racing in rain

[timdavis22]

Al I think you need to take a look at racing in the rain. Any road course I have ever run its rain or shine,yes the track is slippery,yes you have to go slower,yes you have to drive smart.In fact the track Saturday was dry enough for slicks,yes the track still wasn't completely dry but was still race able Its a shame some people drove great distances to race,to be canceled because a couple of parents felt it to slippery for there kids. I thought you did a great job to try to get the race in,just implement a new rule for next year rain or shine. People can pic up rain tires over the winter to get ready for next season. Remember this weekend at Clyde is race or shine and surely is more treacherous than Palmyra .MY POINT IS RACERS COME TO RACE regardless of heat,cold,rain,or snow.From whom I talked to that day THE RACERS WANTED TO RACE,if you don't want to race load up.Rain dates just extend the season and there still is a chance of getting rained out.

[billyedwards]

This is a short sited comment, at best. Al made the right decision, period! First of all, Palmyra is not a road course, it is a roval. Racers, even the pros, do not race in the rain on a roval. The track was not race worthy that day. Yes, it is a shame that some drove a distance to race -- but, welcome to racing! You take your chances in terms of a race being run when the weather is so iffy. As far as parents being concerned about their kids' safety -- thank God. THEY ARE KIDS! They do not exhibit the judgement in a race that we would always like them to. Sometimes they do unsafe things. Our #1 job as parents is to KEEP THEM SAFE! Not to race or submit to those adults who are willing to accept that danger. And what of Al's track should, God forbid, something serious happen to one of those "kids" on the race track? No more race insurance. No more race track. No more Palmyra.....And some very sad parents!

[mcnicol25]

I raced at Clyde in the rain. Nothing like going into turn one wide open and praying to god you were going to stick. Hard enough to do when dry let alone wet.
Raced at Freemont in the rain/sleet/snow/ mix one year. Gotta earn your stripes some time. Bolt the rains on and go.
BTW...some of the pro's do race in the rain, roval or not. F1, ALMS, SCCA, all the way down to Gold Cup all race in the rain.

[timdavis22]

I'VE RACED IN THE RAIN AT PALMYRA IN A 16 HOUR ENDURANCE RACE,WITH 14 KARTS ON THE TRACK.YES YOU CAN RACE IN THE RAIN THERE,IF YOUR NOT COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR CHILD RACING LOAD UP! MY boy has raced in the rain for the last 9 years, he can handle it,so can most anyone else.If your child is not ready for it load up don't call for the rest of us that are willing to race. MAN UP OR LOAD UP!

[scottp]

the closest to racing in the rain i have done was at palmyra right after a huge storm lots of water on the track and it was still a slight sprinkle. everyone that went on the track to help dry it all ran slicks no body spun and we kept getting more brave every lap to the point we were running about 3/4 throttle most of the track so i would say it is possible to race in the rain there. i say talk about it at the banquet hold a open conversation and vote about it right then and there that way it can be put in effect next season if its a option. this is my opinion take it as u want thank you.

[anotherleftturn]

Sept 16, 2010 18:50:00 GMT -5 timdavis22 said:

I'VE RACED IN THE RAIN AT PALMYRA IN A 16 HOUR ENDURANCE RACE,WITH 14 KARTS ON THE TRACK.YES YOU CAN RACE IN THE RAIN THERE,IF YOUR NOT COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR CHILD RACING LOAD UP! MY boy has raced in the rain for the last 9 years, he can handle it,so can most anyone else.If your child is not ready for it load up don't call for the rest of us that are willing to race. MAN UP OR LOAD UP!

tim since you have done so much at palmyra than by it

[timdavis22]

I will say I and Nathan Bevard have run more laps there than all the rest of you put together. Anyone got a beef with me come and and talk about I'm sure we can fix it.

[kgbutt80]

Yes driving a long distance to get rained out doesnt make for a good day, but I knew it was possible when we started out. We got to meet some new people and had a good time even with the rain. Trying to get some mods to come over on one or the rain out dates along with some stock animals. As for as racing in the rain goes I started kart racing in the late 70's and got rained out or loaded up and headed home because I wouldn't race in the rain. That all stopped last year,yes you have to use your head more[ some need to do that on dry tracks to] street races run rain or shine, along with WKA events. I really like it, it makes you a better driver I believe. Thank you to every one who worked trying to get the track to the condition they felt safe with

[racingitswhatido]

I hope you guys know that this is a HUGE reason why a lot of people don't go to this track anymore. Because people that race there have to complain about EVERYTHING! You all know that if you of those younger kids was out there and wrecked bad that Al would have been held responsible and that the parents would be completely ticked off that the races even happen...
All of you that race there just need to keep it to yourselves and off the forum!
This forum is a HUGE reason I don't race at that track anymore.
What is the point of racing in the rain? Don't you want to go fast? Not 1/2 throttle??? That is boring!
Just keep your mouths shut and race when it is safe. The sport is already dangerous with people flying into the first turn trying to take people out into the tires...In the rain that would be that much worse.
I'm still in college by the way...I LOVE racing! But I would never put my kid if I had one into a kart where it is more dangerous than it is to begin with...
If you a parent think about it! You know you can die in these karts...Even going half throttle...
What do you love more?
Your kid or Your racing???

[Hetzel Racing]

I’ve been following this thread since it started and really planned on staying out of the conversation for now, and addressing this at a later date. But the last post by ‘racingitswhatido’ bothered me. Not because of they said on this subject but, by their first comment about racing at Palmyra Speedway. So I’m going to address that first.

Nobody, and I mean nobody, likes criticism or negative comments. But as a business that caters to the public you have to have them. It is what makes you become better and more prosperous. Without these types of comments, you will never know what you are doing wrong, or what you need to improve on. The sad fact is the majority of dissatisfied consumers will just quit coming to your business without ever saying a thing. They are just gone, and will likely never come back. Since I took over as track director, I have tried to make amends for past mistakes. Am I perfect? Hardly. But I continue to learn and improve with each race. So while I don’t necessarily like what I read, I know that the alternative (silence) is worse. Constructive criticism is welcome, whining is not.

Now as for the racing in the rain subject. Let me say this right off – There will NEVER be races held in the rain at Palmyra Speedway! At least as long as I run the track! Here’s why: First and foremost is the safety factor. It real easy to say that “I would race in the rain” or “let my kid race in the rain”, but I want you notice something about those statements. They only concern 1 person; I do not have that luxury. I have to be concerned about everyone, and I’d like to keep the track operational. Not lose it to some lawsuit because someone got seriously injured and sued the pants off of us. This probably would be by the people who make the above type of statements. Next is the statement about special events (i.e. Clyde and WKA races). These are just that, special events; they unlike us do not have the luxury of rescheduling the race, so they must hold it on the dates scheduled. Hence running them in the rain, I do not have that problem. Then there this statement “If you don’t want to race, just leave!” a true enough statement. So I just wonder, when ¾ of the racers leave, will the ¼ that is left come up and make up the difference in lost revenue. I seriously doubt it, remember we are here to try to make money, and not be a charity. The tracks costs do not change just because there are only 5 competitors, rather than 15. As it is we are usually in the red at the end of the year. Then there is another thing to consider, the cost to each racer. If we raced in the rain, everyone would need to have a set of rain tires for each of their karts. At roughly $300 per set (w/ rims) new, that’s a cost most people can’t afford, especially in this economy. I’m trying to bring more people to the track, not chase them away with added costs. For those of you who do not like my stance on racing in the rain, you have 2 options - Buy the track, and then you can run it your way, or don’t come. But for now I think I’ll keep doing it my way, judging by the comments here and that night, I think the majority agrees with me.

I do agree that I need to reevaluate how we make up rain outs, and I have a few ideas on that which I will bring up in the off season. I’m always looking for comments on how we can improve the track; I look at all of them with the same seriousness, make changes as people call for them. Let’s keep things moving forward!