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Re: [RC] It's not the distance... - Joe LongOn Sat, 18 Oct 2003 10:43:20 -0700, "David LeBlanc" <dleblanc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: Joe Long said: Hmmmm, the last time I looked, there were no posted speed limits on the Indianappolis track. Hmm - last time _I_ looked, there were all sorts of restrictions on NASCAR vehicles to keep speed down. I believe there are similar restrictions on Indy cars. Even in the very, very risky sport of car racing, we still do a lot to mitigate the risk. Plus, they sure don't allow newbie drivers to just buy a car and go run the Indy. Their are "formulas" for racing cars designed to make a competitive race for the fans. And yes, auto racing puts a great deal of effort into mitigating risk. I've been a pro rally driver in my past, my wife was a NASCAR driver, and I've been a safety worker at auto races. The point here, though, was that there are no speed limits on race tracks, or endurance rides. We in endurance have also put a great deal of effort into mitigating risk to horses (and a bit to riders), but speed limits in our sport would be as out-of-place as they would be at Indy. And no, race drivers don't drive their first race at Indy, but they don't have speed limits at the local quarter-mile track either. And first-time endurance riders are not found on the FEI teams. By definition, by the fundamental character of the sport, endurance rides do not have minimum time limits. LD rides are supposed to reflect endurance rides, at an introductory distance ... minimum time limits change them into something else. And no one has provided any *evidence* whatsoever that a minimum time for beginning riders would provide any benefit at all, to make such a drastic change worthwhile. Actually, it's been the rule for Australian endurance for many years, and the people I spoke with seemed to feel like it is a good system. I don't know of any hard evidence, but perhaps someone is on the list from down under. From what I hear the folks from Oz have some good ideas, but if they are limiting the speed of some riders I'd have to say that is not one of them. -- Joe Long jlong@xxxxxxxx http://www.rnbw.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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