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

August humidity, corn stalks, dirt in the air....all known COVID killers.  Cant wear a mask and eat my pork patty and drink my beer. 

Like the mortocycle people say with regards to a helmet.  Let those who ride decide.  

I'd say the data from states that have reopened earlier may make it difficult to have an event of this scale. Lot of places have really unfortunate looking numbers right now. 

From looking at the data in Iowa, I don't see how Knoxville shouldn't be able to host the Nationals, and I would bet by August they will be able to get around 60-70% capacity; it's just going to come down to the Fair Board and if they are okay not have capacity of 100%. 

Iowa's cases have been pretty consistent all of June, right around 5% of tests coming back positive and that's with testing around 5,500/day; and that is factoring all the restrictions that have been eased and continue to be eased almost weekly.

About the only Knoxville can hold the Nationals is most likely by making it all General Admission, yes it's not the perfect world, but it's the best given the situation.  With no trailers in the infield, sitting in even numbered rows, you can easy see 90% of the track from row 2.  If I was Knoxville, I would give refund to anyone who didn't feel safe coming and when 2021 tickets go on sale, anyone who renewed or purchased reserved seats for 2020 would have first dibs on the same seats in 2021. But guess well see in a couple weeks, fingers crossed!

Some interesting facts about COVID-19 from a recent Wall St Journal article:

- About 80% of Individuals who’ve died of Covid-19 are older than 65, and the median age is 80.

- For most individuals underneath the age of 65 (outside of the NY Metro and other hotspots),the danger of dying from Covid-19 isn’t a lot increased than from getting in a automobile accident driving to work. In California and Florida, the fatality danger for the under-65 crowd is about equal to driving 16 to 17 miles per day. 

- Kids underneath age 14 are between 6.8 and 17 occasions much less prone to die of Covid-19 than the seasonal flu or pneumonia, assuming 150,000 coronavirus deaths this yr.

- Nursing properties are particularly weak as a result of they’ve giant numbers of aged in cramped quarters. They now account for greater than 50% of Covid-19 fatalities in 30 or so states, together with Arizona, Washington, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

If we had a coherent plan to protect seniors in nursing homes, the overall COVID death toll would probably look more like a bad flu season.

If you're over 65 with some health conditions, perhaps sit this Nationals out and watch it on PPV. But I think the Nationals should go on in 2020.

Can someone explain to me how 3% - 4% test positivity out of 550,000 and more tests is not good? Cases are going to go up bc more people are getting tested everyday... We know it effects the elderly more than anyone... if you are older or have health issues.. it's up to YOU to go out to an event of this nature... Everyone please stop with this whining and complaining.... 383 Covid deaths yesterday... record low....

As long as they give your preffered seating back the following year that is a fair solution.  Nobody in our age group should be penalized by losing their preferred seating due to virus concerns.  I decided to avoid attending any live events this year for the same reason.  When this thing became a political hot button topic I saw the writing on the wall for us older fans.  Some the races I am watching on TV have full crowds that are not keeping social distancing.  It's damn near impossible to convince the twenty somethings to respect our space when they think the virus is a hoax.  I'm sure the tracks would like to have us but they can't guarantee that everyone will follow direction and we can't afford to risk it.   Tracks have alcohol free non-smoking sections and it's too bad something like that can't be an option but it would be too hard to implement.  Even if they could designate separate seating the restrooms and consessions would be a difficult to keep separate.  Too bad as many like myself have been fans for 60+ years.

Stan Meissner

If you're talking about the Sunday number, that's typically much lower than other days and often catches up on Monday's and/or Tuesdays.   That being said though, the national death toll has fallen way off.   It was upwards of 2500 a day and I remember a few days of 2700 or more, so the recent numbers are very good news if it keeps up.      

I am in the same boat as you.  I am over 65 in good shape, but I am still on the fence as to whether or not I will attend. 

I just looked at at the ticket sales and of course every single seat around me has been sold.  Last year I had a couple seats open near me. 

Pondering getting a couple N95 medical grade masks to hedge my bets.

50/50 for now... and I love the Nationals.   Saw my first one in 1972.

I was definitely saying that the numbers in Iowa are looking more and more favorable by the day. There were a lot of people that freaked out when the numbers spiked 2 months ago, but that was all because of the increase in testing and the specific testing they were doing in the meat plants.  The number tested the last few weeks has been pretty steady, as well as the number of positive cases, all while the state is loosening ristrictions. 

Were still a couple months out from Nationals, yet only 45 days ago Iowa had it's highest daily count, so if things stay on the trend they've been on, it's looking better and better each day.  But I have to agree with many, if you're a high risk individual, it's up to you to decide what you wnt to do.

As long as they give your preffered seating back the following year that is a fair solution. Nobody in our age group should be penalized by losing their preferred seating due to virus concerns. I decided to avoid attending any live events this year for the same reason. When this thing became a political hot button topic I saw the writing on the wall for us older fans. Some the races I am watching on TV have full crowds that are not keeping social distancing. It's damn near impossible to convince the twenty somethings to respect our space when they think the virus is a hoax. I'm sure the tracks would like to have us but they can't guarantee that everyone will follow direction and we can't afford to risk it. Tracks have alcohol free non-smoking sections and it's too bad something like that can't be an option but it would be too hard to implement. Even if they could designate separate seating the restrooms and consessions would be a difficult to keep separate. Too bad as many like myself have been fans for 60+ years.

What Stan said.  

I think it is a fair solution as well to not penalize those who had their preffered seating as well. If the Nationals happen, and I hope they do, I have made the decision to attend although I do have some concerns but do not fault anyone who does not want to attend and they should not be penalized for not. When this whole thing started and events started getting cancelled & postponed I started thinking of the Kings Royal & Knoxville Nationals. Out of all of the events those two are the ones I love the most. I have limited my exposure to people just for those events which has not been that hard to do. It's amazing how much money you save by not eating out and doing creative fun stuff at home. If I go to the store I do wear a mask but not becaue I am afraid of the virus, I do it for those high risk individuals who might be concerned about it, its just having good manners as far as I am concerned. I don't know who has what health conditions/concerns or who is legitimately afraid so I have no problem with putting a mask on & standing a couple arms lengths away to make them feel more comfortable. It does not hurt my ego or pride. Its called being nice which is a lost skill today and like you said tracks would have a hard time implementing a few things because of that. There are a couple people who sit around me that are around the high risk age and I already told my dad if he wants to go I'll wear a mask if I have to not because of me but because the people who are 60 and have been going to races longer than I have been alive deserve to have some peace of mind if they decide to go. If they are fine with me not wearing one then I'll remove it but hopefully a little courtesy is shown for others.

Personally I dont see what the big deal with having to wear a face mask at an event other than it sucks to drink or eat! I guess when you have to wear one with all your heavy work clothes, Safety Glasses and a Face Shield attached to your hardhat for 8-10 hrs all day! Well sitting there in the grandstands in shorts and a light T-shirt watching the races in the open air with a mask on just dont seem like that big of a deal!

I'll wear a mask if that is what it takes to attend the Nationals.  No problem with that.  

I won't.  If they have masks required I got 4 weekly packages available for sale. 

Lol. Its law you have to wear clothes but be damned about a mask temporarily. Are you pissedabout wearing clothes? Does your employer make you wear one? If so would you quit over it? I suspect not.

The whole clothes and mask thing is not valid.  I choose not to wear one not because I'm "tough" or even disagree that they MIGHT help slow the spread of covid 19, I'd just rather my first Knoxville Nationals experience be without limitations. Or wearing a fuckin facemask in August when it's 90 and humid. Everybody's going to be taking them off anyway which makes the whole thing pointless. Instead of putting protective barriers on our faces how about we teach people to build up their immune system, and get healthier. I really don't think masks will be mandatory anyway, but if they are and anybody needs tix, hit me up on here and we'll get in contact. 

I'll wear a mask if that's what I gotta do, but last time I checked wearing clothes doesn't make it hard for one to breathe...

Biggest issue is the social distancing guidelines. Don't think Knoxville will run the 410 show if they can't have maximum capacity. Perhaps the state will ease more restrictions if the numbers continue to trend down the next couple of weeks and no numbers spike after holding the events we already have held. If I had to guess now, I would imagine that the 360 nationals go on as scheduled since there's no capacity issues there and that the 410 nationals cancel and are replaced with another open Friday/Saturday show. Regardless, they won't take that weekend off from racing. Just a matter of what they will be allowed to do.