No common sense!

A guy and his daughter came out to my MX track to try it out today. I didn't realize at first that the guy didn't have much experience riding and the daughter had none. It was OK because they were the only ones there. I signed them in and went back to fixing my Cat. Then I look over and the girl(I'm guessing 8 or 9) is yelling at the dad because she ran into the loading ramp on the truck and the bike was on it's side. It was the dads fault for not moving the ramp... So the dad goes and picks the bike up and points it in the right direction. I wasn't paying too much attention till the daughter rode past me. She was wearing shorts and running shoes. The dad was wearing jeans and running shoes. Then the daughter decided she didn't want to ride for whatever reason. The dad came back and I mentioned his daughter should wear long pants when riding. Then I couldn't believe the dad said he suggested it but the daughter just wanted to wear shorts. I said you should demand it in the nicest way I could.

A little while later the daughter wanted to try out the kids track so the dad just sent her over there without even a helmet on!!! I saw that right away and said a helmet is mandatory. Not 2 seconds later I hear her bike die. I'm almost certain she fell over again but wasn't injured. Then they made one lap around the main track and figured they needed a break. A short time later they went out and I didn't hear them for the longest time. Then I saw the daughter walking back with a bit of a limp. I asked what happened and she said she fell. Are you OK? No. I felt like saying, you're walking so it can't be too bad. Then the dad came back on his bike and went back to get hers. It looks like she scraped her knee a bit and maybe hurt her foot. Nothing serious but the dad wrapped a towel or something around her knee and didn't seem to care too much. I said that's why you wear long pants. They were a different nationality but I'm not sure which. I just couldn't believe the dad would have such little regard for safety. One of those times that makes you go HMMMM! They were riding some no name import bikes which is OK but it struck me as odd that all they had for safety gear were helmets. They pulled up in a 60 or $70,000 4x4 Cummins one ton dually! Surely they could afford some safety gear.

You ought to put up a sign that lists minimum safety gear. Helmet, eye protection, hard toe boots, long pants, long sleeve shirt, gloves.

Last year I was pressure cleaning a deck for a customer and some of those guys you speak of grab my pressure washer while it was running I had my back to them did not see or here them it almost nock me down so I sarted to yell that did not stop them so I soak them and then they rolled my machine on its side and It stoped running. The guy who spoke English told me they were going to mow the grass and I didn't no who I was messing with so I let them mow the grass.

GordoSD has some very good suggestions.

If you collect a fee for using your track, or sign them in, that is a prefect time time to give them two copies of your track rules. Have them sign both copies and keep one copy for your records. Enforce that anyone who breaks your rules must leave. I'm surprised your insurance company doesn't require you to post your track's rules and enforce them.

Insurance states helmets are mandatory and other protective clothing is highly recommended but not absolutely necessary. For a race is a different story. I used to think kids on 50's with rubber boots wasn't the safest thing to wear but this girl was on a 150cc bike with very little experience. I've never had a situation like this before but think I will be making a few more protective items mandatory.

If they had any common sense they wouldn't have been at the track in the first place.

I'd second that.
After all, its your track and you have a chance to set the rules.
Minimum standards should be easy for anyone to understand.

They may be able to afford that new Cummins, but how? The last MX track that they went out and busted themselves up on might have bought it for them.

I have some real good hunting ground, and I have often thought about getting into fee hunting.

It is for reasons like you just told that I have never pursued it.

I value my land too much to let some jack leg take it away from me over a lawsuit.

Gene

Sounds like a weekend dad. He does not want to upset the kid, so that the kid will like him enough to go with him on his weekend.

He was self employed in the hauling business.

My boys raced karts for several years. Other dads used to complain about the cost of the safety gear, but would brag about what they spent on engines, tires, and trailers. Over the years, both my kids each had an incident where the gear was worth every penny it cost because they walked away without a scratch. To me, its a no-brainer and not optional.

My opinion...post some minimum requirements for gear to use the track. If they don't like it, explain that its in their best interest too if they want a place to ride long term.

Another suggestion....a lot of safety equipment gets outgrown before it gets wore out and just sits in a closet or garage. Ask some of your regulars to donate their old stuff to your track for others to use if they don't have anything.

(quoted from post at 00:22:25 08/18/13) Last year I was pressure cleaning a deck for a customer and some of those guys you speak of grab my pressure washer while it was running I had my back to them did not see or here them it almost nock me down so I sarted to yell that did not stop them so I soak them and then they rolled my machine on its side and It stoped running. [b:759e19cc11]The guy who spoke English told me they were going to mow the grass and I didn't no who I was messing with so I let them mow the grass.[/b:759e19cc11]

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perfect explanation for why I always keep my protection in my pocket. sounds to me they were trying to steal your washer while you were there, if they needed you to move while they mowed, asking might have worked? I hope you charged the customer for the time......

@OP - we have an MX track out in the country not far from us. He has a specific section for 'inexperienced' and he says it doesn't matter age, it's experience level. he also has signs everywhere listing minimum requirements for safety gear, just some suggestions, but it works for him!

Some people make you wonder, don't they?

(quoted from post at 03:41:58 08/19/13) Some people make you wonder, don't they?

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yeah, but then some people you're sure about huh..... 8)