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

I don't think you're nuts.  And, this is going to seem strange, since I have been preaching the severity of this situation, but I have no problem with dirt tracks still running races.  

If the tracks can pay the purse with low attendance, and there are measures to keep fans safe, and spread out, let them run.  Packed stands would be bad

I concur with both of you and applaud you both for being voices of reason in a forum with many skeptics.  I'm a senior citizen in realtively good health for my age but I would not attend a race if they were being held right now. 

If some of the tracks in certain areas elect to continue racing and aren't being restricted by local authorities it is up to each individual to decide whether they want to attend.  One thing I read early on before this was a news item in the US is that researchers in China determined that the virus was spread to another apartment through a plumbing vent that had been altered in an apartment.  Since a lot of the tracks in my area have porta johns to supplement inadequate bathroom facilities and since race tracks aren't known for their clean restrooms I will pass.  Likewise touching surfaces and walking into a race track restroom only to find that soap and paper towels are in short supply.  Under normal circumstances I'd laugh those inconveniences off but now they're like a giant petri dish for people my age.  This thing is highly contagious and you never know who just returned from overseas or a highly affected part of the country.  Personally I'll error on the side of caution based on my personal circumstances.  My wife is assisting her mother in coordination with hospice right now so staying away from large gatherings is a priority. 

Stan Meissner

I noticed the skeptics are getting more quiet every day.  

I feel like I have kept this in perspective.  I'm 46 and live in an area with no confirmed outbreaks yet.  So, for right now, other than no school for the kids, or work for my wife and I for 3 weeks, I am going to proceed cautiously "as normal"----if that makes sense.  I had lunch and a beer at my local tavern yesterday afternoon and a few buddies are coming over this afternoon to have a couple of beers.  I had tickets for last Sundays Chicago Blackhawks game. (I live 2 hours out of the city) I still went.  However, I took some extra precautions.  We did not do the normal bar and restaurant hop around downtown pre and post-game.  We went to the game, and came home.  In light of what has transpired in the last 6 days, if I had the same tickets for tomorrow night, and the game was still on, I probably would not go.  

My kids are free to go out for lunch with friends and spend time at their friend's houses with the understanding that, at any time, I may restrict this----should we see an area breakout.  

I am not afraid of getting this virus right now or having my wife or kids get it---right now.  80-90% chance of being mild, and if it were to get serious, I would have the best possible medical care.   However, I am terrified of getting this virus during a breakout when we can't get to a doctor should someone need it.  I am also terrified for my friends and family who are doctors, nurses, and paramedics.  

I feel like I have done a good job of being right in the middle of the madness of this situation.  I bought a couple of extra canned goods should someone in my house or someone close get sick and cause us to isolate.  I have enough toilet paper for 2 weeks---but that is normal in our house.  My emergency savings account is very strong----something ALWAYS preached to me growing up.   I also feel very positive about the rebound our economy will have once the worst part of this passes---which is hopefully the 2-4 weeks of shutdown.  

Hoping you can get to the track soon Stan.  You are smart for laying low for now.  If there was a race within driving Idistance of me, and I knew I could attend without being on top of everyone else in the crowd, I would personally not have any reservations.  I would, however, not be exchanging money with concessions if there were disease spreading in my immediate area.  JMO though folks.  Doesn't have to be yours.  

It would help if someone (ie: the President) explained the rationale of quarantining or avoiding large events. It's basically a modified attempt at herd immunity - not necessarily to protect the public as individuals, but rather to slow the spread so our medical resources don't get overran. There are 100K ICU beds in the US, and at any given time, they are typicaly 80-90% full. Given that this thing can sit dormant in a carrier for up to two weeks, and the piss-poor testing numbers of the US, and you have an extremely risky situation at this point. The number affected could be dramatically higher than reported right now. And given that the virus is already confirmed in both Cumberland County PA (where Mechancisburg is located)  and Allegheny County (where Lincoln is located), I can't think having any kind of event that may generate a crowd is a good choice. 

I think you're giving good advice. I just talked to my dad this morning & he said he went to his specialist today as part of his regular schedule exam. His doctor told him that it would probably be a good idea for him to lay low and avoid going out if needed as well. He even said it probably would be good to where a mask if he here's of any confirmed cases in his area. My dad told me his attitude about the whole thing changed after his appointment. He has suddenly gone from happy go lucky to I really hope I don't get it.

I have a few friends in the medical profession that were really cocky and over confident about 2-3 weeks ago.  Now, after all of the meetings they have had at work, the attitudes have changed.  

A few comments after reading some of this,

On the sceptics are getting quiet, Many have taken extra precautions but are not Chicken Littles. At this point other than normal precautions they have just said I am tired of listening to it.Saying the same thing one hundred times doesn't change anything.

Some appear to leading pretty normal lives while telling others that they should not.

Racing is ok in some places but not in Pa. because it attracts more attention.

Some need a geography lesson on Pa.

Just watching news a little while ago. Their idea of someone who can't work from home is some who works in a resturant. It never occurred to them that there are many outdoor jobs that must be done no matter what is happening, (weather or something like this)

N1H1 2009, many more people infected, many more deaths and yes it was big deal but near the panic as now. There were 1,000 deaths in the U.S. before the government did much of anything and people critisize the responce now. That goes back to news coverage now with the sky is falling every time somethig out of the ordinary happens. 

Maybe we should all move to cities living on top of one another and wonder why these things spread like they do.

Interesting read

Here's a good article that runs through four different coronavirus simulations showing different styles of movement and how it affects the spread of the disease.

It has excellent graphics to illustrate the point. I thought it was very informative. 

Everyone needs to read that entire article.  It's just simple common sense---no voodoo there.  It's worth noting, the WHO has had many pandemics to study, figure out what works, and what doesn't work.  We have the technology today like we never had before.  The WHO has done a phenomenal job of stopping SARS, MERS, Ebola, etc.  This is the first time the horse has been completely let out of the barn on a virus this dangerous.  By the way, I hope by now, with the situation still terrible in Europe, everyone with half a brain is starting to see it is dangerous----even with the low fatality rate.  

 Unfortunately, Italy went for the "free for all" approach for too long.  Now, they must go with the 4th scenario for a long period of time.  We were thankfully not in the "free for all" for as long----I don't believe, and maybe we can be in the 3rd and 4th scenario for a shorter timeframe.  

I live in Northwest Illinois.  The state of Illinois has just shut down all bars and restaurants for 2 weeks.  Delivery and curbside service only.  A lot of criticism, but I think it will be very effective per the article you just shared.  This situation is going to evolve so much in the next 10 days to speculate on anything would be irresponsible.  

Lincoln is in Adams County.

All MGM Resorts Int. announced it will close all of their hotels in Las Vegas effective Tuesday. Will not take any reservations till May 1 2020. Not going to be a good time to have all your money in stocks.

Rod

My mistake - used the town instead. 

NASCAR postpones all races through May 3rd.

AP Network news last night claims this could easily go on until late July or early August! How could anyone predict that I do not know BUT thats Ooozing right into the Knoxville Nationals and the end of the Sprint car race season in Iowa... Ouch!!!

The numbers are likely to get a lot worse before they get better. I honestly believe we won't see much racing until mid May at the earliest. It could easily be June. Hoping I'm wrong but this thing is about to shut down things in a huge way. 

I would say early-June would be an absolute miracle.  Hoping for a miracle.  

Hoping too but it is realistic it could go into June. This is starting to snowball into multiple issues now. The obvious human health but also personal finance & economic issue. My best friend is an apartment manager and when they made the restaurant/bar and other restrictions on Sunday he was flooded with calls, emails, and tenants at the door. A lot of them are now out of work, laid off, or significantly cut hours. They can either not afford to pay rent this month, or pay but can't pay utilities & car, or can pay  pay that but can't pay them next month. Conversely if his company waives the rent then they don't get income which means he probably gets laid off, which means he's in a similar position of how long can I afford to pay without income. 

My last company was a food distributor & the restaurant ban is hurting them. One of my friends who works there got a note that the company is trying everything possible to not lay off anyone. There are millions of people in the same boat & it comes back to racing. How will people be able to afford to go back without getting paid for weeks and months? Our electric, water, and gas companies have said they will not shut anyone off for not paying their bills which is nice. But how long will that last & when do you expect for some to pay the money. I am very fortunate as of now that I can work from home & my company is in health/nutrition so we will be able to continue for a little bit. 

I'm also fortunate as is my wife.  She is a elementary school teacher and they will begin teaching kids online.  I am a college instructor and will begin teaching through alternate methods.  Not very easy when my discipline is CNC Machining and CAD!  I haven't quite figured this out yet!  The main thing is, as of now, we are going to be paid in full so we will actually be saving money right now.  I feel for all of those I know who will be making NO money soon.  I feel bad for all of those down the line----like the apartment manager you speak of-----that will be in trouble because they can't collect rent.

This is going to be a mess.  I don't care how "fundamentally strong" our economy was, it is going to be a mess.  

I would like to know how factories are exempt from the state and federal recomendations. I go into work and in my office we can't even meet the 6 feet spacing requirement. Every machine operator and engineer in the place touches the same mouse and keyboard on every piece of equipment in my area. Heck even with the normal viruses they go around like wildfire because of this. 

Asked my boss today about what it will take to shut us down. Reply was "It would take a positive test result on an employee." Fantastic, by then its too damn late.

"Every machine operator and engineer in the place touches the same mouse and keyboard on every piece of equipment in my area. "

Could you try working with rubber gloves?