Unfair Treatment?

[Jayturbo]

I just wanted to ask you guys what you think about something that happened to me today.

I was at the Fontana, CA Raceway for Drag Racing.

At around noon, one car slipped oil because engine blew up. So, it took a while to get that cleaned up. But this was taking so long and I was getting bored and wanted to do some practices. So, I took my car (JSB Z06) to one corner (It's a VERY VERY VERY large parking lot with no people whatsoever) and practiced a little bit of launching. Wasn't really a serious practice. Ran up to about 2500RPM and launched in first gear and I repeated that three times. I didn't want to waste my drag tires too much so decided to come back to the track location.

Then I see this Security SUV nearing me and when he approached me, he simply said "Get out". I was like, "Excuse me?"

He repeated, "Get out. Do you want to get escorted by me or by a Sheriff?". I was like,.... "What?" "What did I do?" He said that I was endangering the public. It was a huge parking lot and it was some extinct corner where nobody was for sake! And even if that's something you guys prohibit, you can give me a warning or something... I mean I'm not a young 17 year old kid. I am 38 and know what I'm doing... But he didn't want to listen and kicked me out of the Drag Racing facility once and for all.

Do you guys think this was something fair to do? Is there such a law that Security Guard can kick someone out without any warnings? I mean, common... it's a racing track and it's not like I was practicing where people were. I took the car to a far corner of the HUGE lot and was only utilizing about 200 square feet of remote space among hundreds of acres of parking lot. I just hate being treated unfairly. That's all. If that's the norm, then I wouldn't care much, but if that's what I got with some kind of prejudice, then I would feel bad. I'm 38 but I look like I'm 21 in some people's eyes (Look VERY young) so if he treated me like that because he thought he could slack me around like that, then I'm going to file a formal complaint to that racetrack! Please tell me what I got today is a very common thing to happen...

I was going to break some record with my Z06 with new BFG drag radials, but that went down the drain...

 

[SkyBob]

The problem is it's private property. The security guards decide for themselves how much authority they want to push around. There is not much opportunity for appeal as in the legal system.

Another problem is if the cops are called they see a security guard with his security truck and they see you. Unless you're the police comissioners' brother they will probably side with the security guard.

Your only recourse might be to run into that security guard in the grocery store or at a nightclub and punch him in the face, but I'm not condoning that action, or am I?

Bob

 

[Warfang]

The guard was in the right, but his reaction was a bit stupid. If he let you do that, then everyone is going to do it, and it'll get stretched out until someone really does get hurt. I think banned for the day would have been sufficient.

Call the track's management and tell him it was a misunderstanding, and that you won't do it again. As long as you don't come off as a dumb 17 yr old, they'll let you back in.

 

[Madduc]

Well what you did was wrong, plain and simple. Besides what the Security guard thought of your actions, other people at the track where thinking the same thing. It's sort of a 'code' thing, you don't go and play in other areas of the facility. You do it on the "track". I would call the track owner's and explain (nicely) that you understand what you did was wrong and that you won't do it again. I'm sure they will let you back in.

 

[96GTS]

I worked at a drag strip until I moved a few months ago, and attendance is WAY down due to the ecomomy. On Friday nights we had "Midnight Mayhem" so all the idiots that want to street race could do it in a safe environment. I'd say it was about 90% ricers, and the security was constantly kicking people out for doing the exact same thing...regardless of how much they would lose in future ticket sales. They are worried about the legal ramifications if someone gets killed on the property...ANYWHERE on the property.

The track director was very understanding, and as long as you go talk to him (DO NOT YELL!) and explain that you know what you did was stupid an apologize he would usually let you back in.

The reason it takes so long to clean up after an oil spill is because it usually starts at the stating line and the person driving doesn't realize something is wrong, so they oil 1320 feet of race track and continue well into the shutdown area. Speaking as someone that has spent HOURS behind the wheel of a piece of track equipment and a mop/broom, I assure you NO ONE hates to see a grenaded motor more than I do.

 

[Jayturbo]

Thank you!!!

Thank you for all your honest and helpful opinions.

Yes, so conclusion is that...

(1) What I did was wrong.
(2) But the guard was a "little bit" overreacting. (It was his condescending attitude that got into my nerves more than what he actually did).
(3) There is no way I can gain anything out from this happening even if I complain.
(4) If he lets me stay, then other people might get a wrong idea that it's not strongly enforced and eventually someone can really get hurt.
(5) It was just a bad day I had so let's all forget about it.

Thank you, guys~! That's life, I guess...

 

[Vic]

Dear Babyface,
Dont complain- Apologize
-Ann Landers

 

[1fast400]

I owned a drag strip for 2 years. The problem is you can't control what the car "might" do. Meaning if the throttle hangs, what do you do? You'd be amazed at the things that go wrong on a track that you'd think would never happen. He didn't handle it correctly, but doesn't excuse the act itself. Just remember, it is someone's property, so pretend it was yours and how would you want it treated. Insurance for drag strips is held by two major companies. If you get dropped by one, good luck getting the other to carry you.

If you ever want to hate drag racing, buy a race track btw.

 

[eucharistos]

good question

good answers