As I feared...

Three spectators were killed. Dang what a tragedy. Y'all keep these these people in mind when y'all talk to the man upstairs tonight. News from the VisionAire 500 http://www.msnbc.com/news/264842.asp Parke Cochran Talladega, AL

The only thing that makes them change spectator safety is the threat of being sued. Do your US tickets have the same disclaimer that we have to put up with in Australia. All of our tickets claim that, "MOTOR RACING IS DANGEROUS Spectators are reminded that Motor Racing is dangerous and accidents can happen. All care is taken to protect the public but spectators are warned there is a possibility of an accident causing injury, death or property amage, By the purchase/or isssue of this ticket the spectator acknowledges that the entry to the event venue has a degree of danger and the promotor, clubs, corporations, landowner, organisations and persons having any connection with the promoting, organising or conduct of the event shall have no liability to the spectator." This effectively stops them from being sued for negligence. This effectively takes away their desire to improve the public's safety.

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> Three spectators were killed. Dang what a tragedy. Y'all keep these these > people in mind when y'all talk to the man upstairs tonight. > News from the VisionAire 500 > http://www.msnbc.com/news/264842.asp > Parke Cochran > Talladega, AL > > I noticed that Humpy Wheeler called the IRL Visioneer 500 after a crash in > > turns 3 and 4. I was watching (Speedvision) and they red-flagged it to > > clean up debris. Then I see Humpy saying this is a night that they > > "...won't soon forget..." > > I know spectators were involved but no word on what happened. I sure hope > > nobody was hurt to badly. The pace was set at 222 mph and, needless to > say, > > that's cruisin'. > > They keep slowing down the Champ cars yet IRL is turning ungodly speeds at > > the ovals. I love it just like the next guy but I think after Michigan > and > > whatEVER happened tonight we might see some changes. > > Any word on what happened? > > Parke Cochran > > Talladega, AL

I have GPL, and these disclamers were being put on race programmes in '67. I got a Silverstone inner cover from somewhere and it said it there. -- Tim "Calm Down" Wheatley ________________________________________________ Tim Wheatley "Yellow menacing helmet in the mirror" http://start.at/igps_stats IGPS - Ferrari Challenge - UKGPL - Summer Cup Driver http://drive.to/grandprixlegends http://website.lineone.net/~nascar ________________________________________________

Mark, in the U.S., and I suspect in your country as well, you Hi! I live in Germany and sometimes I shake my head when I hear ppl getting *millions* for burning their (excuse me:) stupid mouth just because there was no warning on the cup, that the coffee is hot. Or no hint in a manual that you're not supposed to dry your dog in the microwave-oven. Or they smoke their brains out and sue cigarette-companies when they're dead. Just my 2pfg. (german sub-currency) Markus

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>Three spectators were killed. Dang what a tragedy. Y'all keep these these >people in mind when y'all talk to the man upstairs tonight. >News from the VisionAire 500 >http://www.msnbc.com/news/264842.asp >Parke Cochran >Talladega, AL

I really have to say thinking about, it, i'd not go to an IRL event. The series has probably the highest serious injury rate to drivers in it's short existance, known to man. Bottom line, it's a dangerous formula- and accidents seem to happen more regularly, and more ***ly than other formulas. Incidentally, this conversation has been had one time previously- after another US fatality- last year Michigan? I made the comment then, as i do now- in the UK (& NZ) for that matter, we have a big hazard triangle on the back of our tickets. It says ( don't have an old ticket here, but from memory) (there is an image of it at: http://www.ukmotorsport.com/rest.html Warning! Motor Sport can be dangerous! In respect of the risks of motor sport to participants and spectators you are present at this circuit at your own risk. Bottom line is, and will continue to be, that viewing a motor race is not a risk-free activity. When i go i make an effort to think about where i am, and the likely impact of any incident. I also make sure ihave the room to move quickly, should that need happen. I guess the design of oval circuits hinder that, though- you're pretty much stuck in grandstands. So, again, while it's a tragedy, i think it's something you have to accept can and might happen when you attend any motor racing. God forbid you have some silly state of affairs in the US which means moving fans back, etc, becuase i as a fan who likes to watch a lot of racing live would hate to see that happen. It just comes down to accepting personal responsibility over whether or not you choose to view a race trackside, and what can or might happen. Z. Please remove NOSPAM from my email address when replying.

Obviously you haven't been to the States in a while. The concept of personal responsibility is rather out of fashion over here these days, and even if you made spectators stop and take individual videotaped oaths before entering racetracks, it wouldn't protect the promoters from liability. A sad state of affairs, but true. So all they (or anyone) can do is load up on liability insurance, tack the cost onto the ticket/product prices, and pray it's enough. Thus ends today's political diatribe, which probably belongs in another NG.... :-) Steve B. Remove "edy" from address for email