Argyll Park is Closing!!

[davis53]

Argyll Park may be closing. Last weekend at Argyll Park a sixteen year old kid on a new KX250 was riding on the track while the water truck was watering. He ran head on into the front of the water truck and broke his pelvis. There are signs all over saying not to ride while equipment is on the track and he signed a release. I can see an attorney with dollar signs in his eyes all over this one. Where was this kid’s parent’s? Sandhill Ranch closed over a similar matter. One kid with reduce the riding area for hundreds of dirt riders. Maybe it is time not to allow anyone under eighteen on tracks, they have zero common sense. How in the H*ll someone can run into a water truck on a MX track I will NEVER know!!! Are they Fu##ing blind!!

[yzkid999]

no one under 18 on tracks why? just because a few kids dont listen to rules dont mean all kids are like that.

[Kev_XR]

Coincidentally, a rider hit a water truck at SandHill Ranch and may force them to go out of business.

Don't they have some flaggers when the equipment comes out?

[OldeDude]

Don't jump to conclusions if you don't know what happend.?

The way I heard it from a couple of guys that were there, which might or might not be accurate, the water truck had left the track, riders were allowed on, and the water truck re-entered the track. The collission happened at the crest of a hill, with both the truck and the bike unable to see each other until the last moment.

Like I said, this is the way I heard it. Maybe someone that was there will speak up with the details.

[kawirider]

no one under 18?! are you crazy!? 85% of the regular rider where I live are under 18. If anyone tried to close of the tracks to people under 18, they would just have a bunch of crappy 18 yr old riders going around the track. And, does anyone really stop going balls to the wall when they are 18? no it is more like 25-30 or when they start to have a family.

[hodgkins]

I think it would be real easy to hit that truck.If you come ripping over that grandstand jump and the truck was sitting on the other side.....BLAM!!!

People ask how 2 guys can collide at Carnegie on those big hills where there is plenty of room?The guy going up is looking right at the sun at can't see and the guy coming down can't figure out why he keeps riding right at him and then BLAM.Maybe the track should learn from other tracks mistakes and close the track during all watering and maintenance.my friend hit a tree of all things at marysville!!! people ask how and these things just happen.will there be a lawsuit ? probably.will they shut down for a while? probably.I think marysville's demise for a while is no one would insure them due to a host of accidents and lawsuits.

[skoot22]

all he got was a broken pelvis, i know thats bad enough but he's lucky to be alive

[Weipper]

my local track lets you ride when watering and grooming "I think" and I went over this really tall step up jump that went into a tight corner. Well guess what I figured Id go for the inside and then guess what so did the water man, I came within inches of permanently signing that watertruck with the paint from my helmet. So its not that hard to run into a watertruck on an mx course.

[Gwigibo]

That blows if Argyll Parks ranch closes.... That was my home track for many a year even back when it was called Campbell's ranch as run by Bill and Buel.

-B

[matte]

Don't jump to conclusions if you don't know what happend.?

The way I heard it from a couple of guys that were there, which might or might not be accurate, the water truck had left the track, riders were allowed on, and the water truck re-entered the track. The collission happened at the crest of a hill, with both the truck and the bike unable to see each other until the last moment.

Like I said, this is the way I heard it. Maybe someone that was there will speak up with the details.

I read an account on another forum that supports this description. Further down there was a description of a very similar past incident where the disking tractor was driven onto the track while there were bikes on it resulting in a collision. Apparently in that case the rider wasn't seriously hurt but his bike was in pretty bad shape and Argyll paid for the repairs. This stuff in adding a whole new dimension of terror to riding tracks that don't have flaggers (most of them), now when I hit a blind jump I not only have to worry about there being a down bike or rider on the other side, there's also a good chance there will be a damn water truck or tractor waiting for me

[cornerspeed]

Sweet I'm over 18 so I won't run into any water trucks I'm certain his parents would have been able to stop him HOW??? Run after him??

With either description it still comes down to an accident, no age or elder knowledge would have prevented it. Don't blame goups of people for an accident that could of happened to any one.

It's funny how that guy was a kid and not amoung the " dirt biker group " which group would villipoto (Spelling ???) or Allesi be in? Could they even ride since they are under 18?? Should you be 18 to become a pro?

[dmoney2023]

no one under 18?! are you crazy!? 85% of the regular rider where I live are under 18. If anyone tried to close of the tracks to people under 18, they would just have a bunch of crappy 18 yr old riders going around the track. And, does anyone really stop going balls to the wall when they are 18? no it is more like 25-30 or when they start to have a family.

This is true, most riders are younger. Getting hurt is just part of the risk wether you are about to hit a water truck or a tree.

[MVJLUVSDRZ]

The description of events I heard was different than this original post.

No matter, what amazes me is that track owners dont think enough to protect themselves let alone riders by not making it IMPOSSIBLE to access the track during any kind of naintenance. Put up a fence and gate or whatever is necessary and close it when equipment is on the track. You must assume that an accident WILL happen and take all precauctions necessary to see that it doesnt. I hate lawyers/lawsuits but they are gonna be all over this one.

[yzkid999]

if no one under 18 was allowed to ride here all our tracks would go outa business

[matte]

The description of events I heard was different than this original post.

No matter, what amazes me is that track owners dont think enough to protect themselves let alone riders by not making it IMPOSSIBLE to access the track during any kind of naintenance. Put up a fence and gate or whatever is necessary and close it when equipment is on the track. You must assume that an accident WILL happen and take all precauctions necessary to see that it doesnt. I hate lawyers/lawsuits but they are gonna be all over this one.

There's an organization in SoCal the Brett Downey Safety Foundation the purpose of which is to promote safer motocross tracks, among other things their criteria includes, full flagging staff at all times, fenced tracks with limited access (as you were suggesting), emergency medical personnel present at all times, and not mixing minis and big bikes during practices. They have already made a big impact, convincing several major tracks to adopt their guidelines (Perris Raceway, Starwest MX, Glen Helen, Lake Elsinore MX Park and Cahuilla Creek MX).

So far they are only focusing on SoCal tracks, and only one NorCal track operator that I know of has adopted the guidelines, Scott Davis at E Street MX in Marysville. Unfortunately several of the other tracks are run by crusty old curmudgeons who have been in place since the 70's and simply don't seem to care whether their tracks could be safer or not, as long as they have enough riders showing up with $$$$ in hand, and they aren't forcibly shutdown, they won't change, no matter how many people get hurt (or killed). If you want things to change, vote with your feet (wheels).

I'd hate to see any track get closed down, but if the end result is that it scares the others into doing the right thing, we'd all be better off.

[MVJLUVSDRZ]

Sounds like a good idea thats time has come matte.

Im of the impression that we are responsible for our own safety but some things that tracks do is just plain stupid. Take atwater cycle park for example (now closed). They used to run a front loader on the MX track while people were riding! He was in plain sight except when he would push dirt up over the top of a berm turn and the bucket would come over onto the riding surface. You could see it especially if you already knew it was there but get someone that just rides onto the track, not thinking, sweaty goggle, fatigued and you could have an accident.

Have you seen the pics on the sandhill website about the incident there.

They are posted to show that the rider should have seen the truck. Well the first time I looked at them I expected to see a big truck broadside bigger than life that no one could miss, instead you see about two feet of the top of the truck on the backside of a jump! Now add in the fatigue, sweaty goggles, and other outside factors and you could see how it could happen.

I dont know the particulars of that incident but the pics show that the potential for an accident was present.

[pelikan]

I wasn't there and won't form a gussopinion but I hope the guy is ok and the track stays open. What I really don't understand is how a track so close to SandHill wouldn't of learned something from their incident.

I was there the day after the incident and they closed the track with a (black) flagger for watering. They did it pretty often and it kept the track is AWESOME shape. Epic. Man I hope that place doesn't close.

[matte]

Sounds like a good idea thats time has come matte.

Im of the impression that we are responsible for our own safety but some things that tracks do is just plain stupid. Take atwater cycle park for example (now closed). They used to run a front loader on the MX track while people were riding! He was in plain sight except when he would push dirt up over the top of a berm turn and the bucket would come over onto the riding surface. You could see it especially if you already knew it was there but get someone that just rides onto the track, not thinking, sweaty goggle, fatigued and you could have an accident.

Have you seen the pics on the sandhill website about the incident there.

They are posted to show that the rider should have seen the truck. Well the first time I looked at them I expected to see a big truck broadside bigger than life that no one could miss, instead you see about two feet of the top of the truck on the backside of a jump! Now add in the fatigue, sweaty goggles, and other outside factors and you could see how it could happen.

I dont know the particulars of that incident but the pics show that the potential for an accident was present.

Agreed, no track employee should EVER drive any piece of equipment onto the track unless it is first closed and completely CLEARED of riders, additionally there should always be a flagger on a blind jump, race day or not. I don't know what Sand Hill thought they were going to accomplish with that letter and pictures, in my eyes it just makes them seem callous and is a tacit admission of their negligence; they say 'he signed a waiver' and imply 'he should have seen the truck', what they DON'T say is 'the track was closed and he shouldn't have been on it', obviously because it wasn't. They are 100% at fault, period.

[hodgkins]

I used to do sacramento practice on tuesday nights.they had an ambulance on sight,a tech inspection for bike and rider,1 entrance onto track and closed the track during watering and or maintenance.

[live2ridemx]

i am not gonna condone all of the stupid lawsuits that happen at motocross parks. however, i can clearly remember riding the sandhill ranch track and getting sprayed by the water truck. no one ever told us to exit the track. thats just irresponsible