Young rider killed at Glen Helen

[RM_guy]

I heard this at the rider's meeting at the Binghamton Nationals. It sounds like a mini rider was on the track with the big bikes and got landed on after a minor crash. Pretty sad.

This is fron Cycle News:

Eleven-year-old motocrosser Brett Downey, from Canyon Lake, California, passed away yesterday from injuries he sustained while practicing at Glen Helen Raceway. According to witnesses, his motorcycle washed out after exiting a turn and was then struck by another motorcycle. Downey was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Downey competed in the 85cc class and recently finished eighth overall at Loretta Lynn’s and fourth at the Mammoth Mountain Motocross. He is survived by his parents Jim and Kathy Downey, and his sisters Brittany and Brooke.

A memorial is being planned for Downey.

 

[CR Swade]

Damn that is horrible. That is why I have such a hard taking my kids anywhere that doesn't have a separate facility for the little guys and girls. I can't say I've ever been to GH, but is practice like a free-for-all like the tracks around here, or is it organized w/ flaggers?

My prayers are w/ the family, I can't imagine what they must be going through :(

 

[gowen]

:ugg: Wow, that is so sad. I feel for the parents. :(

 

[BEEF706]

Very sad news, indeed.

 

[mx547]

damn, can you imagine being the guy that ran over him?

 

[RM_guy]

damn, can you imagine being the guy that ran over him?

That's what I was thinking :ugg:

 

[Tony Eeds]

damn, can you imagine being the guy that ran over him?

I wouldn't even want to imagine how he feels.

ONE more reason for flaggers and organized practice at DW.

 

[MikeT]

I just started bringing my boy to the track, he is 6 yrs old. The track I let him ride on is limited to 85cc and less, NO BIG BIKES. I am too afraid that something like this might happen to him. I will not ever let him on the same track as a big bike until he is on a big bike. Luckily, he sees the difference and doesn't want to ride on the big track.

This is a very sad situation. :(

 

[Patman]

Hearing this type of thing once it too often but it happens quite a bit. Can't even begin to imagine what the rider is feeling. Bad stuff.

Like Tony said, sign up to be a flagger at DirtWeek so we can be sure there isn't another post similar to this when we all have some control over the situation.

 

[theroyz71]

The place we ride (I-81 Motorsports Park in Greeneville, Tn) doesn't have a mini track or flaggers. I let my son ride with the big boys but I do worry that something like this could happen. The track hasn't been real busy when we've been there. I guess I will go back to escorting him around the track. The problem with that is, he was on the track for about 5 hours yesterday. I'm not sure my ass could handle that.

Most of the riders we've been around are pretty careful when it comes to the little ones but it only takes one accident to turn your life upside down.

 

[gospeedracer]

I always hate to hear these kinds of stories. :( I really feel for his family and the guy that landed on him.

I don't know how Glen Helen runs their track but the Gorman track (Hungry Valley) used to have 'sessions', kind of like the skating rink back in the day ;) 60s, 80's and Ladies was one of the sessions. I was under the impression a lot of the socal tracks had similar set ups?? I've been to Glen Helen before. That's a big track, I can't imagine a kid on an 85 out there with big bikes no matter how good he is. :(

I never felt safe going out on the Gorman track during the "60s, 80s and Ladies" session anyway. A lot of those kids on 80's can haul ass and are flying over every jump! I sure as heck didn't want to get in THEIR way! I wished they would have set up their sessions by skill level in addition to bike size, maybe then I would have been more interested in track riding.

 

[showtime586]

This was all over the Socal and mini forums late Friday afternoon. Being new here, I was reluctant to post it. I was hoping one of the established members would.
It is being rumuored AND PLEASE REMEMBER THIS IS ONLY A RUMUOR, that the 450 rider might have been a well known Pro.

 

[MikeT]

I would tell all those who ride at a track that lets little ones ride with the big boys to separate the classes as gospeedracer mentioned. I have been to tracks like this and it is a great idea. This kids get a chance to ride without 250s and 450s riding around them, plus we (big bikes) get a break.

I WOULD PETITION THE TRACK OWNERS IN YOUR AREA TO DO THIS if they haven't already.

 

[MikeT]

It is being rumuored AND PLEASE REMEMBER THIS IS ONLY A RUMUOR, that the 450 rider might have been a well known Pro.

Reguardless of who it was that hit the boy it was unintentional. No one would ever want this to happen.

 

[N0B0DY]

I ride at Croom (Brookesville FL) and they are finally wising up and fencing of a section for kids, its all trails and up & down hills like 7 or 8 square miles and all they are going to give them is like a fifty yard, flat section. I couldn't imagine what that family or the rider is going through right now.

 

[showtime586]

Reguardless of who it was that hit the boy it was unintentional. No one would ever want this to happen.

It is just a terrible situation all the way around. I get very uncomfortable every time I am out on the track with mini riders. I would like to see segregated classes for every practice.

 

[nikki]

We heard about this Saturday at Monster Mountain in Alabama :(

This is heartbreaking - my thoughts are with the young rider's loved ones and friends.

 

[Disturbed-demon]

This is horrilble news.... i hate it when i hear something like that... my prayers are with the family and friends and loved ones of that young boy

 

[Jasle]

This wasn't like throwing your little kid out with the big bikes. this kid was a flat flyer(Brett Downey). He was a national level rider and crashed in a section that had been dusty all day. when the kid when down in a ball of dust he stood up and then the pro came through thinking everthing was cool since he had been through the dusty area all day and couldn't see the whole section. Then whammo the crash. He plowed right into the kid.
Tiger Lacey(ala supercross) was the one that crashed in to him from what I heard. Super crazy for sure.

 

[showtime586]

Call me protective, but I don't think little guys have any business on the track with big bikes, regardless of their level of riding profficiency. How much trouble would it have been to have different sessions?
To me, this is a "risk verses reward" scenario that just makes no sense. IMHO

 

[Jasle]

Call me protective, but I don't think little guys have any business on the track with big bikes, regardless of their level of riding profficiency. How much trouble would it have been to have different sessions?
To me, this is a "risk verses reward" scenario that just makes no sense. IMHO

Not saying I don't agree with you and that might have been an option at this track. I just know out where I live we have different tracks. The little peewee crappy cement track. and the main track. We race the main track on race day. So if you want any time on the big track your kid has to ride with the big bikes. They do not break practice. Unless its the day before a big race. We've complained many times as have the big bikes.The only track that did split it up went out of buisness. Too many people complaining about lack of time on the track due to splitting practice.
Then you run in to a problem at the tracks that do split practice. I throw my kid out there on his 50 and he's jumping over and around other kids on their 65's and 85's let alone the beginner 50's. He's as dangerous to those beginner kids as the big bikes are to a fast 65 kid. Until tracks break it up to maybe lap times then this problem is going to be there.
What people need to do is help the tracks out and volunteer flagging. I'm not opposed to bringing out a yellow flag at the track while practicing. you get enough volunteers and then the tracks get safer.