*** BREAKING NEWS ***

Montgomery Motorsports Park loses NHRA Sanctioning Body and Insurance. Track closed and Million Dollar Bracket Race moved to xxxx.

Obviously this is a joking headline, but really no joke. You want to talk break the internet? If something like this were to happen, it certainly would.

With the disregard to the rules by a participant and not enforcing the rules, this is the situation a facility could be put in. And I don't think anyone wants to see that for whatever reason, but the sanctioning bodies have rules for a reason.

SL...

Fake ID competition license lol

I have to say the kid may be really good and he may be able to handle a big car but lets just say he breaks an axle or something and takes out another car and possibly hurts someone else? Who is at fault? Who pays? As I understand it you are supposed to be a Licensed driver over age of 16 to get and NHRA license. I have a reasonable expectation that the guy in the other lane is supposed to be a licensed driver approved by NHRA that he can safely handle his vehicle. What if he comes across the lane and kills somebody his fault or not?

Just my opinion but if they lied on forms about age there needs to be a stiff penalty for the kid and his parents. If the track knowingly allowed it they could lose Sanctioning or even sued.

There are rules and laws and we do not get to pick and choose which ones we want to follow. I mean if he can race at 14 and disregard those rues what about Matty boxes or other cheating devices? If he can ignore the age rules could we ignore rules of our choosing? What about drinking and racing? I do not drink but I know people who would if they could. Seat belts, Helmets can we ignore them to? I would not but want to know what you guys think about what rules we can ignore and which ones get enforced?

With all of that said this kid sounds like he may be a good one in the future. Just follow the rules.

quote:

Originally posted by Troy Williams:
Curtis,
I have been around all kinds of racing all of my life. Other than demo derby not ONE racer of any kind expects or wants to crash . Not even no prep guys. Coming from a Family that operated Drag strip's for 2 decades I understand far more than most the insurance issues they face. At the point the powers that be let them race, my only concern is beating them. I know plenty of people I race and have raced with for years that have zero business driving a race car period little lone a 4.4 car . We race against cars that have 3 lug nuts on a wheel rubber vale stems, bad brakes loose steering , hose champs on trans cooler lines. Any number of issues that are far more dangerous than a birth date.

Troy, to be fair I never said anyone wanted to be wrecked. If you don't expect that someone is going to wreck into you on a dirt track you just aren't being honest with yourself.

If you understand far more than anyone else about insurance issues then why would you condone something that would put a track sanction and or insurance coverage in jeopardy?

The bold section I can't argue with.

The tech issues you mentioned, just because they are overlooked doesn't make this right.

Curtis

Curtis

Do you think for 1 second even 50% of bracket racers have the proper license according to any of the HRA rules? Less than that have a car that could pass a true tech by the book. The only thing I was really saying the kid has been racing for the better part of a year and doing fine . It is going to suck that because he won he might not be aloud to race anymore . It sure wasn't noticed when he was losing . As far as the insurance goes. they are far more concerned with restricted areas marking , grandstand condition, pit area speed, Basically the peoples that did not intentionally put them self into harms way safety. Plenty of unsanctioned race tracks have insurance. About every oval dirt or paved does . they let 14 year old drivers race even nascar at the lower levels.

Pick the rules you want to follow and everybody can do their own thing.

quote:

Originally posted by Troy Williams:
Do you think for 1 second even 50% of bracket racers have the proper license according to any of the HRA rules? Less than that have a car that could pass a true tech by the book.

On a local level around here, yes to both license and tech, some tracks are more strict than others. At the big races I have attended, there is no tech. You pay at the gate and you're in the race. I guess they figure its a track rental so who cares.

Here's something to think about. Should racers have to show financial responsibility in order to race? Should individual racers be required to buy an insurance policy to cover their actions at the track?

quote:

Originally posted by Troy Williams:
Curtis

Do you think for 1 second even 50% of bracket racers have the proper license according to any of the HRA rules? Less than that have a car that could pass a true tech by the book. The only thing I was really saying the kid has been racing for the better part of a year and doing fine . It is going to suck that because he won he might not be aloud to race anymore . It sure wasn't noticed when he was losing . As far as the insurance goes. they are far more concerned with restricted areas marking , grandstand condition, pit area speed, Basically the peoples that did not intentionally put them self into harms way safety. Plenty of unsanctioned race tracks have insurance. About every oval dirt or paved does . they let 14 year old drivers race even nascar at the lower levels.

Gotcha.

Makes one wonder just where the track owner's /operator's insurance liability ends with regards to a situation like this???

Also, where, in the case of a track rental, (the race promoter's) liabilities begin and end???

Are we under/un-protected in a track rental situation? In the case of a serious incident where a level of negligence can be proven, who is liable???

Maybe an owner/operator CURRENTLY in business will chime in with some qualified input regarding insurance liability and sanctioning body requirements...



Dan

This is a classic example of adults (parents, promoters, track managers) making poor decisions that could impact the lives of many people should something bad happen.

I get that people don't follow the rules, but does that mean the adults who were in a position to teach their son to be better than those who don't follow the rules should lower their standards just to make their kid happy or to chase a big check?

So the kid can drive. Does that justify breaking the rules? Do we get to only follow the rules that we "feel" apply to us? It's bad enough when adults choose to not follow rules, but it's much worse for adults to put their kids into this type of position.

The NHRA certainly knows this type of thing is going on at sanctioned tracks. At what point do they decide to do something about it? Will it take a major lawsuit? How about the death of people due to an unnecessary accident?

IMO there are just so many things wrong with this that I don't see how anyone can sit back and think it's okay or make arguments as to why there's not a problem with it.

There's always going to be people who think the rules don't apply to them. And guess what? When the promoter/track owner/sanctioning body looks the other way, they're right - the rules really DON'T apply to them.

You know, there's other rules, like cars in the street class must have mufflers, or no slicks allowed. Then, when people run open exhaust and headers, there is a certain segment of folks who call you a whiner or complainer if you protest, saying those things offer no competitive advantage over mufflers, or over a DOT-legal sticky tire. So the question then becomes, OK, what are the REAL rules, and what are the rules we can all just ignore? I'm in favor of rules being rules. If you're going to allow slicks, or open headers, or 14-yr-old drivers in Super Pro, then change the damn rules. Otherwise, ENFORCE THEM.

there was a 14 yr old around our area a couple of years ago that was driving a 5.20 (slowed down) dragster. he was racing at some ihra tracks in the area. some of the locals called ihra and asked questions and ihra called the track operators in the area and said he was not to drive unless he had a valid DL.

ep-for what it is worth.

he still drove at our local outlaw track. didn't bother me either way. my son started driving a 6.20 door car at 15 but nobody ever said anything about it. but he didn't win 50k either.

I think if the youngster didn't win a round nobody would be saying anything about it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: pauley,

quote:

Originally posted by Troy Williams:
Curtis

Do you think for 1 second even 50% of bracket racers have the proper license according to any of the HRA rules? Less than that have a car that could pass a true tech by the book. The only thing I was really saying the kid has been racing for the better part of a year and doing fine . It is going to suck that because he won he might not be aloud to race anymore . It sure wasn't noticed when he was losing . As far as the insurance goes. they are far more concerned with restricted areas marking , grandstand condition, pit area speed, Basically the peoples that did not intentionally put them self into harms way safety. Plenty of unsanctioned race tracks have insurance. About every oval dirt or paved does . they let 14 year old drivers race even nascar at the lower levels.

Several things here. 1. You are right if the _HRA wanted to they could stop most everyone of us from racing for one reason or another. Then everyone loses.

2. As for the dirt oval deal letting 14 year old drivers race that is then that is on them, they may have like a Jrs? class?

What we are talking about here is a kid who is supposedly 14 years old racing NHRA and I doubt he has NHRA blessing to do so. If he does then none of have a thing to say about it.

All I am saying is there are rules and it appears that they may have been blatantly broken here. If is okay to disregard the rules then where can I buy a Matty box. (Kidding)

I can only say there was no tech. Part of tech is looking at the drivers competition license to ensure he is licensed for that particular ET/Class.
Obviously no one looked. Heck even a junior dragster driver had to show license to ensure they were licensed to run their class.

This is on the track/promoter as well as the parents. The parents just lost a teachable moment. Integrity and honor means nothing to most in our society today and to racers as well it seems.
Guarantee, if something were to happen they would be on the track/promoter to pay up, instead of taking responsibility for their ignorance/stupidity.

JMHO

Dave

Are there already others? I doubt anyone would have ever raised an eyebrow if the young man in this case didn't win plenty of rounds. I have certainly never heard his age mentioned before now. So without naming any names, do ya'll suspect there are already other underage drivers competing at these events?

As for other blatant rule infractions, I know for a fact that some bracket racers have competed at the highest levels with blood alcohol levels that would have gotten them DUIs on a public road. Nobody enforced any part of that either.

And as for bracket vehicle safety inspections? Please. "Did you pay at the gate?"

Could one single incident bring all of this down for keeps? Of course it could. However, that day has never come. So the status quo has continued and will continue. Will a promoter ever take cheating device inspections seriously? Yes, if it ever threatens to harm the bottom line.

You pays your money, you makes your choice. Take care. Tom Worthington

Rules---I heard that someone was disqualified at an NHRA event for wearing tennis shoes recently and I know that they would not let my friend through tech because he had a hole in the button finger of his glove.....Some think the rules don't apply to them and others comply.

congrats to the kid,absolutely incredible job...

the only problem I have is if the rumour is true that they lied about his age,saying he was 16.in my opinion that opens up a whole nother can of worms...
if the organizers knew he was 14 and allowed him to enter the race anyways then you cant blame the kid and family...but if he was accepted into the race with the family misleading the promoters as to his age allegedly being 16 ..well

Win lose or draw. If in fact no comp license along with all the other requirements. Minn age requirements and or if in fact lied>> Fail

All monies should be forfeited. Be mighty surprised if Glendora hasn't heard of this already. It is not the money. I don't care if it was 250K, rules are rules period. Say the car backed up on the hit and killed someone like it has before. Just makes it harder for everyone.
Reason being, stick to JR's.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TD3550,