Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Thank god, a thread about the china virus again, I'm getting tired of the track prep threads. Maybe we can have a thread about culturally sensitive issues next.

I think this thread is very relevant threat right now to sprint car racing.  Dirt tracks are one of the few places in all of America being allowed to gather large crowds of people as long as guidelines are followed.  So, how do we respond?  Not very well it appears in most places.  Since we are one of the only places where huge crowds are being allowed, expect dirt racing to be shut down very soon when the health dept. sees spikes in cases again.  It sucks and our opinion about how the virus spreads, outdoor vs. indoor, severity of the virus, etc. means NOTHING once they shut it down!!!!

I expected Knoxville to announce a 50% crowd this week for the Nationals in Aug.  Now I'm leaning towards full cancellation.  Hope I'm wrong.  

Even doctors say you don't need to wear a mask outside as long as you are somewhat segregated. If you are worried go stand in infield. They have been doing contact tracing in PA for several weeks now. If someone said they got it at a racetrack better believe we would have heard about it by now if it is an issue.

 
 
 
They don't even know how to spell sprint car 
much less chromoly...http://www.ycmco.com

I believe tracks were trying until every county went green and then tracks and people think everything is back to normal. Well they would be wrong. No masks and no social distancing. At least enforce social distancing. So areas are already closing back up and in Ohio tracks are nowhere near  what PA is doing. I want to see racing the rest of the season but believe the first person such as Port Royal had can cause us to shut down just because people don't want to act responsibly. Even if the young ones are getting it they take it home to families. Every track has been packed solid even infield and absolutely no social distancing and all counties and states like New York, New Jersey, and areas in Pa so high and all are at the tracks. Take your chances with your life and family as some adults refuse to act responsibly.  I am not a sheep but lose a family member or watch someone suffer breathing hard to survive  and was a very healthy person then maybe you will get it. All I can say is good luck and if you want to support tracks and drivers act like an adult and be responsible.  It could be your BFF racing buddy next. So sad

Can someone tell me the following:

What is the survivalbility rate?

What is the hospitalization rate?

If we exclude NYC and nursing homes what is the survivalbility rate?

How do you flatten a curve if you don't know when the infections started? Which is now confirmed sometime in 2019

On a good note it was stated last week that there was likely 20 - 80 times a higher infection rate earlier in the year than what was thought. 

Keep It Real

None of these has anything to do with what the health dept. is going to do if cases spike again.  We can keep reasoning with each other all we want-----------we don't make these decisions.  Until there is a vaccine, the only thing that will matter is raw numbers and the trends of these numbers.  Everyone can keep sending links on how masks do or don't work.  They can keep calling each other sheeple.  The can keep claim the virus started way back in October.  They can say it's policital.  They can say we're all going to be in a Bill Gates concentration/death camp with our tracking chips.  It's all irrelavant.  The only thing that matters is numbers right now.  

If we keep seeing numbers like we're seeing in the North, we'll be just peachy.  However, who in their right mind would think that everything is going to stay just peachy when you can clearly see the trend happening in the southern states.  And, by the way, it's not all made up.  I now know in the neighborhood of 2 dozen people confirmed with Covid.  5 ended up in the ICU and one passed away.  The ironic thing is, the 5 that ended up in the ICU were healthy and active! The least healthy person I know who got this only had achy joints and was over it in 5 days.  We figured he would be the last person who should get it.  

To be clear, I have NOT worn a mask in the stands at the races I have attended.  I had it in my pocket and I think it's been on my face 2 times and that was while in the food line.  Not because I was scared---because some older folks had masks on and I thought I would show a little respect to them as they were obviously concerned.  I have kept my distance in the stands and taken my time leaving and stayed out of crowds.  That's all we really have to do to suppress 90% of this.  We don't need to dig a bunker and hide.  But, we do need to have some respect for our health officials and respect what they are saying.  After all, if you are a mechanic for example, the health expert is going to come to you to get his/her car fixed.  Why not extend them the same courtesy when it comes to the profession they studied?

Just pretend you're at Eldora or the Chili Bowl and wear a fucking mask you goddamn numbskulls...good gawd...

Member of this message board since 1997

Now there's a constructive comment...

Good points

2 questions: A) Where do you live? (B) Do you think you might have not worn your mask due to "social pressure"? If i go to a race i want to enjoy it, not have to put up with insults or arguments...

Unfortunately Rev (and Egras as well), we can preach about this until we're blue in the face - but some people just only care about themselves.

We have been dealing with this pandemic for 4 months now and to act like you don't understand that the purpose of wearing a mask is to protect others (like your fellow race fans) is absoluetly laughable.

If/When tracks get shut back down, they'll be the first ones on here bitching and moaning about it.

BTW, I love high school, college, and pro football, but I'll be shocked if any of those three make it through a full fall season, or even play at all.

It's not rocket surgery...uh, it's a worldwide pandemic that doesn't care about your political believes. Think of a mask as the ultimate IQ test.

Member of this message board since 1997

Well, I guess I will throw in my two cents worth. 

I love racing, I believe in science over politicians with agendas and after sorting through all of the conflicting information this is my decision.  I won't be wearing a mask nor will I be attending any races in person for this entire season.  Based on what I'm seeing watching the PPV broadcasts racing fans do not appear to be wearing masks and they're too lax about social distancing.  I would attend a few races live this season if masks were required and social distancing is followed.

I have been going to races since 1960 and I spent seventeen seasons writing and taking photos for a Twin Cities racing publication called the Midwest Racing Connection.  My "home track" was the Legendary Cedar Lake Speedway which sits 32 miles from the end of my driveway.  I attended most of their races and wrote and took photos at Cedar Lake that whole time and got to know a lot of people out there including the owners and track workers.  I would love to attend one or more of the three nights of this historic event and even dust off my camera for some action photos but I will be home watching on television. 

I'm not implicating the track, they are operating within the guidelines mandated for public events and I trust that they're doing a good job of it.  Masks aren't required in Wisconsin and most businesses have reopened over there so nobody is violating the law by not requiring or wearing masks.  I'm making the decision for myself personally as I'll be turning 69 in a few months and I've got some minor health issues that are being managed.  The purpose of me wearing a mask is to stop my respiratory particles or whatever it's called from reaching others.  If the others aren't wearing masks then it's a moot point whether I wear one or not.

The way I look at it we're in a global pandemic that hasn't even gave us it's best shot yet.  I can limit my opportunties for exposure by staying away from races even though it pains me to do so in this case because of my past association with the track.  I think it sucks that twenty and thirty somethings can't "take one for the team" and make it so older people like me feel comfortable attending.  This is an epic event for CLS and I'd love to be out there to watch it all take place in person after so many years of working for the paper out there.  I had the priviledge of writing a handful of Flat Out articles that put the emphasis on Cedar Lake as well so it's going to be tough to watch from home but it's the safe thing to do.  I know that many of my fellow racing fans don't give a shit if I have to sit this one out so it is what it is. 

That is how this whole thing affects me personally.

Stan Meissner

I agree Stan.

Thanks.  I'm sure nobody gives a flying "f" what I think or cares if I go to see the Outlaws or not but I just had to put my opinion out there.  Hoser "anti mask wearers" don't give a shit about the work I did on behalf of the track or if I get to go out there and experience this once in a lifetime event.  All they give a damn about is that they don't have to wear masks and they can snuggle up to each other nuts to butts like a Navy chow line.  I could be upset with them but I think they're too young, foolish and political to get it.  Instead I'm upset with the virus that it put us all in this position to be arguing about hot button issues instead of talking Sprint Cars. 

Stan Meissner

Just wait and see who the first ones to bitch are when the country shuts down again

Some governors and mayors said when they opened that they wouldn't shut down again.  I think if things take a turn for the worst they won't have a choice.  Meanwhile I put in a mesh wifi boosting system for a couple hundred bucks because it was obvious I'd be spending a lot of time in the lower level family room watching PPV.  I still feel a connection to Cedar Lake after all the work and time spent out there and had originally planned to attend this one before the pandemic when it was a regular two day Outlaw show. 

If anyone is going out there this weekend you're in for a treat.  Cedar Lake racing is always exciting and their fireworks are epic.  Not to mention that my mouth is watering just thinking about the concessions.  I'm jealous. 

Stan Meissner

StanM I always appreciate your responses, without attacking another poster b/c you don't agree with their POV. 

Keep It Real

Thanks, I try not to get into pissing matches and the only one I insult is usually me calling myself an idiot.  I don't criticize tracks or racing teams either, it's just not my nature.

Here is an interesting post about Cedar Lake this weekend.  The World of Outlaws will be doing health screenings and free Covid testing and I think that's a great idea.  Cedar Lake health precautions

While Sprint Car fans are arguing mask vs no mask and suggesting the pandemic is a hoax the World of Outlaws are taking it very seriously.  If some of their crews and drivers get sick they will have to be quarantined and it could take out a bunch of their race teams if they're not careful.  It's ironic that the Outlaws are taking this so serious yet many of their fans still won't accept it as a reality. 

Stan Meissner

Agree with you, but also wanted to let you know some of us thirty somethings are taking one for the team. Where I live it's somewhat flipped because the twenty & thirty somethings are wearing masks along with the seniors but the forty & fifty somethings are refusing. I've had some buddies reach out to me complaining about others not wearing them and I've told them that they can only control themselves. I hope this ends sometime this year but who knows. Only major change for me so far has been not getting to the racetrack which I miss but, have been able to keep myself occupied. The only bad thing an the ppv is it makes me want to go more & more

I just arbitrarily grabbed those two age groups which I think you'll agree aren't showing as much concern about spreading the virus generally speaking.  I realize that there are exceptions to every rule, like I'm 68 almost 69 and I make music for a hobby, mostly bordering on metal.  Most in my age group are into oldies and classic rock so that is one personal example of there always being exceptions.

I have been enjoying the PPV and the thought of not going didn't bother me until the Outlaws announced this show.  I'd have been all over this ten years ago and would have done my annual WoO preview article and post event recap story.  Back when Tony Veniziano and Kyle Leutters after him were the WoO media guys they'd have put me on their list and I'd have been in their trailer uploading photos to their laptop at the end of the night.  Those are some of the things I used to do when the Outlaws came to Cedar Lake and those are my first thoughts when someone says World of Outlaws at Cedar Lake. 

It's been a few years but the memories of being out there almost every Saturday night for years can't help but come back when I watch it.  I'll be seeing my photographer friends running around the infield on Dirtvision and that will be kind of weird.  My neighbor has a private booth out there that him and his family sits in and my son and granddaughter will likely be out there at least one night.  We used to camp out for multi day events so they might even be doing that this weekend.  I spent so much time out there that it's more like a second home than a race track so Thursday through Saturday will be kind of difficult to watch.  If you go to their website, go to the outdoor track drop down menu and click on "about us" then "video and pictures" and you'll see me listed with the photographers.  It's still fresh in my mind so I'll be fighting the urge to go.

Stan Meissner