Aintree meetings cancelled

[steve-e]

The Aintree Motor Cycle Racing Club
Regret to inform all Club members; riders and marshals and the following -

Due to circumstances outside of our control, we have to cancel the Test day
on 1st May 2019
The first race meeting - 11th May 2019
And The Second race meeting - 15th June 2019

With regards to the other three meetings remaining - these will be suspended
until when an announcement
Will be made.

This Statement is issued by the Board of Directors, Aintree MCRC

[ianw]

Doesn't sound good, the other home of the British Grand Prix.
Anyone have any info on what's happening?

[Eric & Julie]

Lots of speculation and rumors over on the Aintree Facebook page..

[sidecarcop]

The last meeting in 2018 was stopped as the local hospital could not take any more casualties, the ACU looked again at the circuit for its course licence, and have said they cannot use straw bails and the normal foam protection and require air fencing. I believe the club is trying to raise the funds, but I've heard the firm that make it have gone bust, so there is and added problem of finding a supplier.

[ChrisWells]

Our local club could not afford air fencing so they found a cheaper alternative which the insurance company approved. Basically it consists of the large bags (about 16 cubic feet or so) used to deliver earth or haul away brush. They are filled with empty plastic bottles with their lids still on. The bottles were sourced by all the racers, many of whom partnered with local businesses etc., to speed up the process. The result is easily moveable by 2 people, can be stored outside with minimal deterioration and can be un-deployed when track is used by cars (so they don't get damaged). http://www.cyclecanadaweb.com/2015/11/04/in-the-bag/ http://canadamotoguide.com/2017/10/12/h ... the-track/

[Digger]

Latest statement:

Aintree M.C.R.C
Further announcement 29/04/2019
As stated earlier that the Test Day along with the May & June Race meetings have been canceled
The remaining July, August & September are still suspended
All this is a result of legal action being taken by a rider that was involved in an accident last September.
Although a disclaimer was signed on his entry form, he is still pursuing a claim. Which we understand is a substantial amount.
Although the Club applied and paid for Track Certificate & Permits back in December 2018 Which have never been received
Information from the ACU was nil with regards to our position to race in 2019. Even though we had been given firm assurance that we were
“good to race in 2019”
It was not until early March that it was deemed that we had to have a further Track Inspection. This took place on the 26th of March 2019.
The Directors & Committee had a meeting where it was decided to take the action on our proposed meetings for this year.
The Directors & Committee are still working hard to try and resolve these problems.
Further information will follow

[steve-e]

Beat me to it Dave

[Digger]

Our local circuit, so been keeping an eye on it.

I'm biting my tongue at some of the responses on their social media, without knowing the facts we can't comment... but signing a disclaimer doesn't give a club free reign to do what they please, and be entirely free of any responsibility. Again not implying anything, but 'something' has resulted in racing being suspended.

[Eric & Julie]

I agree with you David, we don't know enough to take any side, and all the rest is just opinion... something social media lives on, combined with mob mentality.

And yeah, disclaimers are very limited in fact. They treat the unforeseeable typically.

[steve-e]

"signing on" didn't mean signing away all your rights

[ianw]

Which circuit/race will be next,TT?
A few have said in the past that racing as we know it is a doomed sport.

[steve-e]

Full of the joys of spring Ian

[ianw]

Hi steve, it's very worrying. Look at the riders returning to the paddock, reverse way at the TT last year after the race had been stopped. Hit by a marshall's car, travelling at speed. The ACU/ IOM Government won't let the injured riders see the official report of what happened!!!
What insurance company will insure a road race meeting when you have such liabillities?

[Richard Rollings]

Our local club could not afford air fencing so they found a cheaper alternative which the insurance company approved. Basically it consists of the large bags (about 16 cubic feet or so) used to deliver earth or haul away brush. They are filled with empty plastic bottles with their lids still on. The bottles were sourced by all the racers, many of whom partnered with local businesses etc., to speed up the process. The result is easily moveable by 2 people, can be stored outside with minimal deterioration and can be un-deployed when track is used by cars (so they don't get damaged). http://www.cyclecanadaweb.com/2015/11/04/in-the-bag/ http://canadamotoguide.com/2017/10/12/h ... the-track/

What great idea