cyclone Posted June 12, 2014 Report Share Posted June 12, 2014 Some folk are getting hacked off with how long meetings can take to run, and one factor that appears to be regularly mentioned, is for racing to be temporarily suspended due to the sun affecting the riders vision. Having been a fan for over fifty years I do not recall this being an issue until recently. I do remember that during the summer months, the riders used either tinted goggles or a tinted visor clipped on to the peak of the helmet. Given that technology has advanced since the 1960s, you would imagine that there would be a suitable accessory available to combat the effect of intense sunlight. I was discussing this with a Clerk of the Course, and as far as he is aware, there is no regulation prohibiting riders from wearing the likes of Ray-Ban sunglasses when racing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halifaxtiger Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 Stoke have had such breaks for years - I can certainly remember it happening at least 10 seasons ago. It is annoying but I don't think anything can be done about it because I don't think some sort of sunglasses are the answer. They might lessen the impact of direct sunlight but they don't stop it altogether and there's clearly a risk to rider safety. The only answer is if you have such a break is to ensure that the rest of meeting proceeds as speedily as possible. Very few like standing around necessarily. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 There was a sun break at eastbourne last Saturday. It was the first one I can remember at Arlington in over 40 years of attending meetings at this venue! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teddy2706 Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 It is annoying, but any motorcyclist will agree that it is dangerous when you are caught out suddenly with the sun in your eyes. Returning westwards from Scunthorpe or Mildenhall is wearisome even with a tinted visor with the sun in your eyes, car owners simply pull the sun visor down, bike riders cannot. Rider safety must never be compromised, the sport is too dangerous now with bikes rearing unexpectedly, impaired vision cannot be countenanced. I was astonished when I first visited Leicester to discover that no provision had been made for this occurrence. Stoke could have planted trees ten years ago to reduce this occurrence and it is a good environmental practice anyway. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racers and royals Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 Pauses to the racing has been around a long time- kings Lynn used to be a major problem on a sunny evening- from the setting sun. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wessex Wanderer Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 Pauses to the racing has been around a long time- kings Lynn used to be a major problem on a sunny evening- from the setting sun. Same thing used to happen at the original Weymouth track. Problem seemed to increase when the start gate was moved to the opposite side so that the problem area was then on the first bend. Again it was the setting sun that caused the problem - no problem when the sun was higher in the sky. Martin Yeates and some other riders tried the tinted goggles solution but it was not a success so the occasional hold ups continued. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Smith Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 Pauses to the racing has been around a long time- kings Lynn used to be a major problem on a sunny evening- from the setting sun. And it still is. I can't believe this is seen as an issue to be honest. At the end of the day, 4 blokes going into the bends at high speed and can't see the turn or each other and people really think that's ok?!?!?!? COOOOOOOOOOME OOOOOOOOOOOON!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiseguy Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 maybe some strategically placed banners attached to fences behind the supporters on the bends could be placed at tracks where it's a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelvinht Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 perhaps more meetings should be run in the wet, and instead of cancelling for rain, we cancel meeting for bright sunlight At Kings Lynn it does seem to have been a more recent thing (5 to 10 years), but my memory is too dodgy to remember when it became the norm. Tinted visors probably help, but once the riders turn to ride the opposite direction then they can probably see even less, especailly into shaded parts of the track. Need react-to-light visors... Necessary safety thing really, unless promoters can put up boards in the relevant places behind the stands to block out the glare, but they'll be as cost effective and never work like track covers and the rain.... the only thing I would complain about is long drawn out intervals. Maybe two 10 minute breaks for getting food and drinks and a good bit of grading, one after heat 5 and the other after heat 10, then unless its really necessary due to poor track conditons, no other grading should take place and two minute warning should go on as soon as riders are back in the pits from a previous race Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screm Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 Friend of mine can sort the riders out with fine Oakley goggles that will help solve this problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyretrax Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 What is this sun thing? We don't have one of them at Glasgow. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pugwash Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 Meeting postponed due to sun. Ole Olsen immediately springs to mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 TBF, didn't Dan Giffard have his career ended because the riders couldn't see but were refused a sun break which results in a nasty crash? Lets play safe on this one, is a 20 minute interval really that big a problem? As long as it's used as the actual interval I don't see the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IpswichDave Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 People often question what happened to the cash injection that Sky coverage was supposed to provide. A nice big Simpsons-esque. sun blocker sounds like a good idea... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackadder Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 TBF, didn't Dan Giffard have his career ended because the riders couldn't see but were refused a sun break which results in a nasty crash? Lets play safe on this one, is a 20 minute interval really that big a problem? As long as it's used as the actual interval I don't see the problem. Tony Steele pushed for the interval to be held early at Sheffield last night due to problems with the setting sun on the third bend. Later on, there was a full moon over the second bend, but as Werewolverhampton weren't riding, there were no issues. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triple.H. Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 i'd rather a 15-20 minute break while the visibility problem disappears than an hour delay waiting for some unfortunate rider to be picked up by the ambulance service due to the severe nature of his injuries 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinMills Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 agree with scb..is 20mins really a problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAST GATER Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 These riders put their lives on the line every race without adding a blinding sun to their problems just one of those things , I have no problem in waiting for the track to be safe to be ridden on . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 These riders put their lives on the line every race without adding a blinding sun to their problems just one of those things , I have no problem in waiting for the track to be safe to be ridden on . I don't like the wait, and it is very annoying. But if it helps to keep the Riders safe - then I can put up with it. I can certainly understand the problem and quite understand that the delay is necessary. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triple.H. Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 Perhaps in years gone by when most riders used tearoffs instead of these fancydan goggles the tearoffs reduced the glare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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