Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The Timing & Scoring system failed to transmit data to pit-lane monitors about 30% of the time during the AMA National at VIR last weekend.

The system was not up and operational at all for the first two hours of official practice on Friday, and failed repeatedly during the weekend.

Race teams rely on data transmitted from the system and displayed on monitors along pit lane.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

From an e-mail:

Regarding Aaron Yates laying on the track at VIR:

If Yates had confirmed there was no traffic, ran on onto the track waving an invisible flag, and then gotten OFF the track well before the riders came by, then I would give him some leeway and say that he was looking out for the best interest of the riders.

As the video shows, however, Yates put at least 3 riders in danger (not counting himself) by his presence on the track.

There is NO EXCUSE for his actions and the penalty must be SEVERE enough to deter any imitation of this stunt. I also believe he should be stripped of his finish and prize money in that race.

On a side note, I bet (TV commentators) Sadowski and Drebber would have torn the guy a new one if that was a NON-Factory rider. Instead, there were few, if any, negative comments made.

And by the way, Yates is actually one of my favorite riders even though I think he needs to get through backmarker traffic cleaner… or at least apologize when he takes someone out (like Pikes Peak, I believe).

Below is a link to the video courtesy of GRAHAM PATTISON, a Loudon Road Racer.

http://www.stargraham.org/loudon/yates.ram


Tony Iannarelli
Springfield, MA



And now a reply from former racer and current TV announcer David Sadowski:

Here we go again, a loud mouth “Know it All” thinks Aaron Yates should be “Stripped” of his efforts at the final AMA Superbike Race of 2002. Mr. Tony Iannarelli of Springfield, Massachusetts you are an idiot. Just log back on to Roadracingworld.com and read the comments about Cornerworking, Track Safety and Recent Events (Read: Aaron Yates/ Mid-Ohio)

Your comments reveal to me that you speak well before you think. Yates is one of just a few riders this year that has tried to inform and contribute to the overall well-being of riders in regards to safety and pointing out what changes are necessary. The AMA listens to Yates’s advice, but more often than not we run into very “High Cost” solutions to fix what he and others see in need of improvement. Your audacity to criticize Yates’s riding technique through traffic put me over the top! Guys are racing in the premier road race category in the USA on basically Supersport Bikes. They (AMA) don’t use the blue flag in America. So you don’t think a guy on a Supersport bike should make sure he doesn’t hinder the path of a front running prepared Superbike…Think about it, if you can. That’s why they have Superstock (Formerly know as 750 Supersport.) Run with Jimmie Moore and then move up!

Aaron Yates Should Not Be Penalized, He Should Be Commended. Besides, Race Control Had Already Called for the Red Flag and I’m the only “Loud Mouth Know it All” that has all the facts!!!

“Strike One Tony”

David Sadowski

From a press release:

Traxxion Dynamics, Inc. named Fox Racing Shox Authorized Service Center

Traxxion Dynamics, Inc. has formed an alliance with Fox Racing Shox that will see Traxxion provide sales, technical and service support for Fox customers in North America. Fox Racing Shox offers a complete line of high performance shock absorbers designed specifically for motorcycle racing, sport riding, and touring applications. Traxxion will provide routine service and repair as well as custom valving and dyno analysis for Fox Racing Shox Customers.

Max McAllister, President of Traxxion Dynamics, Inc. is very pleased by this new alliance: “Fox Racing Shox has a 27-year history of building
race-winning high-performance shocks. The Fox product line allows us to provide our customers with a range of choices they can’t get anywhere else, from trick aluminum piggyback shocks for expert racers, to more economically priced shocks for amateur-level racers and street consumers. We will have a product to suit any need or budget!”

More information is available at www.traxxion.com or by phone 770 592-3823.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

From e-mails commenting on “Words Of Advice From A CHP Motorcycle Officer,” posted 08/12/2002:

Thank you for sharing officer Gramm’s e-mail about the accident he responded to. Perhaps because of a late interest in riding motorcycles I may be a bit more conscious of the dangers. I wish that e-mail could be made mandatory
reading for all applicants for motorcycle licenses. While I seldom ride on the public roads, I have become unusually sensitive to its dangers and the obvious risks I see others take out there.

The one thing I have learned in this short experience of motorcycle riding is that racetracks are about as safe a place for riding as you will find. Without much research there are lots of clubs, schools, and open track days
where we can go out and ride as fast as we are capable. Everyone is going in the same direction, everyone generally doing things you would expect. There is no cross traffic, no stop lights, just clear safe track and a gang of
people keeping it that way.

What I would add to the comments of officer Gramm, if you want to go fast, do it on a race track. It’s fun and as safe as it gets.

Keith Giglio
WSMC #583



I am writing in response to the letter of the CHP officer regarding the fatality on Glendora Ridge Road. A few years ago my first real street crash occurred on this road. I worked at a local motorcycle shop and would go up there every Sunday morning before work. I was using both lanes on my CBR600 F2 and I hit the brakes way too hard while on the yellow lines. I was new to both Southern California and to hardcore street riding and had just started to ride too hard. It was that morning while at the hospital in Glendora (which I rode to with a broken wrist and no coolant in my bike) that I decided to start road racing. Six months later I was in the CMRRA racing YSR50s at local go-kart tracks, a year after that I started racing 125s with the WSMC and GPRA and I still do to this moment with the USGPRU.

I ride quite a bit on the street and I enjoy it very much, but like most racers who head up the Angeles Crest Highway on off weekends I try to use plenty of reserve, never cross the yellow lines, and try to keep a pace for conditions. Yes, the bulk of us including me end up going too fast and endangering ourselves on the street, fortunately I have an outlet for that in road racing.

It is like a war zone up on these highways, and I hate to overreact to the issue but we lose lots of good riders and good people for no other reason than for senseless bravado and machismo. I am not saying that the racetrack is a place for such B.S., it is an equalizer and a humbling experience for most “fast” street riders. It gives us all perspective and makes us better street riders every time we make a loop around a roadrace course. It is unfortunate that we have this poor soul to use as an example of Natural Selection but if he had been at Thunderhill with me on Sunday I assure you he would have had to do something very stupid to end up in a Head On Collision.

Quentin Wilson
USGPRU/CCS/FUSA #808
WSMC #818

From a press release issued by Traxxion Dynamics:

To All Traxxion Dynamics Customers:

In regards to our press release about our new alliance with Fox Racing Shox, it seems we created some panic that we would no longer be selling and servicing Penske Racing Shocks. Traxxion will continue to sell, service, and support the thousands of Penske customers we have made as always. Just as Traxxion was the driving force that has made Penske the racer’s shock of choice, we will now elevate Fox Shox to that same standard.

By adding Fox Shox to our product line we will be able to offer you the same level of quality and performance but with different features and prices. We will have a Fox Twin-Clicker custom-spec’d by Traxxion and fitted with a Hyperco Spring (the highest quality coil spring available, and same as OEM on Penske). Also, we will have custom-spec’d Aluminum-bodied Fox TC-R Piggyback. (Most racers don’t like remote reservoir fitment, as that configuration lends itself to crash damage. The Piggyback is virtually crash proof).

In the end, it isn’t a contest of products, we are just giving racers more options, and hopefully more reasons to choose Traxxion Dynamics. We have just received our initial shipment of FOX Shox and will have them prepared to our spec and ready for sale within a week.

You can check out some photos and info at www.traxxion.com.

I have a neat essay there that explains all of the differences in the products we have, and a list to help you choose which is best for you and your racing budget.

I look forward to your continued patronage!

Sincerely,

Max McAllister
President
Traxxion Dynamics, Inc.
Axxion Arm Systems, Inc.

From a press release:

Injuries Force Retirement for Leonardo Venega

With great sadness, it has become painfully apparent to me that I will have to end my professional racing career. Because of my street accident in July of 2001, my leg and my physical stamina have seriously degraded. I am not able to perform at my physical peak for the extended period of time that racing at the professional level requires.

So it becomes necessary for me to retire from active continuous participation at the professional level, that is the AMA. I am grateful for all the support that my sponsors have given me throughout my career. Without them, it would have been impossible.


(Editorial Note: Venega has hit broadside by a car while riding his streetbike in Miami and suffered serious injuries.)

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

From an e-mail:

Subject: VIR Cornerworking (you can print this)

I just read the piece on the VIR cornerworking deal with Hayden’s bike. I agree there is a problem that needs to be looked at a little closer.

On Saturday, I took the Red Bull track ride. I took my street-legal pit bike on the course because I felt like I wanted to see the entire venue first-hand. It seems as the specating at VIR is in a nice setting, but you can’t get to both sides of the track like you can at a place like Mid-Ohio, for instance.

Anyway. I ran my XR100-carb-equipped CT70 wide open for the entire session & on the last lap, I ran out of gas. I figured I’d look around & a cornerworker would see me. Wishful thinking on my part. No cornerworker stations were within an eyeshot of my spot on the track. I didn’t know what to do. I rolled the bike onto the grass & figured a truck would come eventually. That didn’t happen, either.

As I was waiting, I was chatting with some fans on the other side of the fence. After a couple of minutes, I asked if they had any gas. They handed me a can & I was able to start the bike.

At this point, I didn’t know if I should pull out onto the track in fear that I would get collected by a 100 mph Supersport bike in the soon-to-happen practice session. I putted along the infield to a cornerworker station & pulled up to his gazebo.

As the quiet engine of my CT70 idled, I had to yell to get his attention because he had his headphones on & wasn’t aware of my approach or presence. He turned to see me & was VERY surprised that I was on a little bike on the infield at the opposite end of pit in/out.

“How’d you get out here?!” he yelled. I explained I was a on the track ride & ran out of gas a few minutes prior. I asked if he could open the gate & he let me back in the infield.

As I rode back to the pits, I realized that absolutely no cornerworkers were aware of my presence on the track. If any cornerworker had seen me, he would have radioed & they all would have known. When my bike ran out of gas, the rear wheel actually locked. I could have been thrown from it at a lofty 50 mph, nonetheless, nobody would have seen it happen.

I was amazed of the series of events that had just taken place & it made me wonder what would have happened if it were a real racing incident.

Later that day, we found out what could happen. It didn’t help that the cornerworker was literally strolling to Haydens bike as it burned.

I watched the live feed as it happened & Earl Hayden actually said “could he have walked any slower?”

Enzo Assainte



From another e-mail:

A note of agreement with Stephen Robinson regarding the cornerworking crew reactions as seen on television for the past two AMA weekends. As a relatively regular cornerworker for the AFM for the past 7 years, I am pretty proud that we do our job well enough to get the praise that riders like Stephen and many of the top AMA and world riders have given us. I also know the AMA has been to VIR only twice now, and by the worker response, I am guessing that worker crews at both recent tracks were indeed short handed (and more than likely more accustomed to auto races).

I think they did what they could, but I agree that it was not what I would expect if I were a rider or a turn marshal. (My wife caught me screaming ‘Where are the Turn Workers?” more than a few times…) And from watching tapes of races I have worked, I know the cameras rarely catch us, let alone at our best.

However, it appears that more attention needs to be focused on ensuring each set of turns is staffed by an appropriate number of experienced workers at each AMA event. While they don’t need 20-30 workers on a turn like the FIM required at Laguna, 2-3 handlers per turn segment, in addition to the main communicator and flagger is generally appropriate at this level.

Following the Sears Point race, many interested and very experienced AFM workers submitted their names for consideration for what was represented as a potential new data base of experienced workers willing to travel to other venues. I assume the AMA has made this available at each event since, so that perhaps during this long off-season, the AMA safety staff will be able to compile and make use of a list of those willing to travel from around the country to assist at the tracks that would like/need more coverage.

Jim Douglas, AFM #143-W
AMA #549972


And now a differing viewpoint, again via e-mail:

AFM racer Stephen Robinson states:

“Then at VIR, I watched in complete amazement as Nicky Hayden’s bike sat for minutes on end (sound familiar?) before anyone bothered to check on it, or *hey* pick it up (I know, radical thinking on my part). Then the RC-51 that costs more than most of us make in a year bursts into flames and THERE ARE STILL NO TURNWORKERS!! Finally, someone bothers to show up, and Nicky has to put the thing out himself.”

After reading this, I went to my TV and rewatched the crash in question. It took approximately 1 minute and 50 seconds from the time Nicky’s front wheel lost traction for Nicky and the cornerworker to begin fighting the fire.

Less than two minutes.

I think this is a rather good response, and wish to commend the cornerworkers that responded to Nicky’s crash.

In my experience cornerworking for MARRC at Summit Point, and both CCS and the AMA at VIR, I have learned a few things.

When dealing with a crash, the corner worker must think of his own safety first. Then the safety of the riders on the track. Last, but not least, the safety of the downed rider. This is what I have been taught by both MARRC and AMA cornerworking schools.

In this case, Nicky was obviously not seriouly injured. The closest cornerworking station was ACROSS the track, and some ways from where Nicky’s bike came to lay. From what I can gather from the televised race, the track was STILL HOT when the first cornerworker approached the bike. That means that cornerworker who responded either had to wait for a clear spot to cross the track, or that he came from another station. That section of track has a lot of elevation, and it’s difficult to move quickly when carrying a 50+ lb. fire extinguisher. (VIR uses “Cold Fire” extinguishers which use water mixed with a chemical agent. They are heavy and cumbersome, as I found out last year while working the AMA event at VIR.) Don’t forget that the cornerworker has to move through an impact zone to get there. (While the track was hot.) This means that he has to keep an eye on oncoming traffic and while moving to the downed bike.

In my opinion, the cornerworkers did everything by the book in this situation, and did it quickly and efficiently. There was no need to endanger their own lives, or the lives of the riders on the track, by crossing a hot track, or by placing themselves in an impact zone beside a hot track. If Nicky had been unconscious or immobile beside the bike, that would have been a different story. Since he was obviously OK, and out of danger, their response was appropriate.

Cornerworkers are the unsung heroes of road racing, and I commend them for their time, efforts and professionalism.

Regards,

Sean Jordan
Mid-Atlantics CCS #779, WERA #778
Centreville, Va

From a press release:

The Mid Atlantic Ducati Owners Club, NESBA, and Summit Point Raceway will put on a Charity Track Day at Summit Point Raceway, August 21, 2002. All
entry fees will go to a local charity.

For details, go to www.mad-ducati.com or contact NESBA at www.nesba.com. Come out and join us for a good cause. Hopefully this will turn into an annual event.

Michael Wheeler
Mid Atlantic Ducati Owners Club, President

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

From an e-mail:

I first met Randy in 1983. It was the season-ending race for the Superbike and the Formula 2 AMA Pro Series, and also the amateur finals at Daytona.

Being a fresh Amateur I ended up being in a garage with Randy, we talked a bit and my first thoughts were about what a genuine guy he was. Randy was in the battle for the 250 Championship, and as the weekend went along he was having brake problems. So for the final, after my Amateur race he borrowed my brakes for the 250 final. I don’t remember where he finished in the race but he won the Championship.

I began doing the Nationals the following year and we always talked and laughed about things going on. Randy was always the same guy, just a racer who loved doing what he did and did it very well.

When he was injured in 1990 and had his toe put on his hand so he could still race, I thought to myself “What a man.” To this day I don’t believe I know anyone who would take that kind of chance to do something that means so much. But Randy Renfrow did it and came back to be one of the fastest guys around. That says a lot about what he was made of.

A few years ago, Bob Applegate was announcing at Daytona and Randy went over and said to Bob don’t just focus on the front guys, there are other guys out there trying just as hard and they like to have their name said over the P.A. also. So Bob, taking Randy’s advice, started the next day bright and early, we had not been in the track but a few minutes. We hear the click of the P.A. system come on, waiting for an announcement and all we here is——“Randy Renfrow”

That was it.

Bob would do this for years to come. People looking around asking themselves what the hell was that. Those of us who knew the story were just smiling and laughing. This was just one of many little things that Randy did along the way that will bring a smile to my face when I think of him. I can assure you that Daytona in March will not be the same without him nor will Elkhart Lake and Siberians be the same.

Randy called me shortly after I got home after my crash in Fontana (April) and we talked about whether it was worth racing and I am glad to say we both agreed it was. That conversation meant a lot to me, and when I had healed well enough to try and ride VIR I looked so forward to seeing him and Shawn to say thanks. But I guess God had other plans.

Just say a prayer for Mr. and Mrs. Renfrow and Randy’s brother Shawn, great people who have lost a great son and brother.
I will miss you Randy.
God Speed

Greg Esser
AMA 250GP #26