Listers,
See below, a worthwhile project. I hope that every vintage racer who
competes at Summit Point will send a few dollars (or show up at the
appropriate time with pick & shovel!)
Mark Palmer
>From: "Roger Lyle" <rogerlyle@erols.com>
>To: <marrc-announce@marrc.org>
>Subject: [MARRC-announce] Move the Mountain
>Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2002 15:00:26 -0400
>
>Racers to 'Move the Mountain Safety Project' at Summit Point Raceway and we
>need you!
>
>Things are changing at Summit Point Raceway in wild and wonderful West
>Virginia. Over the winter, some extra concrete walls were erected in front
>of embankments to keep out-of-control cars contained within the racetrack
>and not vaulting through or over spectator fences. Stacks of tires bolted
>together are placed in front of these walls. These walls and tirestacks
>have a negative effect on any vehicle or human that runs into them at
>speed. Racing motorcycles have been broken in half on impact with these
>immovable barriers. Kart racers have the same problem. For motorcycle
>racers to hit these objects, it is a certain trip to the hospital or even
>worse. SCCA racers hate to hit anything, too. So, what is the solution?
>
>The 'Move the Mountain Safety Project' at Summit Point Raceway,
>www.mtm.nbinteractive.com ,has been established by racers for racers in
>co-operation with Summit Point Raceway management and all users of the
>track.
>
>The big problem area is 'the chute' between turns 4 and 5 on racers' left.
>Racers fly down the chute at over 100 mph and have to turn right in the
>off-camber turn 4 and then jump on the brakes to set up for left hand turn
>5. On the racers' left is an earthen and rock embankment just 30 feet from
>the track. With the concrete wall and tire stacks in front of the
>embankment, there is not enough room to save it if you leave the racetrack
>at 100 mph. Racing technology and speed increases every year and we need to
>come up with safety solutions to keep our sport healthy and in good hands.
>As racers, we need to be pro-active for our own safety. Roger Lyle, former
>motorcycle racer, former President of the Mid-Atlantic Roadracing Club
>(MARRC) for 18 years, and also current National Safety Director for Formula
>USA Motorcycle Roadracing, arranged a meeting with Mr. Bill Scott, owner of
>SPR, and national motorcycle champions David Yaakov of CAD Racing and Greg
>Harrison of WGH Excavation Inc., and team owner of Loudoun Motorsports
>Racing, and laid out the options available.
>
>The ideal solution would be to have ample run-off room, move the embankment
>back as far as possible, install a pea gravel trap to slow off-track
>vehicles, and put the wall and tire stacks 80 to 100 feet back up against
>the remaining embankment. There still may be a need to purchase some foam
>safety barriers to put in front of the tire stacks to keep cycles and karts
>from impacting the hard stacked tires. These foam barriers can be used by
>karts and cycles on their weekends. Area to be excavated is roughly 300
>feet long by 100 feet wide. Depending on the amount of rock to be removed
>or blasted these dimensions could be smaller.
>
>The 'Move the Mountain Safety Project' has been presented to the board of
>directors for MARRC, WKC, and SCCA. Each group's suggestions and needs are
>being considered and incorporated in the master plan to benefit all users
>of Summit Point Raceway. WERA, CCS, F-USA, NESBA, and Team Pro-Motion have
>been contacted too.
>
>So, how do you get involved? The 'Move the Mountain Safety Project' needs
>money. We hope to raise $50,000 to cover the excavation costs and purchase
>some foam safety barriers for the cycles and karts. Mr. Bill Scott has
>pledged that he will match us dollar for dollar. Any leftover money will be
>put into other safety improvements for Summit Point Raceway that will
>benefit everybody who visits Summit Point. All contributors will be listed
>on the MOVE the MOUNTAIN website at www.mtm.nbinteractive.com. Check out
>this site for excavation updates and notes from the enthusiasts who support
>this project. Thanks to Ryan Chapin of Nuts and Bolts Interactive at
>www.nbracesites.com for providing this website for Move the Mountain Safety
>Project. Thanks to everybody who has gotten involved already.
>
>Make checks payable to Move the Mountain.
>Donations to the fund can be sent to:
>Move the Mountain
>4413 Sigsbee Road
>Wheaton, MD 20906
>
>For more information, call Roger Lyle at 301-933-2599 or
>www.mtm.nbinteractive.com. Your contribution will definitely make racing
>at Summit Point safer and more fun for all. With your support, we can
>ensure the future of great road racing at Summit Point Raceway. After all,
>"Summit Point is Road Racing!"
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