I have worked security at the Redbud National and could not disagree more. Maybe pepper spray is a bit extreme, maybe not but the fact of the matter is that totally out of control (burning cars, blowing up outhouses etc. etc. etc.) fans are what is ruining the curcuit. Everybody seems to be trying to be a little more extreme than the person beside them. :( :(
Last edited:
KWJ,
True to a point, but when security takes drastic steps, i.e. using pepper spray. Mob rules come in to play. A few people out of control, burning and blowing up things, turns in to 5, then 10, the 20, etc. Of course we don't have all the information on what really happened. How come the trouble makers where not removed from the park? Using pepper spray should be a last line of defense. Not the first action to be used, if this is what happened.
When are promoters going to get a grip on security at races? Can't they see this as a growing problem? Hell, a few years ago living in IL we attended the Peoria TT. I was uneasy attending this race, wasn't sure how the crowd would be. It was a better crowd then I saw at Redbud, or many SX that I have attended.
True to a point, but when security takes drastic steps, i.e. using pepper spray. Mob rules come in to play. A few people out of control, burning and blowing up things, turns in to 5, then 10, the 20, etc. Of course we don't have all the information on what really happened. How come the trouble makers where not removed from the park? Using pepper spray should be a last line of defense. Not the first action to be used, if this is what happened.
When are promoters going to get a grip on security at races? Can't they see this as a growing problem? Hell, a few years ago living in IL we attended the Peoria TT. I was uneasy attending this race, wasn't sure how the crowd would be. It was a better crowd then I saw at Redbud, or many SX that I have attended.
This year due to road construction making the run to hotels over an hour we decided to camp at Millville. My wife was expecting the worst case scenario from talking to people that had camped at other races. The first thing that happened when we arrived was the security (real deputies:) ) asked if we were aware no beer or alcohol was allowed. When we said yes they asked to check our coolers and when my wife went to pull them out they said not to worry and have a good time. This was in contrast to the truck load right next to us that had their coolers empty on the road and the beer being removed. Yes this was a case of profiling- a mid 40's couple with 2 kids being respectfull and a truck carrying 5 early 20's guys being loud and obnoxious- but in the real world it works.
Saturday night the grounds were very quiet-so much so our 2 kids were asleep by 10 and slept thru the fireworks show. I spent alot of time walking around and was pleased to see mounted deputies patrolling and managing to not see the quiet groups around campfires enjoying a beer in civilized manners. Sunday at the races was also in complete contrast to our views at other nationals where drunkeness made it miserable to watch in certain areas.
As long as the crowd can act civilized the security force will react in same. This is from someone who is definately not a tea totaler and doesn't expect fans at any event to sit with hands folded on laps watching.
Saturday night the grounds were very quiet-so much so our 2 kids were asleep by 10 and slept thru the fireworks show. I spent alot of time walking around and was pleased to see mounted deputies patrolling and managing to not see the quiet groups around campfires enjoying a beer in civilized manners. Sunday at the races was also in complete contrast to our views at other nationals where drunkeness made it miserable to watch in certain areas.
As long as the crowd can act civilized the security force will react in same. This is from someone who is definately not a tea totaler and doesn't expect fans at any event to sit with hands folded on laps watching.
I'll drink to that--
at Billings they sell at least a semi load of beer at their beer garden.
Not counting the coolers brought in you can only imagine the traffic to the porta-potties :eek:
Sunday night after awards---for the riders they brought out a pick up truck with the bed full of iced down cold ones :)
Trust me, it was officially Miller's time.
I do not want to see adult beverages banned -- but I do want to be able to enjoy an event without a bunch of clowns ruining it for everyone else.
Pepper spray may be considered extreme---but it's not my butt in front of a bunch of pumped up clowns feeling invincible on Wolf Juice.
I'd spray first --- apologize second.
at Billings they sell at least a semi load of beer at their beer garden.
Not counting the coolers brought in you can only imagine the traffic to the porta-potties :eek:
Sunday night after awards---for the riders they brought out a pick up truck with the bed full of iced down cold ones :)
Trust me, it was officially Miller's time.
I do not want to see adult beverages banned -- but I do want to be able to enjoy an event without a bunch of clowns ruining it for everyone else.
Pepper spray may be considered extreme---but it's not my butt in front of a bunch of pumped up clowns feeling invincible on Wolf Juice.
I'd spray first --- apologize second.
The other night on TV I saw a show about spring break riots. One town had some trouble one year so the next they doubled the police and security and the trouble tripled!!! The next year after that they again increased police and security, but all except a very few were undercover. There was little trouble and most was handled one on one by the undercover agents with hardly anyone noticing. Without uniforms to rebel against the mob didn't have anyone to direct a riot at.
I think the answer might be for race promoters to use actual law enforcement officers. Rented security officers tend to get little respect and they do not have the experience to read and dissipate hostile situations. Plus, if some thing were to happen, the law enforcement officers have greater authority and ability. My experience with races at Hangtown is that they have been well controlled. They have law enforcement strategically ringing the event and they are unobtrusive, yet visible. Outside of an occasional one on one fight, I have never seen mob mayhem. It could also be that it is usually too hot to move, let alone expend energy on destroying things.
I, too, have nothing against tossing back a few (and I've been known to walk on my lips once in a great while :eek: ), but I also agree that this is fast becoming more of a family oriented sport, and pushing toward the mainstream. If that means I can't have a beer at the local track, fine. I'll just knock back some Gatorade! (better for you in the heat anyway)
Some people need to learn that it doesn't take a couple gallons of adult beverage to have fun . . .:silly:
Some people need to learn that it doesn't take a couple gallons of adult beverage to have fun . . .:silly:
