Landracing Forum
Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials => Bville Motorcycle Speed Trials General Chat => Topic started by: Bruin on September 06, 2010, 02:14:02 PM
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Last year a motorized pit bike came in real handy. This year Ed brought a bicycle while I borrowed a friends little 125cc Suzuki dirt bike. In practice it seemed team members reached for the bicycle rather than fire up the motorcycle. Then after someone rode onto a hot track, AMA the helmet/safety gear rules in the pit became a subject for greater enforcement. I have no debate concerning those rules but it sure made riding a motorized pit bike more inconvienent. What we discovered was the bicycle offered a very reasonable alternative. Easy to get-n-go, a breeze to pack and haul, and great for the most common pit errands... fetching timing slips, rider meetings, part searches and honey pot runs. STD has found them cheap and reasonable at garage sales, and just had one donated by putting the word out. At those prices there are no salt corrosion concerns. I'm just saying that we found bicycles a great, inexpensive, reliable, alternative to the traditional motorized pit bike. (And I found out that old guys do remember how to ride them and kinda enjoyed the throw back to my youth.)
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Bruin,
I think you are spot on!
The pit bike crossing the hot track was a very big deal as far as the AMA, FIM, BUB and the Track Control personnel were concerned.
Every registered rider is 100% responsible for the actions of their crew, fam & friends.
More than one rider has lost his or her racing privileges because someone in their crew did something stupid.
In the six years I have been launching bikes at the BUB meet I have only seen a few teams that truly needed a motorized pit bike at an on course starting station.
Great advise!
How about a contest for best pit bicycle? Sponsors any one?
Bob
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Anyone got a pic of my all rust 40s ballon tire tanker, with the white Fat Frank tires I took to Bub in 08.. that was a great one..
had a motored barstool too that year..
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I always thought a trike would be great. Some place to carry stuff and even provides a seat when needed.
(http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq78/todlcole/Motorcycle/schwinnTrike.jpg)
A nice vintage one would be even better.
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Careful Cole ... My 80 year old mother uses one just like that to go to the grocery store ...
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What i found incomprehensible is the amount of people who thought this issue had anything to do with a pit bike/motorcycle.
It had to do with communication. it could have been a bicycle, car, or all terrain skateboard.
This is a communication issue and only a communication issue.
Thanks again to BUB for running another fantastic event.
Baron
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Bruin and Bobby we are with the bicycle idea 100% for some of the reasons you stated. Just jump on and peddle to where you want to go, no fuel to worry about, super easy to transport across the country, and its even healthy for you to use. Hey Cole - I like the trike idea, maybe a home made version.
Yes Baron, I think most people know and agree it was a communication issue - Its people who do not think its important to be at the riders meeting, every morning, not just the first day.
Up with Peddle Power - saves gas - we need it to race.
Jimbo
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The riders meeting at Bubs was mandatory for everyone first day ... after that new registrants mandatory ... the change was the "All riders" meeting on Monday ( I think it was Monday) to reinforce the required helmets on pit bikes rule from AMA Ken ... Right after the meeting a young lady about 18 pulled up on a scooter with shower shoes and no helmet .... definitely fanned the flames ... The AMA is specific in requiring helmets on all motorcyclists and pit bikes are motorcycles. It is one of the those deals where you dont have to like it, you just have to do it ....
Joe
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I totally agree with the helmet rule for riding in the pits.......BUT it would have been nice if we were told about this rule PRIOR to the event. Not a day into the event.......is this again one of AMA Ken's make the rules as we go along?...Sorry,
but "Question Authority
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PS. To the above post.....how many years has the BUB event been running????? How many years has
AMA Ken been steward????? Now one day into the event we need helmets to ride the pits.....don't get me wrong I am all in favor of this safety rule.......just don't like the way it was mandated...................
May have been better...."next year helmets will be required when riding a pit bike"
Kind of makes you wonder what other rule changes can be expected in the future at mid-stream!!!!
"Question Authority..........Always"
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baK, consistency can be admirable...
i admire you...
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As I remember the last five years the pit etiquette rules were gone over each year. The registered rider is responsible for his crew. AMA Ken is not making things up as we go, I would believe. It seems like each of those years there was a pit bike that was ether speeding through the pits or just doing something with out using the brain.
Again, that's why its important for everyone to attend the riders meetings. Geeepers, we even had a rider go so far off coarse that it went from the Mountain short course into the median and from what I heard even entered the International Course for a moment before returning to the median and finally being stopped at the tower.
Again, not only attending, but paying attention at the daily riders meetings is paramount. It is the best way to keep this a safe - fun event.
Just my humble opinion - :cheers:
Jimbo
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Hey, I just call them way I see them......I have worked with the AMA on the sidecar rules in the past
and we have always been able to get together in the end................I just don't like new un-written or new announced changes a couple of days into the event. If it involves the event insurance.....so be it...
.....but that must have been known prior to the event............this is not a big thing....and like I noted before, it is a good safety procedure.........That't all from me........................................................
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is there a law in the state of utah that requires people riding dirt bikes on the salt to wear a helmet.
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The biggest problem that I saw in 3 Bubs events with pit bikes was kids riding in the pits ... the helmet rule seems like overkill if pit bikes are ridden at reasonable speeds in the pits but I am okay with it ... Jim, only the first meeting was mandatory ... the second mandatory meeting was added for the pit bike deal ... although it is not a bad idea to attend daily if you have no crew responsibilities.
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It's a ongoing problem at most events. People don't control their own kids or crew in some cases. At El Mirage it is wide open and helmets are required by everyone that rides bikes, quads etc. The Rangers write tickets and even impound vehicles.
At Speed week and the world finals we have two ambulances and two fire units. There are always some kind of incident in the pits and the 2nd unit is stationed there. The rule for no riding in the back of pick up and on trailers is there because someone or got hurt or worse.
Speeding on the return road and access road to the start line is common. I see it all of the time and say something on the CB. Most slow down but others ignore the fact and we have a rover talk to them.
The rules are there because they are necessary. If a rule needs to be added during the event it's for a good reason.
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in california the only offroad toy that you are required to wear a helmet on when riding is a quad. you are not required to wear a helmet on a dirt bike.
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interesting logic ... 2 wheels no helmet ... 4 wheels helmet ... same Suzuki engine except 2 wheel is faster ...
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At El Mirage it's posted that helmets are required on the dry lake bed.
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its on the sign on the way into El mirage (no Helmet no ride) Racefanwfo show me were california dont require you to were a helmet on a dirt bike, I bet your dead wrong
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This was not a new rule to this year. Ken announced it in 2009 at the drivers meeting because of what he was seeing then. I don't recall if it is in the entry packet but willing to bet it will be next year.
In the pits a bicycle works for me. If I needed to run from pits to starting line, etc. maybe a pit bike; but I would rather jump in the truck so that I have everything I may need.
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i just got done looking at the rules for riding at elmo and the only machine you need to wear a helmet on when you are riding there is a quad. i even looked at the rules for hungry valley ohv there also no helmet is required unless you are riding a quad. i also talked to peggy at the elmo visitors center just now and she asked the ranger on duty and he said helmets are not required when riding a dirt bike. helmets only required when riding a quad. so glen you are wrong.
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Post #19
It's posted and I have see the rangers pull them over and in a couple of cases write them up
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i am not telling anyone not to wear a helmet when riding a dirt bike that would be stupid. i always wear a helmet when i ride offroad. all i am saying is that there is no law that says you need to wear one when riding a dirt bike offroad. the sign at elmo that says no helmet no ride pertains to quads only. i will say this once again peggy at the emlo visitors center asked a ranger about wearing a helmet when riding at the lake bed and the ranger told her the only machine you are required to wear a helmet on is a quad.
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Cole you are spot on - Ken goes over this every year. That is why I say its important to go to the riders meeting every day. Course conditions and or some unforeseen act or occurrence may need to be discussed and remedied. Some one in your crew needs to attend every morning.
Elmo, Speed Week or World of Speed, BUB are all different venues - but the fact remains, like Glen said - The rules are there because they are necessary. If a rule needs to be added during the event it's for a good reason.
And I say,- just deal with it man - I do not think any one of us would want the BLM or an Insurance issue shut down any of these events as a result of noncompliance of some very simple rules.
And in closing - I like our bicycles - don't have to worry if its gonna start, its easier to transport across country, and it saves gas - we may need that saving in the future to keep racing.
Jimbo
P.S. racefanwfo - do you really think you need a law, or explicit event rule to tell you to do something that in your own mind you know you should be doing ?
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Hi Racefanwfo, I would like to say to you and especially glen TGVOB and his mini me, mkilgor that you are CORRECT as far as the law is concerned at El Mirage..
You CAN ride a bike on the dirt surface WITH OUT a HELMET PERIOD!!!!!!! I too called and talked to the "Law Enforcement Officer, all thru Peggy, and your information is entirely correct... SOOOOOOO it looks like OL glen and his mini me kilgore have AGAIN put out "BAD INFORMATION" in an effort to push their agenda ... I only wish you had a bet with those two, I would've enjoyed watching the pay off.... I just wish those 2 clowns would check their facts before they start posting . By the by, I can remember seeing John Noonan and Van Butler riding their "pit bikes" without helmets at El Mirage.. I would also like to say that on the Monday before Speed Week started , I received 2 phone calls from racers who set 4 records at Speed Week, and probably hold betwen them 30 records over the years, looking for "pit Bikes"to use at Speed Week.... Has anybody got a clue as to how much MONEY the SCTA_BNI make in gross dollars from the spectaters and how many other venues they support at Wendover... I also agree with you on your support of every body wearing protective gear.. If you don't, you either have rocks for brains or you are Loony- Tunes.. Mike R.
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Yes you are allowed if over 18 to ride a two wheeler at El Mirage without a helmet, when I push Michelle back after she or I have made a pass no helmets are worn, is it smart (probably not) however we are running 15 mph or less on the return road and are constantly looking for kids, dogs and remote control cars getting in our way on the return road as well as other SCTA racers.
This is a BLM rule that many long time SCTA racers and officials are not aware about, over the years Michelle was "asked" where her helmet was when coming to pick me up on the return road.
I do not believe anyone is trying to send out "BAD INFORMATION" to the racers/public..just some were not aware of the current rules...
Noonan
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OK I was semi wrong, the under 18 helmets are required and so is anyone under 12 requiring a adult with them at all times.
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Bak,
Last year we were also told to have helmets when riding pit bikes at Bubs. They just did not enforce it as strictly as they did this year.
I predict next year if you are caught riding without a helmet it will be a warning for first infraction and kicked out of the event and/or fined for the 2nd infraction.