Gentlemen
I do not usually involve myself in spats on message boards, but think
that there are a couple of things to mention before things go to far.
While we operate the race events as the B
HPC,
there is also a very active pedal car race series specifically for the
four wheeled variety. As far as I am concerned, and I do not
necessarily speak for the club here, just my own opinion, I do not have
any problem with having pedal cars racing at the same time during the
BHPC events. However, pedal cars are markedly different from bikes and
trikes in terms of handling, acceleration and the like. Since our
events are predominantly comprised of bikes and trikes racing in a year
long championship, I would think it a matter of courtesy to do one's
best to 'fit in' to the race as best able. Since
all our
racers (even what some might consider the slower ones) are all
competing for points against each other in the championship tables, I
would suggest that track behaviour is of even greater importance. A lot
of work has been done this year by many people to try to organise
events that enable all of us to enjoy safe and moreover
competitive
racing. So I guess my point would be that pedal cars are welcome, but
think about it a bit more - what if these actions were reversed at a
pedal car meet ?
The issue with the helmet is cut and dried - no helmet, of suitable size and manufacture, fitted correctly,
no race. In fact,
not even allowed on the track - our insurance does not permit anything else. Come to our events and you will hear an occaisonal chorus of '
off the track !!', even to Mike Burrows and other VIP's
If I had realised that the helmet was not attached, I would have
flagged down the racer and removed them from the track, as has been
done in the past. There are no exceptions. Even those in streamliners
wear appropriate headgear.
Finally, I appreciate that you might not know of Jonathan Woolrich
(Protobikes), but he has done rather a lot for the HPV community -
there's more than one reason for his life membership of the BHPC (the
only life member), and
the respect that he has internationally as well (Battle Mountain,
anyone ?). He's also always one of the first to help the "newbies"
whenever possible (myself included, three years ago ....)
Time for a time out, I think. Remember we do this for fun ....
Edited by rob gillions