Air Fences Lifting

[speedibee 3,091]

You live on another planet, you simply have no idea about safety, my team mate got badly hurt at Ipswich with that fence, seen many big crashes there, it wasn't the best fence to hit and as you say a run off onto a stock car track is safe I beg to differ.

Walter

[Little Thumper 528]

Air fences have without doubt contributed greatly to rider safety over the years and hopefully, they will continue to be improved over time.

 

In 1978, I watched Alan Wilkinson hit the wooden fence (with the steel posts and heavy steel cable behind it) between bends 1 and 2 at Hyde Road.

 

I have always been of the opinion that Alan's injuries would not have been so life-changing if the medical facilities had been rather better than 2 St Johns bods and one of those stretchers on whacking great wheels.

 

Air fences are only half the story, the other vital contributor being well-trained paramedics and technicians whose priority is the well-being of the injured rider rather than just getting the meeting going again as quickly as possible.

 

So I salute the medical people who are so essential to rider safety and I apologize for wandering off topic a bit.

Ta.

[robert72 845]

Air fences have without doubt contributed greatly to rider safety over the years and hopefully, they will continue to be improved over time.

 

In 1978, I watched Alan Wilkinson hit the wooden fence (with the steel posts and heavy steel cable behind it) between bends 1 and 2 at Hyde Road.

 

I have always been of the opinion that Alan's injuries would not have been so life-changing if the medical facilities had been rather better than 2 St Johns bods and one of those stretchers on whacking great wheels.

 

Air fences are only half the story, the other vital contributor being well-trained paramedics and technicians whose priority is the well-being of the injured rider rather than just getting the meeting going again as quickly as possible.

 

So I salute the medical people who are so essential to rider safety and I apologize for wandering off topic a bit.

Ta.

I remember seeing a good amount of St. John's plus a doctor when I was racing and they did a good job, my concerns now is the small amount of medical help at some tracks and how would they cope with a bad 4 rider crash.

 

I think foam fences are the answer

I actually meant Pre airfence when it was just freestanding panels that moved out of the way

Have you hit one of these at speed as you talk a lot of twaddle.

[Tsunami 10,219]

I remember seeing a good amount of St. John's plus a doctor when I was racing and they did a good job, my concerns now is the small amount of medical help at some tracks and how would they cope with a bad 4 rider crash.

 

I think foam fences are the answer

 

Have you hit one of these at speed as you talk a lot of twaddle.

At Newcastle we have 4 Doctors, with usually at least 3 in attendance at each meeting. Luckily we have never seen a 4 rider crash, except for the usual all 4 bunching at the 1st conner at the start of the race.

[Little Thumper 528]

I remember seeing a good amount of St. John's plus a doctor when I was racing and they did a good job, my concerns now is the small amount of medical help at some tracks and how would they cope with a bad 4 rider crash.

 

 

Well, clearly they would declare it a major incident and send for the cavalry.

But the important thing is that they would have the ability to prioritize and administer treatment accordingly and thus save life.

 

Medical staff are now far better trained in dealing with neck and head trauma and the focus is on stabilization.

 

In Alan Wilkinson's day, the emphasis was on clearing the track quickly and keeping the show going and if that meant scooping a guy up and wheeling him off on the bone-shaking stretcher to sort him out in the first aid shed, then so be it.

 

Alan Wilkinson's crash was nothing out of the ordinary and it shouldn't have resulted in him being confined to a trundle buggy for the rest of his days.

[martinmauger 584]

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCSpFmMGu10

Terrible accident and sadly ended Mark's carreer there and then. For a long time I wondered how he suffered such awful injuries as I always thought the Ipswich fence basically collapsed on impact due to the deliberately loose-ish panels. Air fences are huge faff to install, remove and store but an excellent safety improvment provided they remian in position. But I think the storage of deflated fences being a problem at greyhound stadia is a bit of an excuse as, having attended greyhopind meest, 80%+ of punters watch from monitors in the bars and watching outside the stand, even without a speedway fence with kickboards, you can still only see the head and back of the dogs. If Craven Park were still operating speedway, an air fence would be a big factor as it would almost certainly need removing between speedway meetings. The banking on the speedway bends was limited to only around 6-8" or so. One close season the banking was completely levelled off by person or persons unknown.....

Edited January 3, 2017 by Martin Mauger

[robert72 845]

Scarier than the steel fence at Exeter? Lower speeds at Arena as well. Guess the confines of a fence means you know the boundaries of where you might possibly land

I hated riding at Exeter, it was the only unbreakable fence in speedway, riders and bikes broke easily, it was a marmite place with a steel fence.

[Starman2006 2,355]

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCSpFmMGu10

He was very lucky to get away with just a double break..

[speedibee 3,091]

I hated riding at Exeter, it was the only unbreakable fence in speedway, riders and bikes broke easily, it was a marmite place with a steel fence.

And me . I remember racing against Ivan Mauger and Barry Briggs there , they were such hard riders that Mauger fenced me twice and Briggs once , but riders were tougher back in those days . I just got up went to the toilet and got back in bed to rejoin my dream where I had left it , Just like you do every day

[Little Thumper 528]

And me . I remember racing against Ivan Mauger and Barry Briggs there , they were such hard riders that Mauger fenced me twice and Briggs once , but riders were tougher back in those days . I just got up went to the toilet and got back in bed to rejoin my dream where I had left it , Just like you do every day

 

Hey, perhaps Rob is Rob Maxfield, one time captain of the Exeter Falcons and a rider that I supported at Ellesmere Port and Belle Vue?

Then again, perhaps he isn't.

[Gemini 4,894]

Then again, perhaps he isn't.

 

I think that's the bit you've got right. Born in Australia so who in their right mind would want to live in the UK Midlands when they retire. He's probably sunning himself on the Gold Coast at this very moment.

Edited January 4, 2017 by Gemini

[robert72 845]

And me . I remember racing against Ivan Mauger and Barry Briggs there , they were such hard riders that Mauger fenced me twice and Briggs once , but riders were tougher back in those days . I just got up went to the toilet and got back in bed to rejoin my dream where I had left it , Just like you do every day

That's the thing you can only dream about racing.

 

I think that's the bit you've got right. Born in Australia so who in their right mind would want to live in the UK Midlands when they retire. He's probably sunning himself on the Gold Coast at this very moment.

Doesn't Rory live in the midlands Gem ? I can think of several Aussies who stayed here but your right that suggestion is wrong,don't even know him.

[stevehone 3,430]

I hated riding at Exeter, it was the only unbreakable fence in speedway, riders and bikes broke easily, it was a marmite place with a steel fence.

 

I hit the tractor gate at Exeter pretty hard, managed to damage it to the point the tractor was needed to help straighten it (and I broke my thigh too).

 

The worst place BY FAR was Arena Essex with those rubber hoses and no fence, once the back wheel hit the concrete you were just a passenger

[Little Thumper 528]

That's the thing you can only dream about racing.

 

Doesn't Rory live in the midlands Gem ? I can think of several Aussies who stayed here but your right that suggestion is wrong,don't even know him.

 

What do you mean, you don't know Rob Maxfield!

Rob was a great hard-working rider who put in the hard miles, travelling the length and breadth of the country chasing his dream to the best of his ability.

 

And who could forget Aces v Bees in 1979. Reserve Rob Maxfield was given the tactical ride in the final heat after having a great meeting at reserve.

The Belle Vue fans groaned when it was announced that Eric was putting Maxi out in the decisive heat.

But I knew if Rob could get out of the gate and get onto his tight line on the kerb, then the Bees would be breathing exhaust fumes.

 

Rob was that excited that he fell off his bike as he rushed up the little ramp that led onto the track. Another groan from Soldier Boy and the rest but I had my fingers crossed.

 

The tapes went up and Rob and PC were flying in perfect formation. Peter high, wide and handsome and Rob's front wheel gripping the inside kerb like a terrier. Collins constantly looking back at Olsen in the effortless way that only a true master of their craft seems able to achieve.

 

Olsen and his chum probed and prodded but there was no chink in the Belle Vue armour.

5-1, 5-1, 5-1 Hooray, Hooray, Hooray. Aces win the day.

 

The Aces give the heroic duo the bumps at the pit gate and the Cathedral of Speedway goes totally and utterly wild.

 

So, what do you mean you don't know Rob Maxfield. If you don't know Mr Maxfield then your knowledge of speedway must be a little limited.

 

 

Rob Maxfield and his Falcons.

:party: :party:

Edited January 4, 2017 by Little Thumper

[robert72 845]

I hit the tractor gate at Exeter pretty hard, managed to damage it to the point the tractor was needed to help straighten it (and I broke my thigh too).

 

The worst place BY FAR was Arena Essex with those rubber hoses and no fence, once the back wheel hit the concrete you were just a passenger

 

Jeez that was a heavy impact on that fence for you, it was an awful place to ride I thought.

 

Your right steve about hitting the concrete and taking off at arena but speedibee will disagree with you as he races in his sleep and is an expert.