandchildren at the races? Safe racing to all, Patti |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
No!!!!
Parents cannot control their kids at all times...it's just asking for trouble. and think of the legal ramifications if a child were injured...or worse.... |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
My two children are now 5 and 3 yrs. old and we have been taking them to LPS with us when we had the support there to help watch them for two years. LPS has a large pit area with the sprintcars parked in the rear of the pits with low pit traffic except when the sprints are running their races at which time the kids are in the stands watching. My point is if the facilites lend themselves to "safe conditions" and you have the support to watch the kids, then why not let them in the pits.
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Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
I have witnessed adults get hit in the pits. Why would you want your children there. Maybe Mike Wallace could tell you about young kids around moving race cars. And then you have some idiotic hotheaded drivers. They provide grandstands ajancent to the pits @ most tracks. Keep your kids there during racing activities.
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Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
RACING is DANGEROUS!!!! and that being sayed keep them at home or in the stand. itis hard for adults to stay safe and out of harms way.use your head !
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Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
no kids that young should ever be allowed in the pits ,toter home or not.
i can't believe any parent or track operator allows this. i got run over by a trailer once that cut the turn too close,broke my toes and sprained ankle,missed a week of work. if i had been a toddler i would have been killed. as a father of a 3 year old and racer myself i garauntee my son will not be in the pits for years to come. the ignorance of some people in this country makes me sick. we do not need this kind of irresponsibilty in our sport.it's bad enough they let 15 & 16 year olds run sprint cars on half miles where we've witnessed numerous serious injuries lately. |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
How do you expect them to be able to drive the car if they aren't allowed in the pits?
Everyone knows that if you haven't made it by age 5 your career is basically ruined. |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
If you are not 18 do you not have to sign a wavier to race? So then if you are not 18 and not racing you do not get to go in the pits period. Just asking for trouble IMO.
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Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
Pretty simple........NO FREAKIN WAY!!!!!!!
How stupid do you have to be. |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
We have taken our 15 mth. old granddaughter into the pits with us while our son/her daddy races our sprint car. We have a stroller, and toys to keep her occupied and ear plugs for her ears. She is never out of anyone's sight....just like having a backyard swimming pool you must always be aware of what is going on. She knows his car and squeels with delight and waves as it goes by the stands. Driver's should never have the responsiblity while in the pits or on the race track to have to watch for children. If you are going to bring toddlers/young children in then you must RESPECT the dangers. Please don't put everyone into the same category.
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Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
I have a 3 yr old and anytime i can take her w me i will.. its just like a parking lot or swimming pool where you have to watch them at all times.. I dont let her run around and over half the time she is in the stands but i havent had any problems w taking her at all and will continue to do so.. just my opinion.. if you dont think kids should be in the pits then dont bring them but i for one like her coming and she stays in the trailer and out of harms way
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Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
I don't think young children should ever be in the pits durin the races. We take our grandkids to the pits after..when it's much safer. I did take the 11 yr old in the pits last year at the Burg, but not without a very long talk on the dangers there. She stayed at my side the whole time.
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Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
First, I am a mother of a now 8yr boy, and he has been going to races since we came home from the hospital. To say if children should be allowed in the pits, I say yes I know how dangerous the pits can be and on the same note how safe is it when they let druncken idots in the pits. I have been racing for a long time and when you do it for a living, then it becomes a different story. The parents should be responsible enough to know if there child is capable of being in the pits and able to follow rules or be able to stay in a toter home. There are many dangers that we face daily and yes we need to do everything possible to protect our children but this is a family sport and one of the reasons that racing is a joy for family's is that they can get up close and personal. There are both pros and cons but I think it should be up to the parents and the parents need to responsible with their choice. We can go back and forth about this but I think it should be up to the parents. As far as my son he will be in the pits when it is allowed and anyone that knows my son knows he knows the rules and to be honest he probably knows more about racing and what is going on the most adults.:22:
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Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
Woman nor children should be in the pits I dont think. Woman cause most fights that occur in the pits and children walking around is just an accident waiting to happen. After the races is totally fine to take them in the pits but when cars are shoving off to fire engines or coming off the track theres no way children should be in the pits.
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Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
This topic really bugs me!! The pit area of a race track is almost always too crowded and too busy anyways. To me it's just not a place for children. I often see 14-16 year olds on 4 wheelers driving around like they're out back of their farm. Race car drivers can't always see the best in the dust of a pit area, and usually sprint car guys are flying in their pit because they don't wanna pop it out of gear and wait for their 4 wheeler. I just think that if you're a mom or whatever, and you're taking the kids in the pits, I don't understand why. You shouldn't have any time to work on the racecar while watching your kids all night. Just go in the stands! It's more family friendly out there, and more relaxing and comfortable for you and your kids alike.
Absolutely NOT! Kids 15 and under should not be allowed in the pit area. Not even with a signed waiver...there's already too many people in the pits just walkin around the way it is. Go spend half the money and enjoy a race from the stands. |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
Like everything else......It's not a problem until something goes wrong and then it's a tragedy.
Not every driver will catch fire during their career and many take fire proof items for granted. That is until you witness someone(or yourself) trapped in a burning inferno when seconds are hours and then it's "We have to do this and that to make the sport safer". My stance is that no one should be allowed in the pits until 16, because at 16 you should have basic knowledge and commen sense and decision capabilities. To say the trailer is a safe place is true to a point..... but I have seen more than one car end up in theirs or someone elses trailer. Like I said, everything is good until it isn't anymore. I guess for me, if you want to have your child in the pits thats your choice, but I don't want to hear about it when something happens and I sure don't want to hear about a tracks neglegence. Of course, like I said: How will the next 10 year old phenom be able to make it without being able to get in the pits. |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
Originally Posted by sprinter2b: As far as letting drunk persons into a pit area...well...there simply needs to be a little more security at some race tracks...and not just let anyone they see with a wrist band into the pit area. I think all could agree with that! |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
double post
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Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
Absolutely not!!!!
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Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
Originally Posted by ronmil: |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
Originally Posted by cmiracingvids: |
Originally Posted by racerman454: Posted via Mobile Device |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
Originally Posted by ronmil: Originally Posted by SprintManDave: Pits is NO place for young'uns, as in, anyone under 12. I mean after all, I think Chase Briscoe is responsible enough to watch himself just fine! ;) |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
I'm with Sprinter2b on this one, my son has been in the pits since he was 1.5 months old. His first race was USAC's last race at Manzanita. He has been to Las Vegas, California, Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas, Iowa, not to mention all around Indiana. We understand the risks. Granted my son cannot walk yet, so he is always on my hip or in a stroller. He wears proper ear protection and absolutely loves the race track. Allowing my kid in the pits generally will make or break my decision on whether or not I go. For instance, I won't go to Gas City anymore but LOVE to go to Lawrenceburg or Kokomo or Bloomington (among others). We love being able to be together as a family at the race track. Having an 8 month old in the stands when the races aren't over until after 10 makes for a very long night, without a lot to do. Lawrenceburg has been so great this year letting us bring our motorhome in the pits so we have somewhere to go between races. Besides there's always clever ways to contain your kids....
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Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
Being a former race official in the pits, I can tell you that there are way too many people in there now on most nights. It is no place to have kids of any age roaming around. Even adults with "common sense" get hit and how about the driver who just got black flagged for something flying into the pit area. Or a driver coming in "hot" to the work area not expecting a child to be running free. NO WAY IN HELL! JMO.
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Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
If these kids are not in the pits with thier FAMILIES, they will be up in the grandstands taping down blankets.:2:
just saying. |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
Like I said before there are pros and cons to everything. Just watch the news children along with adults are killed and injured on skateboards, bikes, pools, baseball games, and vehicles. I would love to put my son in a bubble to insure his safety but I can't, So I have chose to educate him on the safety precautions at the track, in the grandstands and in the pits. I also take the responsiblity to watch him while we are there. To say all at 15 or 16yr olds have the ablilty to make responsible decisions, Wow just follow one down the road!! I feel blessed that we are able to do what we love for a living and with racing there is traveling which means we may be gone for weeks at a time and be required to be at the track many hours before racing even begins so maybe you should try sitting in the grandstand for hours with no shade with a child. Maybe I should introduce you to my son, I would trust him in the pits long before an adult that is not familar with racing and the pits. I've would also like to mention that I have sat in the stands and had a person sitting 3 seats away from me killed by parts that flew off a car and hit him, and had my own car flip into the grandstand and pin a man and his son. (Thank God they were ok) I believe that it should be up to the parents there are dangers in everything we do so you just have to use your head and pray. Thanks Amy I've got your back. Tamara Benic
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Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
Originally Posted by LEADERS EDGE: It has always been my belief the age 16 rule had to do with insurance stipulations. Certainly a 16 year old should have basic knowledge, common sense and decision making capabilities that a small child doesn't have. Several years ago one of the current Oswego Speedway owners and a drivers adult sister were hit while standing just beyond the inside edge of the speedway during a rain delay, push truck drivers and spectators in their own vehicles were circling the track trying to dry it. A vehicle looses control, hits another vehicle and hits the people waiting to cross the track. Talk about negligence, even the track owner is suing in this case. Which I find a bit ironic the speedway management asked these people to help dry the track now some of them are being sued. You called it Leaders Edge, it's not a problem until something happends. Patti |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
I say let people make there own decision. If the kids are being watched by a responsible parent... I see no problem with it. It is very simple... The actions of irresponsible parents make this more of an issue than it should be.
If a child gets hurt, the only legal issues should fall solely on the parents of the children... Not a race track. People nowadays think they can blame every problem that exists in there life on someone else... and that's pathetic. |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
For me the answer is simple as well:
YOU raise YOUR kid and MY WIFE and MYSELF will raise MY kid. As far as common sense goes I know adults that have little or none. Chances are most of the kids that have been in the pits since they could walk pose less of a danger to themselves or others than most of the "bleacher jockeys" that rarely come to the pits and have not been taught the proper pit area etiquette. Just my $0.02 J.L. Brewer |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
I either help on two modifieds or race one every weekend at the Burg and I have a six year old that goes in the pits with me every week. My grandparents also go every week so when I am busy they keep him with them in the trailer. He is not allowed past the end of the car and he goes no where unless he is holding someones hand. I have the best times of my life with my boy in the pits with me at Lawrenceburg and I agree that it is very dangerous. I absolutely agree with Bill that you can do it responsibly.
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Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
Originally Posted by ThaBurgFan: http://www.lawrenceburgspeedway.com/...s/_MG_8659.jpg |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
holy fishpaste, now you want to take away my cheap labor. (I am kidding). My son goes with me quite a bit. I have people help keep an eye on him and he is in training to work on the cars. If he wants to race them he has to learn to work on them. There are strict rules of conduct in the pits and if he breaks them he doesn't go with dad anymore. I worry for his safety all the time. Any parent who says they don't needs to wake up. But I want him to have the opportunity to meet and hang out with some of the best racers and people this country has to offer. If a child is out of bounds on their behavior then the kid and the parent should be escorted out. However I have been at tracks where people sneak into the pits in trailers and when they were hurt expected to have their injuries covered. I have been at tracks with people so drunk they couldn't put two words together and then they start a fight or threaten other people and the tracks don't care. I have been at tracks where jackleg promoters steal from you by skipping out or shorting your pay and on top of that if you get hurt you find out they never had any kind of insurance. I have had friends die in racing and at work. Life can be very cruel very quickly. As a parent I never want to hear of any child being hurt in any way. But I know it can happen. Ever since Jake has been going to the races he loves being with the crew and when we run the second car with Newman, Ryan and his wife are very nice to him. Jake thinks the world of guys like Ryan, Stewart and a ton of other racers he has had the chance to talk and hang out with. Those are experiences not many kids get to have. Once again part of a parents job is to worry about the well being of their child. I also feel one of my jobs is to share in all of life's joys, sorrows and experiences. Finally if I am running a race like Little 5 were total craziness goes on then Jake can hang out before and after but not during the race.
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Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
Originally Posted by Dave Rudisell: Awesome photo and I can't believe I missed it. I had to camp with the rest of the family:15: Oh well, I guess I can't complain that I get to spend the other 25 or so weekends at the Burg. Thanks for the photo, Shane |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
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Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
Originally Posted by Dave Rudisell: |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
Originally Posted by e.g.: Eric, I am sure Sam and your other crew members do an excellent job watching over Jake while you are strapped in the car. You win my praise for also realizing when it is to crazy or dangerous to have Jake in the pits with you. I had the pleasure of talking with Jake at Oswego, you have raised a very polite young man. Great job, Dad!!! Several times during the evening at Oswego I looked over to see Jake deeply engrossed in a task helping your crew. Jake is also well past his toddler years, I started this thread thinking about the young toddlers I saw in the pits in July that appeared to have very little supervision. My grandson is just a year and a half old an he can be holding on to your hand one second and gone the next. Kids that age are just that fast. Racers do not have their minds on watching for young children in the pits, they are focused on racing. Safe racing, Patti |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
Most of us IOW'ers understand that YOU supervise your children when they accompany you and your race team into the pits...but the subject that some folks seem to be ignoring is that you cannot totally control the environment while in the pits. Cars and four wheelers run around the pits, and children are known for there proclivity to "dart" or move suddenly. Sprint cars are not really "steerable" on a granular surface like most pit areas. Kid vs.four wheeler? I'd rather not think about it....
The very fact that you're exposing them to the dangers of a pit area just rubs me the wrong way - but since it's your child, it's your call. I hope that nothing untoward happens....I really do.. This sport is dangerous enough already, and I don't think that we need to expose anyone to more risks than necessary... |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
I don't post much, but thought it would be appropriate for this topic. I think it is dangerous no matter when they are allowed in the pits. That being said, I want my children to be able to see what their dad does at the race track. I want them to be able to tell other kids their age what the racing experience is like. When my children are in the pits, they are being watched and they know to watch out for everyone. I have more of a chance loosing my children on the way home from a race track than I do loosing while we are at the track.
Some have said wait till the racing is over, then you have these big haulers trying to get out of the facility. They cannot see any better than the sprint car that is flying in off the track. I think it is worse after the races. Way more people and the teams are in a HURRY UP mode to get out of the pits. Just my opinion, and I know everyone has one. Go ahead and rip me apart. Dave Thompson USAC National Midget Chaplain |
Re: Should toddlers be allowed in the pits during racing activity?
The situation at Oswego is dangerous as at most tracks. I think common sense is your guide on this one. NO!:14:
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