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How is it 2014 and we still have flaggers at Nats that have no clue
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really though.. are they given instruction or is this some guy off the street paid 50 bucks cash???
anyone on here ever flag a national?
The Shop
Personally I am just happy that the Acerbis markers are still painstakingly applied to the course so at least we're focusing on what is really important. Seriously how many hours are spent hammering the wooden stakes in, cutting them off with a saw in some cases leaving a nice jagged edge on them (ask Kyle Regal the mark they leave when they enter your stomach) and then having to pull them up after the event? Then what is the labor cost involved with Acerbis markers that don't do ANYTHING to make the racing safer compared with the labor cost of paying for professional flaggers?
Until we have professional flagging at professional races I will still moan about the Acerbis markers.. Talk about misplaced priorities,
And don't get me started on the blue flag!!!
I think you are comparing apples and oranges though. Flaggers do one thing, track markers do another.
If you are saying open boundries on a race track and pay flaggers more, ok maybe. . . but you have to get some good people that know how to flag.
Respect your opinion on wooden stakes but IMHO they are a 20th century left over still present on 21st century tracks. This is an issue on both sides of the pond and not just specific to the Nationals. As a sport we can do better and must do better on safety. Common sense goes a long way and just reducing the amount of stakes and Acerbis markers would go a long way to improve the safety level as well as have our sport look more appealing in photos and on television.
How about using some of the time spent driving Acerbis markers in the ground on mandatory flagger training unless it is a National like Glen Helen or Hangtown where the flaggers are all members of the tracks?
It is professional racing isn't time we have professional flagging?
Just saw the 2nd 450 Moto where trey crashed on the backside of the finish. They should prooobably start paying a flagging crew. Justsayin
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Given he's recovering from getting drilled due to some questionable flagging after crashing Jake has some credibility on the subject.
WADR, can't there be room for both? A better track marking system and flagging duties? IMO those markers don't do much anyway, most of 'em get run over throughout the race. . . I agree with you man, rider safety needs to be forefront. . .
Suggestions?
PS
Pit Row
BINGO.
Great contribution to the thread Dias374.
Piston Slap-Be great to hear what people think is the best way to address this. I am still blown away we don't document every injury and do a crash investigation just for historical purposes. What gear were you wearing? Why do you think you crashed? Was the track a factor? Did flagging play a role? Are you just returning from an injury? etc. Five or so questions then look at the data on a yearly data to compare it to years past to see if there are any identifiable trends.
Or we look at the injury lists year after year and have the same discussions year after year about safety.
EDIT Regarding my solution to the wooden stakes I see a modified Acerbis markers being used to hold up all the banners with virtually no Acerbis markers on the course unless it is required to define the race course. So many times they are placed around a corner where no one in their right mind would be going any way and ditto for the insides of some corners.
Contrary to appearances I am not completely anti Acerbis markers but anti Acerbis markers lining every side of the track in many cases right up against the banners that are there. Really?
Given their expertise in plastics I know Acerbis can come up with a safer alternative to the wooden stakes we have today.
in this case the flagger could also have motioned with his hands which side of the track to race on. (think SX right)
I tried to find a youtube of when Ryan Hughes got layed out by Mike Brown back in the 125 days. I think it was the same kind of situation. Blind side jump. Ryan stood up and got absolutely drilled by Mike Brown.
The folks over at The Brett Downey Safety Foundation have been using a light system like the one used in SX.
They had it set up at Mammoth and last week at Ponca, it helps alert both the riders and the flaggers/ref's in the area via lights on both sides.
That is a step in the right direction.
At each flagging point put a flagger on each side of the track.If someone is down on the left side of the track the left flagger waves the yellow and vice-versa. Someone down in middle of track they both wave yellow.
https://youtu.be/PYSAApmCxVw?feature=player_detailpage
Ya, there needs to be a better way, but the instance you mention the guy was doing his job...
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