Hope everyone is having a good 4th!!!
The one man that crashed hard was older; he knocked his head pretty good and banged up, otherwise seemed ok. I haven’t heard about Austin Pateos (I think that’s his name), someone posted earlier that it may have been a broken arm. I sent a friend request to him on facebook, haven’t heard anything yet. When I was over there, he was moving everything and nothing visibly stood out, so I don’t know. He was in real pain when they strapped him down. I don’t know anything for sure to the extent of their actual injuries but hope to. If anyone knows anything, please share, we want to know. (Will get to the subject of EMT’s later)
Chris’s grandma, I can’t remember your name. Please tell me again! I really struggle with names; I meet a lot of people, which is great, but hard on the memory. I appreciate your encouragement. The point of the first post was basically about our attitude towards life and towards people. I am glad Chris Mosher’s sincerity is no longer in question. I agree with your post and am going into that further now. Your absolutely right...TRACK SAFETY!!!
Also what someone posted earlier… no one sets out to promote a race badly. Also, I am not on here to defend or put down anyone else’s posts. I am only speaking from what I can say from my own experience. I am trying to be very careful in not saying anything from speculation or partial knowledge of other issues, circumstances or happenings.
So, Part 2……
I am still sticking with Chris as promoter, he just needs to know what’s right concerning the track and he wants to. I think his attitude as a leader for OIR is great, but track design and safety is his weakness and understanding and executing the proper plan of operation from all aspects. I called him yesterday as a friend. I asked him what was the hardest thing about that day and he said letting everyone down. He also said he intends to open up for practice, he doesn’t know when, but when he does he wants the track to be right. The dirt needs serious moisture before anything can be built. This is our opportunity to help keep a good track with a strong heritage moving forward. If he hasn’t listened before, I am sure he is now, which he was before, just doesn’t know what’s right, which is from no experience, but as we reasoned he does care and he is willing to put forth the effort.
As far as how the track came into his hands…he is the son of the only owner, that’s a given. What went down between him and the hands, I don’t know for sure. It’s not our business either. I know something’s, but can’t say for sure. I do know that Chris is not greedy or after just the profit, after all, last year was a bust and he’s paying out of pocket right now. I don’t know what happened is what people perceive or have heard. I have heard and said things myself. If I did know for certain, I wouldn’t tell anyways for respect to the people involved. We should lay that issue to rest and what’s between the hands and moshers is between them. All I know is we have a promoter who knew nothing about racing and didn’t want to see what his dad created die.
So from here forth, I will be volunteering my time during practice days to help. I’m not good at building jumps, but can see things though, like the cupped out jump after the big sand turn, the wrong lipped finish line jump, and the downhill jump where people crashed. When we watered first thing, that jump was smooth and looked like a smooth launcher, but kind of small for the gap without a lip, and eroded quickly, which I didn’t take notice till after the second crash. I have seen people crash there before the moshers and didn’t think much of it until the second guy crashed, I also didn’t see the full sequences of each crash. None like to see a rider go down no matter the circumstance, it’s never good, but we make the sacrifice. When someone crashes there, it always hard, like the jump at Malvern that Josh changed after you round the big light tower in the center jumping down towards the pond. I didn’t make it into the back section all day. There was a kicker in the pro step up too, and I wasn’t sure about the rollers. I do like the direction and layout of the course overall all though, only seeing about 70% of the track. If anyone is willing to step-up and help for the sake of keeping a once good racetrack alive, please step up. PM me to get Chris’s phone number to help get this track physically in shape or would like to help at all. I wouldn’t promise anything for you to gain from it financially, maybe some free practices and some food, I dunno, but the real reward is in helping because you care. I am not helping because I am partial to Chris, but that I stand for motocross. Maybe Granny Carr, your family could come out and Chris could help fix some jumps, I dunno, just an example. Or Jeremy from Malvern may be willing to come out, again, just an example. Someone suggested putting in some practices before you attempt another race, which at this point I wouldn’t think about a race, you don’t need to, get practices and track prep dialed in, that is your only hope.
As for the facility…no toilet paper, yikes, that should never happen. I liked the way the place looked for sure. The grass was cut, banners were up, buildings were painted and it looked sweet. Could use a wireless microphone that doesn’t have interference which is minor right now compared to anything else. No national anthem…bummer! Liked the pavilion which was added last year and cemented. There is also a beam in the sign-up building that I keep hitting my head on, maybe knock some sense into me hopefully. That can’t be changed, just need to watch out if you’re tall. OOUUCCHHH!!!
The crew…no or little experience operating a race (except Rae Lynn and her people at sign-up and myself, that’s all.) The desire, the work ethic and the willingness is all their though which is the first step. The crew isn’t changing so they just have to learn what needs done and when it needs done. I love the crew, they are easy to work with and get along with. No one complains about what they have to do, they just do it and work together.
The operation…YIKES!!! They still pulled off a race though in its entirety. I learn new things every race.
Good things…EFFORT, PASSION, WILLINGNESS, SACRIFICE
Bad Things…
1. Lack of experience, but gaining, comes with time
2. Lack of knowledge, but gaining, comes with time
3. Tractors move to slow by operators, and the red one is just slow. Got to work with the equipment you have for now though. Get those tractors moving faster but safely.
4. Because of the lack of experience, leader and operators don’t have a planned routine of breaking down track prep, and at times don’t recognize or utilize windows and the right timing, again which all comes from experience.
5. No national anthem.
6. Water tank fills up to slow. IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!
7. Flaggers…some were good, some need to learn to wave the flag.
8. Need more radios, COMMUNICATION!!!
9. More people on foot trackside or the ones that were there need coordinated better.
10. As is clear…track prep!!!
More on the track…over all it was unsafe. A few key things made the whole track unsafe, you have to ride the whole track, so a portion of unsafe track makes the course unsafe in my eyes. The new changes were made with no weather getting to them, so they all crumbled. You know, prepping a track is like trying to paint something beautiful. I think most riders have sense of what good dirt is, but getting it that way is another story. It really is an art to prep a track right after the course is properly built. It’s also something that just takes time. Some of the jumps and obstacles were unsafe. Some of that might have been resolved if weather got to them. The dual lane section doesn’t make sense to me. Track points have been better pointed out by others, I didn’t ride the track nor seen the whole track.
The EMTS…I don’t hold OIR accountable for this, they were under the assumption they hired trained and equipped professionals…I hold the state or national testing accountable, YIKES!!! I’m sure these guys were not experienced and there were people around, so that always adds pressure. First off, they didn’t talk to the rider to find out there state of consciousness and didn’t do a good job examining injuries. It is always smoother to carry the backboard than be on that UTV. Both riders that went down hard hit their head. No c-spine or any stabilizing. They pretty much man handled these men. Austin wasn’t screaming until they strapped him down. These guys just weren’t good…plain and simple.
The Riders and Fans… I felt bad for everyone that day. I get people being upset to over people getting hurt and because of just delays. The fire didn’t help. That was just out there. But it was a rough day. I can definitely appreciate someone telling me the truth. I want someone to tell me the truth, good or bad. People that are closest to me, tell me the truth. I am always concerned with my attitude and want others to be also. That’s why I talk about that a lot pertaining to the rider/track relationship. I am guilty of having a crappy attitude also. I am truly thankful for all of you; you have impacted my life and heart in ways you don’t even know. I will listen a lot, but usually hear someone when they have a good attitude. I try to keep in mind no matter the attitude what is true. THANK YOU!!!
The Sponsors…Thank You!!!
RESOLVE???
I am going to help OIR for the sake of Motocross. What makes up motocross? We do!!! I am not promising OIR will ever get right, and I won’t post on here that it is until I know it is. Chris said he will not reopen the gates till it is right. He doesn’t know when it is right so, so how will he know? If we help him, then He can learn. I am asking anyone really willing to do something for the sake of motocross…DO SOMETHING PLEASE!!! I want OIR to become OIR again. Lay all personal issues aside, forgive, and forget. Let’s move forward as a Motocross Family. I have seen some very wonderful things done by the motocross family for riders. This is another opportunity. So anyone willing to help please take a stand. OIR will not be OIR again if we turn our backs. OIR has to much potential to go off the map. This would be a last ditch effort and Chris knows it. I refuse to turn back now. We can pull this off.
To Chris...Please look and listen to what is going on. Let us help you. I want to help!!! I hope your friendships will be restored. You’re my friend no matter failure or victory, the same goes for the MX FAMILY!!!
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR READING! I LOVE THE MX FAMILY AND AM THANKFUL TO BE HERE WITH YOU!!!
LET’S HELP FIX OIR!!!
