Portland International Raceway -- Memorial Day Weekend -- May 29-30, 2010
Please complete one entry form per vehicle entered.This form may be copied
All vehicles must meet all Electrathon America rules and be registered with EA to participate.Cars will be inspected prior to the race for compliance with the regulations.The driver (and drivers guardian, if a minor) will be required to sign a liability release form to be eligible to race.
Entries will be allowed up to and including the day of the race.
Name(car owner)
Car #
Address
City
State
ZIP
Phone Number
E-Mail Address
Division:(All divisions must meet Electrathon America rules)qstudentqadult
If entering multiple cars please use multiple forms!
Vehicle Entry
q$35 rally (Saturday & Sunday)
$
q$35 road course (Saturday & Sunday)
$
qFree Drag race (Saturday evening)
THE FINE PRINT:If you are having difficulty raising enough money to pay for the race fee, please contact me.There will be positions (lap counter, corner marshal, etc) that you can earn credit towards your race entry.Total
Make check/money order payable to Aaron Williams.All money raised will be used to pay race fees
-- Edited by electrathon on Monday 24th of May 2010 02:32:03 AM
electrathon said
May 22, 2010
The schedule for the weekend is posted here: http://www.ohpv.org/HPC/page3/page25/page25.html
We are again sharing the track with the OHPV guys.
Zaine Stapleton said
May 23, 2010
the ohpv.org website shows the two races on Saturday and Sunday. Which is the rally and the road course? Its not clear as to what race is going on at certian times.
electrathon said
May 23, 2010
Zaine Stapleton wrote:
the ohpv.org website shows the two races on Saturday and Sunday. Which is the rally and the road course? Its not clear as to what race is going on at certian times.
Saturday: First race, long track. Second race, short track.
Sunday; First race, short track. Second race, long track.
electrathon said
May 24, 2010
The form posted above is tweaked some. If you want an origional form email me and I will send you one. arw62@aol.com
electrathon said
May 26, 2010
I just talked to PIR. The latest word is that we can enter the track on Friday evening. So, what this means. If you are in the pit area BEFORE the drag races start, you can set up camp and stay on the infield. If you arrive after the drags start (depending on rain) you may have to pay the drag people to enter. They have ownership of the track at that time, I do not have the authority to tell them to let you in. If they are in a giving mood, they might let you pass for free.
If you have any questions, please call me
Aaron
503-761-8276
electrathon said
May 28, 2010
I am heading out for the track. If you have any questions for me do not post them here, I will not see it.
Call me at 503-761-8276
Aaron
megawatts said
May 31, 2010
Final results from Long Track
Car #
# Laps
Time
Class
Team Name
107
33
2:00:00.0
Student
Willamette HS
27
31
2:00:59.5
Student
Hood River HS
82
29
2:00:00.0
Student
Neah Kah HS
59
29
2:00:00.0
Student
David Douglas HS
111
29
2:00:36.1
Student
Willamette HS
110
29
2:00:51.6
Student
Willamette HS
32
26
2:00:00.0
Student
Hood River HS
22
25
2:00:00.0
Student
Hood River HS
102
24
2:00:00.0
Student
Willamette HS
444
24
2:00:00.8
Student
Monroe HS
51
23
2:00:00.0
Student
David Douglas HS
81
23
2:00:00.0
Student
Neah Kah HS
55
21
2:00:00.0
Student
David Douglas HS
36
19
2:00:00.0
Student
Hood River HS
170
19
2:00:00.0
Student
West Lake Tech
344
18
2:01:08.3
Student
Columbia HS
21
16
2:00:00.0
Student
Columbia HS
160
16
2:00:00.0
Student
West Lake Tech
103
15
2:00:00.0
Student
Willamette HS
222
14
2:00:00.0
Student
Monroe HS
megawatts said
May 31, 2010
43
44
2:00:00.0
Adult
Cloud Racing
40
38
2:01:00.5
Adult
Cloud Racing
47
27
2:01:33.3
Adult
Hood River HS
150
25
2:00:00.0
Adult
West Lake Tech
120
25
2:01:30.0
Adult
FPUD
17
24
2:00:00.0
Adult
Hood River HS
333
17
2:00:00.0
Adult
Monroe HS
202
12
2:00:00.0
Adult
WSU
megawatts said
May 31, 2010
Results for Short Track
Place
Car #
# Laps
Time
Class
Team
1
107
48
2:01:34.6
Student
Willamette HS
2
59
47
2:00:00.0
Student
David Douglas HS
3
156
45
2:03:26.3
Student
Thurston HS
4
102
44
2:01:56.6
Student
Willamette HS
5
25
40
2:00:00.0
Student
Centennial HS
6
22
40
2:00:17.4
Student
Hood River HS
7
155
40
2:01:14.1
Student
Thurston HS
8
55
40
2:01:22.9
Student
David Douglas HS
9
12
40
2:01:42.4
Student
Centennial HS
10
36
39
2:00:46.1
Student
Hood River HS
11
159
38
2:00:08.6
Student
Thurston HS
12
50
38
2:01:11.4
Student
Centennial HS
13
151
37
2:00:02.9
Student
Thurston HS
14
51
36
2:00:00.0
Student
David Douglas HS
15
158
36
2:01:19.5
Student
Thurston HS
16
27
36
2:01:23.8
Student
Hood River HS
17
152
35
2:00:00.0
Student
Thurston HS
18
32
33
2:00:01.0
Student
Hood River HS
19
100
30
2:00:00.0
Student
Willamette HS
20
113
30
2:00:00.0
Student
Willamette HS
21
83
29
2:00:00.0
Student
Neah Kah HS
22
103
28
2:00:00.0
Student
Willamette HS
23
170
24
2:00:41.1
Student
West Lake Tech
24
222
23
2:00:00.0
Student
Monroe HS
25
160
20
2:00:22.4
Student
West Lake Tech
26
104
14
2:00:00.0
Student
Willamette HS
megawatts said
May 31, 2010
1
40
53
2:00:29.6
Adult
Cloud Racing
2
41
53
2:00:30.1
Adult
Cloud Racing
3
38
41
2:00:00.0
Adult
Willamette HS
4
17
41
2:01:51.1
Adult
Hood River HS
5
47
39
2:00:55.8
Adult
Hood River HS
6
120
33
2:01:38.6
Adult
FPUD
7
99
31
2:00:01.4
Adult
Willamette HS
8
202
27
2:00:00.0
Adult
WSU
9
333
26
2:00:00.0
Adult
Monroe HS
10
45
21
2:00:00.0
Adult
Hood River HS
electrathon said
Jun 1, 2010
I was very frustrated to have to deal with so many out of control, unsupervised children this year. From the kids that were told multiple times to not ride the gas moterscooter (I had to take it away in the end) to the kid that was caught drifting his real car on the back side of the track (I did not know about that till the next day, but if I had known I would have had him arrested and his car impounded by the police) and then I found out that someone damaged one of the cameras on the track durring the night (I am going to be billed for that at an unknown amount, hopefully the culprit will speek up before the video footage is reviewed, it was a camera). I also had a number of kids I stopped from "just driving around the track, it is no big deal".
Some of the kids there were great, helping when asked and overall displaying responsibility. Others showed a level of inmaturity displaying their true lack of mental development. One example of this is the student that cursed out the driver of my pickup when he was told that we were picking up the corner marshals and was coming back to assist in returning the broken cars to the pits (he felt we should stop for him and the corner marshals should be left on the track untill his car was first picked up). If there is any question anyone has why he was not helped, I told my driver to leave him to push the broken car on his own.
At this point I do not see the ability to allow camping in the future at the track. I also doubt that most teams would come without camping. So this possibly may have been the last year for using PIR.
mhodgertt said
Jun 1, 2010
Aaron,
I am sorry for any and all of the stupid things my kids did. I do know that they are the ones that were 'drifting' on the track Sat. night..... I will deal with the two of them when I see them tomorrow. I will also speak to my students about the camera that was moved--Dan told me it would be about $25 to re-calibrate--maybe one of them will own up if it was my kids. Was any of the other stuff from my kids???? If so would you let me know so I can deal with it--if you know a kid or car # can you please pass it along so I can deal with it easier.
As you know I was not there this year to watch my 20-30 kids that showed up--Sorry I was there to ride herd on those few less than desirable students I have out of the good ones I have....
Mike
electrathon said
Jun 1, 2010
Mike,
I do know that you do have some very good and responsible students. Some of them have been helpfull throughout the year in the running of the races. I do also know that you are dealing with a far larger group of kids than any other of the schools. It is far easier to have more bad (and good) when you are dealing with such a large group. On top of this you were dealing with the emotions of the personal issues that came up, keeping you away from the races. It does seem sad that the students that did cause trouble did not look at this as a way to make you proud of them.
I should know in a few days if the camera can be fixed. Dan sounded like he was pretty sure that it could be, I am keeping my fingers crossed on this one. If it can be adjusted, the price is not goig to be too bad. I do know that it was damaged after 11 and was discovered the next morning.
Aaron
Kyle Keenan said
Jun 1, 2010
Wow, rather surprised to hear all of this rather then what I was hoping would be great news with a thick field this year. What a shame, really.
Now, this brings in another element to the rule changes for 2011....should drivers be penalized by race suspensions and/or banned from competition due to at-the-track behavior? I firmly believe so! Sounds like some drivers need to learn proper track behaviors before they set foot in a car ever again. The scooter incident is enough to have a TEAM kicked out at an SCCA race.
Another thing people might not realize is that PIR is a PUBLIC PARK and that traffic laws still apply at the track. I'm also curious as to how someone messed up a camera, as all of the cameras are mounted rather high and out of the way. And yes, they run 24/7, you will not get away with that one.
Bottom line is, whoever was doing the drifting needs to face the punishment and should be considered lucky to not of had that car impounded. The driver yelling at a volunteer, should be required to write an appology letter to the event steward (Aaron) and the worker he yelled at before being allowed to compete again.
Drivers- Work on your professionalism. Nobody wants to sponsor someone who disrespects a volunteer like that. Electrathon is a very economical way to get involved with racing, and could very well be all the further you can go with it if word on your behavior gets out.
Very sad to hear all of this, -Kyle
-- Edited by Kyle Keenan on Tuesday 1st of June 2010 05:48:46 AM
bd64 said
Jun 1, 2010
I would think the drifter's car could still be impounded if it is recorded on tape or shows up on u-tube or similar site.
electrathon said
Jun 1, 2010
bd64 wrote:
I would think the drifter's car could still be impounded if it is recorded on tape or shows up on u-tube or similar site.
He was caught by track personel. I am not sure why they did not push the sutuation farther but chose to turn him over to their teacher.
mhodgertt said
Jun 2, 2010
To let you all know about the 'drifter' student. He went home on Sunday morning (as soon as he got up Greg sent him and the student with him home) He explained to his parents about his bad decision and they of course were not pleased. They have taken his license and are talking of selling his car and not allowing him to drive for a full year. They told him they do not trust him to make good decisions and be responsible until he proves he is mature enough to be trusted again. In some ways it is too bad. He is a good kid but was influenced by the 'other' student that was with him on the way to get burgers for dinner who talked him into going onto the track for a 'quick thrill.' The other student of course has had no punishment.
I think the 'drifter' has learned and he feels very bad. He talked to both Greg and I and appologized to both of us along with the rest of the students for his stupididy and claims full responsibility for his actions. He hopes his thoughtless actions will not mean that others are not allowed to go to PIR in the future.
Mike
electrathon said
Jun 2, 2010
Mike,
Thank you. This is a step in a positive direction.
Mark and I have been talking about all of the incidents that went on over the weekend. The best compromise we have been able to come up with is to hire security personell for the track durring non-daylight hours. This is not fool proof, but it hopefully will deter some of the issues. At this point I am not quite sure how to charge for it. Either raising enrty fees or charging camping fees again are the top ideas so far. I am open to input and other ideas.
Aaron
Zaine Stapleton said
Jun 4, 2010
This is a suggestion from my mom. Rather than making the people who make the right choices pay for the poor choices of a select few, students should be required to sign a contract agreeing to follow the expectations deemed by those in charge. If a student violates any expectation they will be fined a predetermined amount and sent home. Parents or guardians will be responsible for transportation. Of course, parents would be required to sign the contract agreeing to pick up their child.
electrathon said
Jun 4, 2010
Zaine Stapleton wrote:
This is a suggestion from my mom. Rather than making the people who make the right choices pay for the poor choices of a select few, students should be required to sign a contract agreeing to follow the expectations deemed by those in charge. If a student violates any expectation they will be fined a predetermined amount and sent home. Parents or guardians will be responsible for transportation. Of course, parents would be required to sign the contract agreeing to pick up their child.
The problem is that any one individual could easily cause thousands (or hundreds of thousands) in damage. I find it very unlikely that many irresponsible people would actually pay for the damage they caused (if it was known who did it, such as the camera damage). If the "drifter" had hit and injured or killed someone it seems unlikely that the parents would choose (or be able to) write a check for 6 million dollars to settle the case (yes, this issue is that serious). Even his inmature passanger, who was instermental in this issue, could have easily have been injured. Generally the next step would be for his parents to sue me for not being an appropiate babysitter for the child.
Liberal thinking, yea Oregon, has been teaching our children for many years that the masses are responsible for the choices of the few bad people in our society. I am betting that if the person who climbed out over the edge to damage the camera had fallen I would be personally involved in the lawsuit from the now injured moron who chose to act in an anti-social way.
I have worked extremly hard to lower the cost of this race since I took it over 7 years ago. Back then the entry fee was $85 and there was a $10 per night per person camping fee. Every year I lowered it more till I got to the break even point, then decided the next year the cost off of that. I even allow those who can not afford the entry fee to "work" durring the race to earn thier way in for free or a reduced fee. I had one team come up this year and sign up 14 parents and youth to corner marshal, entering their car for "free". Till this happened I was going to lower the cost to $30 per entry next year.
Here are the rough numbers I have came up with so far. Two nights need to be covered. Approximatly 10 hours are involved each night and it likely will take two people to barely cover the track and surounding area. At $10 per hour I will pay out about $400 for security next year. This does not cover all the issues, but hopefully will limit them.
mhodgertt said
Jun 4, 2010
One of my parents told me he heard some of the bikers talking about 'big brother watching' their every move and the number of cameras at PIR. Maybe they decided to disable the one that was where most of the bike activities were. Any luck with the camera giving us a clue as to who messed with it????
Maybe some of the security guard expenses should be on them as well as the Electrathon group.
Mike
electrathon said
Jun 4, 2010
mhodgertt wrote:
One of my parents told me he heard some of the bikers talking about 'big brother watching' their every move and the number of cameras at PIR. Maybe they decided to disable the one that was where most of the bike activities were. Any luck with the camera giving us a clue as to who messed with it????
Maybe some of the security guard expenses should be on them as well as the Electrathon group. Mike
So far I have heard nothing from PIR either about the charges or if any images were caught. I have thought about the posibility that it was from the HPV side. I do agree it is a posability. The reason I hesatate to point a finger in their direction is that in all the years that I have been holding this race I do not recall them ever being the cause of any of the issues that have came up. Going back to current Oregon thinking though does say that they should be held liable for our actions and we for theirs. It is possible that the fee will need to be devided across both groups.
In an ironic way this can be seen in the "share the road" campaign. Bike people around here believe that the taxes that cars pay should be used to pay for bike paths. Completly and totally unfair to the vehicle owners. The bikers do not pay their share (actually they don't pay anything) but they feel that the vehicles should pay for bike lanes for them.
Another thought I came up with was to charge an entry fee to everyone entering the park. $1.00 to enter and get a wrist band. This would spread the cost out to even more people. Just very hard to do because we would need someone to sit at the gate for 3 days, all day long.
Cent-ECAR-man said
Jun 4, 2010
I like the entry fee idea.
Because you do take money off of entry fees for volunteer time i dont think you should have much of a problem finding people to man/woman the ticket counter. It also wouldnt be a stretch to ask the hpv people to have volunteers to. If they share the track they can also help man the track.
It is a shame to see irresponsibility at PIR. It is the best race of the year. It brings teams together to camp and interact which helps spread different ideas and sportsmanship.
Just a few thoughts
-Rich
electrathon said
Jun 6, 2010
This post is directly pointing to the issue of just goofing off a little at the track. I was forwarded this article about an experienced motorcycle rider at a track, not PIR but here in Oregon:
O.R.P. Update, With Deepest Regret
OREGON RACEWAY PARK May 30, 2010 12:30 P.M.
Yesterday May 29th, 2010 just before noon, at the beginning of a practice session a rider leaving the hot pits was badly injured.
The rider, Randy Pauker, was an experienced motorcyclist. He had been on the track earlier in the day in previous sessions.
Mr. Paukers motorcycle hit the inside of the hot pit wall and he was thrown from the machine resulting in multiple injuries.
He was attended immediately by medical teams from both ambulances on duty. Life Flight was on the ground within minutes and Mr. Pauker was airlifted to Emmanuel hospital, a level-3 trauma center.
We thank the medical crews as well as participants of this event for their calm and professional response.
We have learned that as a result of those injuries, he died at 9:05 A.M. this morning.
Motorsports has lost a good friend and colleague.
We ask your prayers for Randy and his family.
What the article does not mention is that the rider just happened to be in a wheelie at the time of the accident. He was an experienced driver and likely had done this thousands of times over the years. This time it went bad.
This is a very real and graphic example of why the safety enforcement is such a big deal. I hope that we can all learn from this tragedy that happened elsewhere. Thankfully this article is not written about one of us.
I am done talking about the bad that happened this year at the track, I want some of the good posted! If someone has a further question for me please PM or email me. I will now delete any more conversation about the above issues.
This was a near record year for participation. The short track was a great and challenging race. The plywood bridging the storm grate was a big help! We did get some cool video of the wheel falling off a car as it slid forwards and (grrr) cut some of the lap counting wires. Yes, we were able to do a quick fix to them and get the loops back up and running.
Kyle Keenan said
Jun 6, 2010
Zaine, where the heck is the pictures man! I want some pics!
Zaine Stapleton said
Jun 6, 2010
I don't know about the pictures, but my dad would like to know when you are going to show up to a race.
electrathon said
Jun 7, 2010
I have a story to tell: I was flagging the race. I see comotion near the beginning of the straight away. When everything had cleared one of the fastest cars on the track was sitting in the pit area, lesss the RF wheel. What happened? It seems when you are going way faster than the car you are overtaking it is better to move to the left BEFORE you catch up to the slow moving car. The car was badly hurt.
Aaron and all, as you know I was not there but apparently the driver was 'having fun' catching up to slower cars and then swerving around them when he got fairly close. He was going by our pits/fans and waving at them and caught up faster than he thought he would and did not swerve in time. I have heard his steering locked up on him as he was sitting on the brake cables, and that he just did not see the car until it was too late with the glare on the windshield and waving at the crowd.
Anyway 007 is fairly well a complete loss. I have waited for over a year for the new 'special' front wheels and now I have one left--might be able to save the hub and get a new rim and build it up with a new disk brake. The body is shattered in several places, the dome is gone, the frame is toast, etc. At least neither driver was hurt which is the good thing.
I wanted to redo much of 007 anyway. Maybe I will contact Kirk at Destiny parts and order a new body and we can start over.
Mike
mhodgertt said
Jun 8, 2010
On the broken axles. Yes I know that Willamette broke at least 4 front axles during the race (not counting 007's wreck). There was #99 pictured, #113 that broke its axle and is the one that slid through the transponder grid, my car #38 driven by Ron broke its axle going into the 270 degree turn and ended up buried 3 feet deep in the tires, and car #104 broke as well. I think that was all. I am not sure why we have broken so many grade 12---12 mm axle bolts this year. They are the same style we have always used and usually we only brake one or so in a full season. With 20 cars and 15 races that is not too bad. This year we have broken at least a dozen probably closer to 2 dozen. Faulty bolts, kids (and me) over welding/heating the bolts, or just bad karma??? Any suggestions????
Mike
Kyle Keenan said
Jun 8, 2010
Zaine, we're hoping to have a student driving the car next season. I will be there coaching the driver but I myself am done competing for a while I think. Money is way too tight and it's hard funding Electrathon out of pocket.
Zaine Stapleton said
Jan 28, 2011
First day at PIR of the long track taken by my mom.
Electrathon Grand Prix
Entry Form
Portland International Raceway -- Memorial Day Weekend -- May 29-30, 2010
Please complete one entry form per vehicle entered. This form may be copied
All vehicles must meet all Electrathon America rules and be registered with EA to participate. Cars will be inspected prior to the race for compliance with the regulations. The driver (and drivers guardian, if a minor) will be required to sign a liability release form to be eligible to race.
Entries will be allowed up to and including the day of the race.
Name (car owner)
Car #
Address
City
State
ZIP
Phone Number
E-Mail Address
Division: (All divisions must meet Electrathon America rules) qstudent qadult
If entering multiple cars please use multiple forms!
Vehicle Entry
q $35 rally (Saturday & Sunday)
$
q $35 road course (Saturday & Sunday)
$
q Free Drag race (Saturday evening)
THE FINE PRINT: If you are having difficulty raising enough money to pay for the race fee, please contact me. There will be positions (lap counter, corner marshal, etc) that you can earn credit towards your race entry. Total
Make check/money order payable to Aaron Williams. All money raised will be used to pay race fees
Electrathon Grand Prix
Aaron Williams
PO Box 1863Gresham, OR97030
Questions? Contact: Aaron Williams 503-761-8276
Or
Mark Watts 503-914-9530
email: arw62@aol.com
Special thanks to:
Portland General Electric
-- Edited by electrathon on Monday 24th of May 2010 02:32:03 AM
Saturday: First race, long track. Second race, short track.
Sunday; First race, short track. Second race, long track.
Now, this brings in another element to the rule changes for 2011....should drivers be penalized by race suspensions and/or banned from competition due to at-the-track behavior? I firmly believe so! Sounds like some drivers need to learn proper track behaviors before they set foot in a car ever again. The scooter incident is enough to have a TEAM kicked out at an SCCA race.
Another thing people might not realize is that PIR is a PUBLIC PARK and that traffic laws still apply at the track. I'm also curious as to how someone messed up a camera, as all of the cameras are mounted rather high and out of the way. And yes, they run 24/7, you will not get away with that one.
Bottom line is, whoever was doing the drifting needs to face the punishment and should be considered lucky to not of had that car impounded. The driver yelling at a volunteer, should be required to write an appology letter to the event steward (Aaron) and the worker he yelled at before being allowed to compete again.
Drivers- Work on your professionalism. Nobody wants to sponsor someone who disrespects a volunteer like that. Electrathon is a very economical way to get involved with racing, and could very well be all the further you can go with it if word on your behavior gets out.
Very sad to hear all of this,
-Kyle
-- Edited by Kyle Keenan on Tuesday 1st of June 2010 05:48:46 AM
He was caught by track personel. I am not sure why they did not push the sutuation farther but chose to turn him over to their teacher.
I think the 'drifter' has learned and he feels very bad. He talked to both Greg and I and appologized to both of us along with the rest of the students for his stupididy and claims full responsibility for his actions. He hopes his thoughtless actions will not mean that others are not allowed to go to PIR in the future.
Mike
Rather than making the people who make the right choices pay for the poor choices of a select few, students should be required to sign a contract agreeing to follow the expectations deemed by those in charge. If a student violates any expectation they will be fined a predetermined amount and sent home. Parents or guardians will be responsible for transportation. Of course, parents would be required to sign the contract agreeing to pick up their child.
Liberal thinking, yea Oregon, has been teaching our children for many years that the masses are responsible for the choices of the few bad people in our society. I am betting that if the person who climbed out over the edge to damage the camera had fallen I would be personally involved in the lawsuit from the now injured moron who chose to act in an anti-social way.
I have worked extremly hard to lower the cost of this race since I took it over 7 years ago. Back then the entry fee was $85 and there was a $10 per night per person camping fee. Every year I lowered it more till I got to the break even point, then decided the next year the cost off of that. I even allow those who can not afford the entry fee to "work" durring the race to earn thier way in for free or a reduced fee. I had one team come up this year and sign up 14 parents and youth to corner marshal, entering their car for "free". Till this happened I was going to lower the cost to $30 per entry next year.
Here are the rough numbers I have came up with so far. Two nights need to be covered. Approximatly 10 hours are involved each night and it likely will take two people to barely cover the track and surounding area. At $10 per hour I will pay out about $400 for security next year. This does not cover all the issues, but hopefully will limit them.
In an ironic way this can be seen in the "share the road" campaign. Bike people around here believe that the taxes that cars pay should be used to pay for bike paths. Completly and totally unfair to the vehicle owners. The bikers do not pay their share (actually they don't pay anything) but they feel that the vehicles should pay for bike lanes for them.
Another thought I came up with was to charge an entry fee to everyone entering the park. $1.00 to enter and get a wrist band. This would spread the cost out to even more people. Just very hard to do because we would need someone to sit at the gate for 3 days, all day long.
O.R.P. Update, With Deepest Regret
OREGON RACEWAY PARK
May 30, 2010
12:30 P.M.
Yesterday May 29th, 2010 just before noon, at the beginning of a practice session a rider leaving the hot pits was badly injured.
The rider, Randy Pauker, was an experienced motorcyclist. He had been on the track earlier in the day in previous sessions.
Mr. Paukers motorcycle hit the inside of the hot pit wall and he was thrown from the machine resulting in multiple injuries.
He was attended immediately by medical teams from both ambulances on duty.
Life Flight was on the ground within minutes and Mr. Pauker was airlifted to Emmanuel hospital, a level-3 trauma center.
We thank the medical crews as well as participants of this event for their calm and professional response.
We have learned that as a result of those injuries, he died at 9:05 A.M. this morning.
Motorsports has lost a good friend and colleague.
We ask your prayers for Randy and his family.
What the article does not mention is that the rider just happened to be in a wheelie at the time of the accident. He was an experienced driver and likely had done this thousands of times over the years. This time it went bad.
This is a very real and graphic example of why the safety enforcement is such a big deal. I hope that we can all learn from this tragedy that happened elsewhere. Thankfully this article is not written about one of us.
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I am done talking about the bad that happened this year at the track, I want some of the good posted! If someone has a further question for me please PM or email me. I will now delete any more conversation about the above issues.
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This was a near record year for participation. The short track was a great and challenging race. The plywood bridging the storm grate was a big help! We did get some cool video of the wheel falling off a car as it slid forwards and (grrr) cut some of the lap counting wires. Yes, we were able to do a quick fix to them and get the loops back up and running.