Posts
4215
Joined
4/11/2010
Location
AQ
Edited Date/Time
6/23/2018 2:37pm
Just an idea I had, why doesn't Glen Helen get some old 250F's and some old or new donated riding gear and use them as a payment for flagging duties payment? Notch up a certain number of volunteer flagging hours and you earn an hour or whatever on one of the bikes. The last hour of the day is devoted to the flaggers and other beginners only.
I know before I got my first dirtbike I would have been happy to spend a weekend to get an hour. And these kids would be more enthusiastic at the job then someone who can ride the track already with their own bike.
Just a thought. Hash it out and flame away.
I know before I got my first dirtbike I would have been happy to spend a weekend to get an hour. And these kids would be more enthusiastic at the job then someone who can ride the track already with their own bike.
Just a thought. Hash it out and flame away.
The Shop
Ive also felt that flaggers should be trained, even if its just for 20-30 minutes the morning of the race. Its amazing how one short training session can help so much. People are often so benevolently blind to whats going on around them, its like watching deer in headlights.
I say this as having flagged pro level events all the way down to local amateur series. Most people just can't do the job.
My experience with racers is that often they are the ones that pay the least attention to instructions and training because they think the know everything. There have been some exceptions, but that has been mostly my experience.
Being a racer does not automatically qualify someone to be a good flagger anymore than eating at a restraraunt means you can cook. Thinking you know what is wrong with the soup doesn't mean you can do it better.
I was at Highpoint last weekend and standing along the fence right where Marchbanks went down. There was a flagger right at the top of that section and the instant Marchbanks crashed he ran down and started flagging as Marchbanks crawled off the track. Obviously everyones instincts is to watch and see how the downed rider is doing, but the flagger had the continued forsight to realize right away that the bike fliped and landed in a terrible blind spot as well. He looked back realized the track was clear, ran to the bike, and pushed it off the track right after Marchbanks scampered off the track. Making sure no one hit the downed rider or even the down and hidden bike. This situation could have been MUCH worse, but a flagger being on his game saved a lot of other riders. Anyways just a quick summary on a flagger doing good.
Now with that another quick story on racers not paying attention or ignoring flaggers.
It would have been the first 450 moto, some rider (sorry never got the name or number) went down in the corner before the uphill to the finish. A flagger got out to him, and was flagging riders to the outside as expected since the downed rider was pretty far inside. Well Musquin came down into that corner, got a little stood up and out of the line he wanted, then instead of taking some time, correcting his line, and going around the flag as he should he just threaded the needle and went right inbetween the downed rider and the flagger. And having seen the flaggers reaction he was not happy to dang near have his knees taken out as we was just trying to protect a downed rider. I think A Ray also did something very similar to Musquin in that spot as well.
Anyways, just 2 quick storys that sometimes flaggers really try, and sometime riders are still boneheads.
This was an 80 Nov/Int moto with probably 20 entries, I could see how a 450 moto with a full gate ignoring flaggers would be very frustrating.
Pit Row
I have to give props to Milestone these days. Plenty of flaggers and they also have an onsite trained EMT at all times.
Maybe in moto its different, and I'll admit my least experience racing is in moto. From what I've seen, when the people I know who race consistently and have been at it for years, flag a race they know where to stand, what to look out for, and have a better idea of what to anticipate happening.
What we think should be basic 101 stuff like flagging at a blind jump take off and not at the landing, staying off the race course, not crossing the race course during the race, and protecting downed/injured riders by directing race traffic around them, etc is often lost.
I only race moto in the summer to stay in shape (socal mx series), and the majority of people working those races are mc club members who "usually" have a clue and do a good job. When I flag I know I take it life and death serious. I bust my ass because I know that little yellow flag can be the difference between a tommy tip over and multiple trips to a hospital. Comes from having to go to the hospital due to bad flagging.
Also required are EMT's, Fire & Rescue, fencing spectators, track supervision and more as risk management.
Flagging is the hot item of the moment, but how many of these other items are being addressed, and can reasonably be expected to be with the type of money to work with in this sport for practice days?
You can't always blame someone else. How many people are warning of this bad situation?
If it's so important, why don't they do online posting of positions needed like auto racing. You can't expect people to just volunteer, or wander up. You could go get a truckload in front of Home Depot? Those guys want to work.
No pay but our incentive is a free practice day and free food.
On regular race days(nesc,nemx etc) i believe its $100 for the day and many of the flaggers are locals looking to make easy cash. They do a good job.
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