Jaykwaz
06-22-2007, 04:42 PM
Sorry about the book. About all the rough riding and all the other BS there is at Riverhead. Most of it has to do with respect these drivers have for each other. I have been going to Riverhead for years and I am glad I have left. As I am sure there are people glad I have left. The racing there has been garbage for years, because some drivers have lost respect for one another and the management. I am not going to name names to incriminate the guilty, but here is my opinion.
Guys are not willing to give up 1 spot on the track to save 5. I have seen guys in every division when they get caught by another car who came from far behind and was dominantly faster, just ride the middle and block. I have seen guys do it for first all the way on back to the teens. Then when the guy who caught him gets upset for being blocked puts a bumper on him, he is now in the wrong. There is almost no possible way to determine the driver's intentions. I have yet to meet a driver who will tell you his true intentions.
Then when someone gets to the outside, they get driven up in the corners or the opposing driver races like he is on the track alone. Yes, it is short track racing. Yes, there will always be controversy. I remember hearing about fist fights from way back in the day. I have been going to the races for as long as I can remember. I have 3 of my closest friends who race there weekly in Bub Turbush, Jarrod Hayes and Chris McGuire. I grew up with Danny Turbush being a second dad to me. And even when we were off this week, I had no ambition to go watch them. So I went out instead, and my daughter loves going to the track. Basically, didn't support guys who are my family because of what this place has become. If you get spun out go to the rear and come back, maybe next week get your revenge and call it even.
Nobody is more guilty of getting angry than me, but that is mostly because of the BS that goes on there. During a red flag, since when are drivers allowed get out of their car and smoke? Whether the track needs more officials or more competent officals, probably both, I don't know. But the drivers can take it upon themselves to improve racing there. Get some old racers back, maybe actually have a full field. I know it is a sport and it is competition, and I am not saying to not race your hardest, just give the faster car the outside once in a while. A real driver, if faster, will go out there. Be more consistent on penalties. Suspend someone if they are truly in the wrong once in a while. I know if I have no punishment coming towards me, I am going to do as I please. Over the last few years the track was let go and left as a circus act. It needs someone to come in and punish everyone who does wrong not a select few. As with Mountains policy, going to the rear if the car in front of you spins if you touch him; while it may be extreme, it is effective. The officials there stick to their guns. There is not 1 set of rules for some drivers, while another set for the other half. No one, as far as I can see, gets any special treatment, no matter what they spend on tires or do for the track after hours. It is a fair race field. If you are cheating, it is all on you, the officials don't know about it nor do they aid you in anyway.
I hope one day we come back to race Riverhead. I grew up here watching My Uncle Eddie, Dynamite Dan, Mark Tooker and all those guys race. I live 2 minutes away from the track and travel 4 hours every weekend to Mountain because I enjoy it more than Riverhead. Maybe there was a fight or 2 afterwards, that happens everywhere. Old ladies argue during bingo. Just need someone to come in and restore order. I know I rambled on and off topics, but I am at work and it's tough to concentrate.
Guys are not willing to give up 1 spot on the track to save 5. I have seen guys in every division when they get caught by another car who came from far behind and was dominantly faster, just ride the middle and block. I have seen guys do it for first all the way on back to the teens. Then when the guy who caught him gets upset for being blocked puts a bumper on him, he is now in the wrong. There is almost no possible way to determine the driver's intentions. I have yet to meet a driver who will tell you his true intentions.
Then when someone gets to the outside, they get driven up in the corners or the opposing driver races like he is on the track alone. Yes, it is short track racing. Yes, there will always be controversy. I remember hearing about fist fights from way back in the day. I have been going to the races for as long as I can remember. I have 3 of my closest friends who race there weekly in Bub Turbush, Jarrod Hayes and Chris McGuire. I grew up with Danny Turbush being a second dad to me. And even when we were off this week, I had no ambition to go watch them. So I went out instead, and my daughter loves going to the track. Basically, didn't support guys who are my family because of what this place has become. If you get spun out go to the rear and come back, maybe next week get your revenge and call it even.
Nobody is more guilty of getting angry than me, but that is mostly because of the BS that goes on there. During a red flag, since when are drivers allowed get out of their car and smoke? Whether the track needs more officials or more competent officals, probably both, I don't know. But the drivers can take it upon themselves to improve racing there. Get some old racers back, maybe actually have a full field. I know it is a sport and it is competition, and I am not saying to not race your hardest, just give the faster car the outside once in a while. A real driver, if faster, will go out there. Be more consistent on penalties. Suspend someone if they are truly in the wrong once in a while. I know if I have no punishment coming towards me, I am going to do as I please. Over the last few years the track was let go and left as a circus act. It needs someone to come in and punish everyone who does wrong not a select few. As with Mountains policy, going to the rear if the car in front of you spins if you touch him; while it may be extreme, it is effective. The officials there stick to their guns. There is not 1 set of rules for some drivers, while another set for the other half. No one, as far as I can see, gets any special treatment, no matter what they spend on tires or do for the track after hours. It is a fair race field. If you are cheating, it is all on you, the officials don't know about it nor do they aid you in anyway.
I hope one day we come back to race Riverhead. I grew up here watching My Uncle Eddie, Dynamite Dan, Mark Tooker and all those guys race. I live 2 minutes away from the track and travel 4 hours every weekend to Mountain because I enjoy it more than Riverhead. Maybe there was a fight or 2 afterwards, that happens everywhere. Old ladies argue during bingo. Just need someone to come in and restore order. I know I rambled on and off topics, but I am at work and it's tough to concentrate.