| Author | Message | ||
     Ivanski |
The 2006 US GP @ Laguna Seca was freaking boiling. We watched ambulances doing hot laps with heat stroke patients. (No pun intended) As I recall, the beverage tents were offering a 20 oz bottle of Dasani water for $4.00 on Saturday. On Sunday, it was a dollar. Rumor has it that the Monterey Sheriff threatened to shut the race down unless the vendors dropped the cost of water. I've looked for articles on this but came up empty. Can anyone confirm this? | ||
| Buellishxx |
I saw the Sheriffs van loaded with ice and water deliver it to the medical facility by corner 10. They (medics) started giving water away and the concession at that location stopped selling it. $4 water was crazy, but at least they made the effort in lowering the price. I think if there had been a death from heatstroke etc. they would have had a few more problems to deal with. Supposedly the temp on the track on Sat was 129 degrees, 112 in the shade (couldn't confirm though it was brutal). The $5 slush was no bargain either, but that's the price you pay for a "major event" On the flip side coming home I stayed in Riggins Idaho, and 10 beer cost me $15. | ||
| Shinobi13 |
It was crazy hot!!! I saw one woman being cated away on a gof cart. She was so burnt and heatstroked that her skin color was purple. Between free water at Ducati island (thanks to one of my riding buddies) and free water and Red Bull at the Buell tent, I stayed hydrated. Camping wasn't much fun either... It was like living in the devil's a$$hole...  | ||
| Jaimec |
http://motorcycledaily.com/25july06_usgpwater.htm http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=3546&Page=1 They were apparently giving away the water by the end of the weekend. | ||
| Cash |
i read on superbike planet that the track temp on sunday was up over 150 thats just nuts. those riders are lucky to have tires by the end of that. | ||
| Metalstorm |
The temperature of the track itself (the asphalt) was 148 degrees on Sat. It was simply mind blowing how hot it was. I'm so grateful that I live near the water in a place that is cool & foggy 75% of the time  Another rumor I heard was about a vendor trying to sell a case of water for $75 bucks! Talk about greedy evil bastards preying on the needs of the thirsty. | ||
| Slaughter |
Racers were boiling their engines over after pulling off the track because the crowd would not get out of the way and they couldn't do better than a stop-and-go slow crawl back to their pits - VERY frustrating seeing an engine overheat and boil over because of the clueless morons wandering aimlessly in the access roads couldn't take it on themselves to clear a path (it's a rant, I know but it nearly cost us a motor). Still can't believe the stupidity of the people in the paddock areas. I thought the $4 water was obscene but the vendors ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR (or my) WELL BEING! The Coca Cola folks and SCRAMP got together on the free waters for Saturday and Sunday that were being handed out by the Fire/Rescue folks. I was amazed at the amount of early afternoon alcohol being consumed there in large quantities - no wonder there were so many people passed out who couldn't be revived. Talked to the paramedics and they were averaging 40 calls a day for heat-related problems. 2 ambulances rolled for the racing in 3 days - nearly 130 for stupidity-related heat problems. I can't imagine going to the track without a minimum of a gallon or two of water but hey, that's just me and I live in the desert. | ||
| Cash |
sounds like bad planning and greedy vendors | ||
| Jima4media |
I didn't attend this year, and I'm really glad I decided not to. I'll be there again next year. The weather was the hottest it has ever been at Laguna Seca, and I've been going there yearly since 1983. It set records throughout the bay area. It wasn't predicated by the weather service. They were saying it would be a high of 75-80 over the weekend. Friday morning it was 61 degrees. Even without the record high temps, I would plan a year in advance, of what I would do differently the next time I was there. Always plan on layering clothes. Temps can differ 40-50 degrees during the day. From fog and wind in the morning to scorching heat and blinding dust in the late afternoons. I now carry my own water, food and anything else I want to drink. The water is frozen in Nalgene bottles so that it remains cold throughout the day. I always entered and exited through Barloy Canyon Road, and never had a problem with traffic. Carry your own radio, so you don't have to depend on the crappy sound system. Hooking up with friends at the Love Shack helped a lot with logistics over the last couple of years. Last year I had Blake with me, and I think we had a pretty good time all weekend, with no problems other than spending an hour getting to the ASBN dinner in Carmel. I'm glad I planned on an extra half hour of delays on South Boundary Road. Planning ahead is the only way to beat the masses who are totally unprepared for life. (Message edited by jima4media on July 29, 2006) |
