RANT about MX tracks

[inv3ctiv3]

So I was supposed to go riding tomorrow and got new riding pants and new goggles and we get a message from the track manager lady saying "3-wheelers are illegal and your friend would be a huge liability on one so he shouldn't come to the track." I can't stand this lady, this is the 2nd time she has done this but the other guy who runs the track doesn't really care, I've ridden that track many times before but this lady does not like it. I am so sick of this trailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro, if it was illegal how the hell would I have current LEGAL registration on it!? I am really pissed about this, I love trikes and always will but it's stuff like this that makes me want to get a quad (I'd obviously keep my trikes). I am so tired of dealing with retards that think 3-wheelers are illegal and being left out of stuff because of it. Everyday I get closer and closer to getting a TRX450r to ride at the track and keep my trikes for the trails. Anyone else feel like this? Or anyone else have a quad so they don't get left out of trailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro? My friends are going tomorrow but I can't and that sucks.

[Xpress]

Just bring it and show the reg.

[Vootie]

I went through a similiar situation about 10 years ago. A local MX track opened near me and at the time I had an '85 Tecate. All my friends had bikes and quads and they all raced there on the weekends. The owner wouldn't let my Tecate within a mile of the place. Same story, telling me they are illegal and his insurance wouldn't cover blah blah blah... I ended up buying a CR just so I could ride with my friends again. Wouldn't of been so bad but I had to sell the Kawi to get the bike and it's taken me 10 years to get around to getting another Tecate. Now I have a 450 for the track and keep the tikes for the trails and play riding.

[hoser]

Years ago a local riding area here told me I could not ride my 3 wheeler their any more because her insurance agent would no longer insure them, her insurance policy spelled it out real clear no 3 wheelers of any type.

If their is anything illegal about riding a 3 wheeler I would like to read the law, sounds like someone is uninformed.

Looking at it from the property or business owners point of view you cant blame them for not wanting the risk its been my experience when something is not allowed its usually a reaction to a problem they had in the past.

[Billy Golightly]

Since I've owned an MX track before, I feel qualified to reply to this.

ALL of the insurance policies written by the 2 most common companies, National Motorsports Insurance (NMI), and K&K, Have exclusion clauses in their policies for three-wheeled ATVs. The jist of the exclusion clause is, if the insurance company finds that there was a three-wheeled ATV on the premises, you are relinquishing your blanket of protection for them on EVERYTHING. Spectator injuries, competitor injuries, accidents with equipment, disasters (fire, tornados, etc). Everything. And these policies are not cheap. A practice policy for my track was about 30 grand up front. Then everytime you have a "gate drop" (How the insurance policies define a race event) you have to have an additional policy that runs anywhere from $1800+ depending on the size of the race (Depending on the # of riders, my big race that had 130 some entries and around 700 spectators was almost $3Gs). This is all in addition to the regular stuff they pound down your throats such as training classes for flaggers and safety personnel, EMT trained people on site, ambulance, set backs for fencing, having to be notified about any changes in the track design, all this stuff.

Most track owners are not willing to take the risk unless they know the people personally or are very trusting of them. Because, as I mentioned above you as a rider don't even have to do anything wrong. If there is a screw up somewhere else and your found to be on the premises, the owner is trailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro OUT OF LUCK because of his policy, even though you didn't do anything. In your case, your track may have more than one owner or partner. The one may be more relaxed about it and is willing to take the risk. The other one is scared to death that the money they are shelling out and all the BS they have to go through to get insurance might end up worthless just when they need it to the most. Even as a hardcore three-wheeler enthusiast, it was a tough call for me to make at mine.

There *might* be a company out there that has a policy that doesn't have this exclusion, but I never found it. And I researched for months and months before I decided to go with NMI for my old track. Because believe me, I wanted to have three-wheeler races too.

[Vootie]

Interesting info, that makes sense about the insurance. I always thought it was just the track owners being overly cautious. I had no idea insurance costs were so high for an mx track. I figured they would be kinda high, but those numbers make me think that's why our local track didn't last too long.

[inv3ctiv3]

Thanks for the info Billy that really helps! I guess that seals the deal on me getting ma TRX450r....I wanted to avoid it cause I love trikes but it really sucks getting left out for the kind of bike I ride, this sucks so much.

[Kintore]

Cheape option might be to move to Ohio and race full time with OTHER 3 wheelers! haha


but really that sucks man!

Up here in Canada I feel your pain, im allowed to practice on some quad tracks, but I cannot race because that would be dangerous. Guess they're afraid! lol

[Billy Golightly]

I didn't mean for my reply to be a deterrent, quite the opposite. More so just an explanation. I wouldn't give up on it. Instead I'd go and have a talk with the owner of the track you want to be at, and explain to him that your aware of the insurance situations, but that you had so much fun out there before and still really want to ride, and that you want to know what you can do to make that happen. You never know. I've road and raced mine on tracks down here. The one track in particular, the owner was very hesitent about it at first, but myself and the promoter of the series I was racing in kept working on him till he finally cracked and said we'd have a trial run. After that he loved it, and said many times that me and the other guys I raced with were safer and less worry than the quads. You just have to approach the owners and be truthful and open with them. Don't play dumb, and don't waste breath trying to explain to them how trikes aren't dangerous, etc. etc. Be respectful and courteous, and explain your situation.

[leviblue]

It's a hit or miss around here. Some tracks let me pratice and as soon as race time comes I'm off the track. Some tracks won't let me in the gate and turn me around. The insurance companies call the shots and the owners have to decide if it's worth it. If they wanna stay open your not gonna ride and who can blame them. Someone gets hurt and the lawyers get involved which can cost them everything they worked for and more. I run my TRX 250R at thoses tracks and go quad crazy. In alot of ways the quads are more aggressive than the trikes on the track. They bump and grind like a saterday night at dirttrack stockcar race and get away with it. Sure it's not fair but what can you do?

[inv3ctiv3]

I have done that and I can go up there sometimes but it just sucks when you get a text message late at night (the night before) saying basically you aren't welcome. I will continue to ride 3-wheelers on trails and occasionally the track but they don't want me there if there are a lot of people there.

[Dirtcrasher]

What gets me, is why CAN they race in OHIO?? Whats the difference??

Dam lucky OTC!! :D

[Dammit!]

I'd give it one more shot with her. Take your registation in along with some printed out pics of the current OTC racing and convince her the machines are not illegal to own and operate. It was simply the importation of NEW models that is illegal.

Worth a shot but do it in person. Worse that can happen is she can say no.

[inv3ctiv3]

Yea I know I'll try again but I didn't go today cause I was going with a big group of friends and it would have really sucked to get there (it's an hour away) and have her say "I told you guys last night he couldn't ride" and I would just have to sit there all day and not ride.

[leviblue]

You know it took me a year before I got my 250R on Atco's track. And then it was PRATICE ONLY!!! And I'm the only one who runs a trike there. I got in with the the old owner and donated my time at the track doing anything they wanted.....even cleaning out the toliets. I kissed alot of ass to get what I got now. I still can't race but I let them know thats ok with me and let them know how much I appricate what they give me. I never tell them trikes are safer or their not illegal but let my riding talk for me. I just don't feel like pounding sand with a heavy hammer. It takes time and ALOT of chapstick!!!! give it time and don't get discurraged it doesn't happen over night. I'll be lucky to get 3 all trike races this year in Jersey and the one I really want in Wildwood I'm gonna have to shell out the extra insurance money for. But it might pay off in the end and next year the racing could double or not. After ever run I make at these tracks I run to the owner and thank them for letting on THEIR track. I also got in with the local quad racing clubs and let them ride my property just so they'll stand behind me. You gotta give alot to get a little but in the end it's worth it. Tim Sr has the gift and I'm trying to do what he does, thats why Ohio is so great. EVERYONE says thanks to the owner and promoter so much it'll drive you crazy but you gotta do what you gotta do.....just don't get pissy or show any emotion when your refused they will remember you cuz your the one with the trike.

[Billy Golightly]

What gets me, is why CAN they race in OHIO?? Whats the difference??

Dam lucky OTC!! :D


Either the tracks just don't care about the insurance exclusions, (Theres enough trike riders at $20 a pop, to make it worth considering), they don't know about the exclusions (You might read your policy line for line when you first get it, but if thats 10 years ago, whos gonan remember that?) or they don't have any period. I think I've heard Derrick say before that the Smith Road track doesn't have any. Honestly if I ever build and run another one myself, thats what I'm going to do. Save the money spent on insurance for a attorney fund (Cause you'll need one anyways with the insurance) and just forget about all the other BS.

[rdlsz24]

Nobody around here even lets you into their OHV park on trikes, let alone an mx track. I'm mostly a quad rider anyway, so it doesn't bother me, but it would be cool to be able to take a trike in their and fly around and get some looks. I don't see what the big deal with insurance is since you sign a waiver before you can ride anyway.

Rob

[Billy Golightly]

Waiver's are not worth the paper they are written on. Their entire sole purpose is to discourage people from suing by making them think "Oh geeze...I signed the waiver, I guess I can't sue them or do anything." Totally worthless as a form of liability protection.

[JohnR.]

Billy nailed it 110% with the insurance clause. There is a local motorcycle club that organizes an ice race here and my friend is a long time member. Every year he goes to bat for us trike riders to get us a class in the races but the insurance costs more or less triple because if they choose to allow us to ride they cannot go through the AMA for insurance. If you want to race that bad your best bet is to get a quad but don't give up on getting them to allow you to race your trike too. I showed up at a MX track around here to watch a buddy race with my trike in the back of my pickup truck, they were hesitant to let me in the gate and only would after I assured them it wouldn't leave the back of the truck.

John

[inv3ctiv3]

I have some good news guys, the lady talked to the other owner and he told her it was totally fine that I come (which he has always told me before) he just doesn't want me on the track if there are tons of people there which is totally understandable. I am pretty stoked, the owner Ed is awesome but his partner Tammy is the one that didn't know what she was talking about.

[3wheelmecca]

great, looks like everything is right in the universe now. In CO, the MX tracks have forbidden trikes from being there. only the Walden dunes and my buddies' riding spots have them. It seems so unfair...

[Dirtcrasher]

I would approach that lady and say "Thank you so much for checking with the other owner, it means allot to me; We have limited places to ride and I love your facility!!", maybe some flowers or chocolates would be in order too :D

[inv3ctiv3]

Haha I will, the owner Ed has always been cool with me riding there. I was just bummed cause I spent a bunch of money on new gear for the ride the next day then got shut down.