Mad Max? Really?

Reviewing the history and after talking to someone I know who has done work for one of the teams involved, most deaths are still participants.

Yes there are incidents of spectators being killed or injured. This IS tragic. But they were spectators. Do you know anyone who does not believe there is a risk standing 10 (or less) feet away from an active race course?

Still trying to find an incident of someone who was not a spectator.

There was a small child who ran away from her mother a few years back. She ran under a support truck returning from the race, that by witness accounts was going very slowly through a town. Very sad, but a standard traffic accident all the same.

I am not a fan of death. But it is inherent to the world of motorsport. In any truly extreme test of man, especially when coupled with machine, some death is inevitable and sadly, unavoidable.

The parameters of disorder are never clearly defined.

It’s racing.

I’d vaguely define the Dakar’s length as a continent. Ok it used to be… kinda. Road… competitors would interpret this term as… any surface upon which tires can gain traction.

I think it is easier to herd cats than manage the “race” spectators. By spectators I mean everybody on the continent who may knowingly or unknowingly cross paths with a race vehicle.

As far as Baja goes, pretty much every year someone dies. Sometimes its a driver, more often it’s a support person.

Much of the risk at Baja comes from ‘booby traps’ which are placed by the locals. To be fair, most of the locals are just looking to up the intensity of the visual spectacle in their ‘hood.
But they don’t build things terribly well, or they don’t understand how it will work.

Granted. Point taken Robert.

I still believe that it can be managed effectively though.

Watch “Race To Dakar” to get an idea of what’s involved in just attempting to FINISH the thing.

But the answer is to keep the sheepherder off the road. Not to kill the race.

Do you have any idea how long this race is? And how flexible the concept of “road”?

If everyone involved is aware of that, then it’s caveat emptor. You pays your money and you takes your chances.

Years ago when I regularly attended Indy, we sat very close to pit row. Dangerous? Statistically, no. Possibly, yup.

If you go to any racing event without knowing there is some possibility that you may end up quite dead, you shouldn’t be there.

Yes, it is always a bit disturbing to watch a rally car move through a bubble in a crowd. Ya gotta wonder. And yes, running over some poor sheepherder who for some reason was not made aware, is definately not part of the deal.

But the answer is to keep the sheepherder off the road. Not to kill the race.

If you guys want to see some guys with SERIOUS ‘HUEVOS’, check youtube for isle of man motorcycle races.