KEY POINTS:
Sport Minister Trevor Mallard has called for urgent advice over recent speedway and motor-racing crashes that have left three people dead and put two more in hospital.
Mr Mallard said he had asked government sport and recreation agency Sparc to brief him on whether "any of these worrying accidents" were related or isolated events, and whether they indicated a need for safety standards to be lifted.
This forum debate has now closed. Here is a selection of your views on the topic:
Speedway rocks
I believe that speedway is as safe as it can be. What is a review going to show us??? It's been unfortunate to have the recent run of accidents in such a short space of time.
Peter Gibbs
When you enter any racing facility, there are signs stating that motorsport is dangerous etc, What has happened recently serves to remind everyone competitors and spectators alike that these dangers are real and can happen at any time, The racing incidents while unfortunate only highlights to all competitors that each race could be their last, I would hope that they (the competitors)accept the risk of their chosen sport without putting themselves or other competitors at undue risk. The death of the spectator though is much more serious and I would hope that all tracks use the off season to review their safety plans, and even if their facilities are adequate and/or meet minimum standards improve on them, as technology improves so racing vehicles speeds will increase and the sport needs to keep abreast of these improvements. While Speedway New Zealand has safety standards in most areas well in hand some rules and standards seem to be based on what was developed in the 1960s and 70s and have only moved as competitors have voted on them at local and national remit meetings.
I believe that it is time for Speedway NZ to become proactive in reviewing rules as to speed and safety especially in the contact classes with a view to improving the safety of competitors and therefore reducing any possible risk to the paying public before we have another spectator put at risk.
While we are discussing Speedway in particular there are lessons for all motorsport to be learnt from these tragic weeks that we have been through.
Tania
No I don't think so, it is very tragic what has happened over the last few weeks, the modified jumping the fence and killing the young teenage boy, it was a tragic freak accident. Nothing can stop that from happening, short of putting up a 20ft high fence, and making all spectators sit back 10 - 15 metres from the fences. Kind of takes away the thrill of the racing. We go all the time, and we sit up high in the stands or on the banks, but it does not matter where you go or sit, anything can happen.
Anon
While a review cannot hurt, as an ex competitor, I feel that everything is made as safe as it can be. Everything on the car is checked fully when it is made, and then scrutineered every race day. Every car has a log book recording the results. Speedway is safer than driving on the road.
Charles
As motorsport competitors we know before we start that motorsport has an element of danger involved, so participate accepting this risk. Only in exceptional circumstances are we putting anybody elses, competitor or spectators, life in danger. Almost every ticket sold to circuit racing and most speedway events has a disclaimer printed on it stating the danger and that if you don't accept it then don't attend. Taken over the past 10 - 15 years fewer motorsport competitors have been seriously hurt than rugby players.
Mark Alexander
The recent spate of motorsport deaths and injuries are a statistical anomaly, tragic yes but still just unlucky coincidences. Most of these accidents (emphasis on accident) have nothing in common. More people are killed in our mountains, waters, and on our roads. We don't ban people from mountain climbing, tramping, swimming and driving everytime someone dies so we should be careful when we review motorsport. We should not panic and rush into sudden ill considered rule changes. New Zealanders enjoy their opportunity to do dangerous things - the risk adds spice to the adventure. We must minimise the risks but we will all loose if we try to eliminate all risk.
Paul Andersen
You report speedway racing accidents mixed in with pictures and reports from road racing(Pukekohe).Perhaps your reporter should do more homework, as these are two different forms of motor racing on different types of track ,overseen by different sanctioning bodies. Perhaps while your reporter is doing her homework she might like to do a companion piece on how motorsport(all forms) is NZs #1 summer spectator sport(official crowd figures),and the media have been very slow to improve their coverage and insist on shoving minor spectator sports to the fore in sports reporting.
Eddie Kyle
No. Of the 5 noted accidents in recent weeks only three were related to speedway NZ sanctioned events. The fatality at Pukekohe last month was run by a Motorsport NZ run event and not Speedway NZ, and the overhyped saloon car accident at Kaikohe happenned at what's known as a "black track", one that is not officially sanctioned by SNZ, most probably because it isnt up to SNZ's safety standards. The three accidents which did occur at SNZ sanctioned events were completely different in nature, with completely separate sets of circumstances. Two involved classes - sprint cars and sidecars where these accidents occur on a regular basis. I myself filmed a 3/4 midget climbing the fence at Huntly last weekend - the fence did exactly what it was meant to do and deposited the car back onto the track again. Driver unhurt, apart from a very big bruise on his bank balance.But as it's been stressed time and time again, the competitors and spectators alike all know the risks and accept that motorsport is dangerous. I would suggest that the reporters covering these incidents would also like to take the time to learn exactly who runs these events, and point out to the general public that there are differences in the governing bodies between varying classes.
Denise
When you go to the speedway,you're handed a ticket which clearly states "speedway is racing is dangerous""speedway is not responsible for any injuries." You go to speedway you get injured your problem. You choose to go,you suffer the consequences.
Dean
I don't see a problem with speedway,racers and spectators know it is a dangerous sport,considering the danger accidents are few. Why do you have a picture of the Pukekohe sidecar accident in a report about a speedway sidecar? It's not relevant. How about you check out horse riding as a dangerous sport,horse riding has more claims on ACC than almost all others,it's right up there after the contact ball sports.
Speedwaynut
The misreporting of the events within speedway over the last 2 months has been shocking journalism with facts being misreported, and is nothing but sensationalism journalism. Speedway is a very safe sport to both compete in and spectate at. Its is extremely rare to have these types of injuries and tragedies occur, and the beat up by the media has done nothing but taint the reputation of New Zealands largest motorsport community. And the government report is a sham as well, nothing more than politicians poking there nose in, the only reason they have is because of the media beat up.
David Wills
No everyone involved in the sport knows the risks. It has been proven overseas that higher fences do not work, the example being NASCAR whose fans sometime get hurt. The Minister must be kidding to think SPARC can do anything as they do not fund speedway as far as I am aware as they think speedway is a minor sport. Please be aware that the crash at Pukekohe raceway has nothing to do with speedway, it was run by either Motorsport NZ or Motorcycle NZ and they have nothing to do with the other accidents.
Phil Crumpe
As a speedway competitor, my opinion could be considered to be biased, but I cannot think of another sport where there are so many regulations to ensure the safety of the competitors. The cars themselves are constructed to very stringent rules and the safety equipment that competitors must wear is checked at the start of every meeting and again before a competitor is permitted onto the track for each and every race. If a list of fatalities of participants was compiled, speedway (and all motor sports for that matter) would be nowhere near the top and I'm sure the statistics from ACC would confirm that injuries to speedway competitors would not even show up against those from Rugby, League, Mountain biking etc. etc.
Hope
I think speedway is great and there has been a few mishaps over the last month or so but do we here about the other sporting accidents that happen ie rugby golf whatever. I think the speedway circle is getting a bit picked on.
Ric
There seems to be a lot of media confusion about what is speedway. Accidents reported in some cases are not speedway related, motorsport yes.I have competed or been involved for over 10 years so feel qualified to comment. 1. SNZ (Speedway New Zealand inc )are a governing body tasked with safety amongst many other things. 2. SNZ registered tracks are required to meet safety standards to obtain a license to run, the standards are clear and enforced. 3. SNZ registered race cars are required to meet safety standards that are checked at the beginning of each race season ( comprehensive vehicle inspection ), and each and every meeting that vehicle is rechecked (scrutineering ). 4. New drivers are required to be tested for understanding of safety procedures and general knowledge. 5. Rules and regulations are reviewed every year by snz. Speedway racing does have an element of danger, which can be minimised by safe practises.
Cliff
I believe we need to put this into perspective and not let the media run with it - as has become the usual way of things whenever motorsport suffers a tragedy. In fact, if you think about it, news such as this only makes the papers/tv because it is relatively rare. That and the "if it bleeds it leads" journalistic mandate. Contrast these motorsport tragedies with the amount of lives we lose on our nation's roads every year. More people are out there on the roads killing themselves (and others) every weekend than you'll ever see in motorsport accidents. Our road toll is horrendous. But we've become used to hearing about road crashes every weekend - so I guess they don't warrant big follow-up articles like motorsport accidents do. Consider this too:- How many places can you crash a vehicle and have all the medical support you need at your side within 30-40 seconds? At many race tracks that sort of back up is common place. Yes motorsport accidents happen, which is not an excuse - but accidents are actually expected from time to time - it's an intrinsic part of the sport. However, if you take the time to study what actually happens in the bad motorsport incidents, there is virtually always something freakish involved. It's through these freakish happenings that the sport grows safer all the time.
