Deer strike again at SP

[i2root4u]

Ugh -- Hate to see these stories at our home track, but glad the driver is ok.

http://rennlist.com/articles/deer-destroyed-911-gt3s-front-end-140-mph/

[Vicegrip]

What does the safety chair have to say?

[Trak Ratt]

What does the safety chair have to say?
"If they start taking out the males this would all stop in a year or too..."

[tbernard]

What does the safety chair have to say?

It was posted by the safety chair....

[vascott99]

So in this situation who is liable...

[vranko]

The deer

[Handlebar]

The deer


Who chose to willingly enter the track, unrestricted?

Yeah, the unrestricted deer.

They are what they are, but some basic (mid to latter half of straight) fencing could mitigate some huge impacts and risks.

Admittedly, I am a relatively new FNG, so discard input as appropriate- I understand.

[trytryagain]

SP is the only track I have been to that does not have fencing. Surely there are ways to finance the addition of fencing that would not impede the rest of the business. The fact that they do not seem willing to pursue this makes me think they are looking to get out and pass the problem along to the next owner.

[C3PC]

How many have there been this year?

[Chopper Dropper]

This has been discussed on this forum many times. Turnpikes have fencing, still see many deer hit. SP has been working on this, they have cleared trees back in a lot of areas, still working on more. They do cull deer (by gun). High fencing in one area will just move the crossing elsewhere, maybe push the crossings to slower portions? How many miles of fencing would be required to fence the whole complex? Pretty sure it is closer to 1,000 acres than 500 and I acre is a square mile. This is an issue and SP are fully aware of it, would be great if they could speed up the deer control, but they are also making significant improvements to the run off areas, berms, tyre walls. Someone got a $ million or so to donate and have their name put up?
Dirk

[Dr K]

This has been discussed on this forum many times. Turnpikes have fencing, still see many deer hit. SP has been working on this, they have cleared trees back in a lot of areas, still working on more. They do cull deer (by gun). High fencing in one area will just move the crossing elsewhere, maybe push the crossings to slower portions? How many miles of fencing would be required to fence the whole complex? Pretty sure it is closer to 1,000 acres than 500 and 1 acre is 1/640 of a square mile. This is an issue and SP are fully aware of it, would be great if they could speed up the deer control, but they are also making significant improvements to the run off areas, berms, tyre walls. Someone got a $ million or so to donate and have their name put up?
Dirk

FTFY. We're still talking about a couple of miles of fencing, which is a lot.

[Trak Ratt]

Summit has poured $$$ x 2 into the facilities over the last few years. There have been a sore pint for many years and let's not forget that they are everywhere up there and down here too. We had 3 in the our newborns yard at 9:00AM just a few weeks ago.

I've been lucky on the track so far but did manage to hit one about 4 miles from the track 2 years ago in my truck. The problem is more a combination for the surrounding farms and stands of trees.

BTW I've see deer clear a 8' fence on Ft. Belvoir with plenty of room to spare. Plenty of $$$ to anyone who can come up with a way to drive and keep them away without killing them.

[N Fotouhi]

As usual I beg pardon for my interweb jabber.

I saw the big headline and picture on RL that took me to the post on 991GT3 Forum for a the full discussion. My first thought was why a local would drum the beating of a dead horse or should I say deer. I looked to see if it was to promote safety, but what I saw was the rehashing of deer problem at SP.

I then considered the post was intended to push SP into taking action to "cure" the problem. As a frequent visitor to SP, I know that the topic has been visited ad nauseum and at the end, we all agree that eliminating deer at SP is a colossal task, both in scope and expense. Neither of which is likely to happen in the near future, despite numerous and continued nudging through official, though less sensational means.

At the end, the subject of deer at SP bothers me the most when I consider the Potomac CR. If DE at SP goes away, it is an inconvenience for Potomac DE participants (out local club), but there are many DE events to choose from. On the other hand, if Potomac CR goes away due to lack of participation, it is a real shame for my home club. I realize this is rather self serving because I race. However, hearing that there are racers that do not come to the CR because of the deer might mean loosing a part of Potomac and PCA history which make me feel really sad.

Hence, my hope is that anyone who considers posting a deer hit story at SP when it happens, to just boycott SP. Just MHO.

[Intubator]

^ This, I agree. Yes, a well documented hazard... But, so is driving to the limits in general. Do it, have fun, take a chance... Live life the way you want to...

[Chopper Dropper]

Thanks Dr K, typed too fast regarding 640 acres to a sq mile. Most 'incidents" from my 20 +/- years of attending events at SP are way more due to human error, mostly driver, some lack of ongoing trackside maintenance/regular checking vehicle and tyres during an event. Driver error compounded by weather is human error. Deer strikes luckily and in reality have not amounted to at a guess 20-30% of damage to vehicles, whilst admitting can be serious are less than the errors. As of now, SP is not in process of changing hands.
Dirk

[Vicegrip]

^ This, I agree. Yes, a well documented hazard... But, so is driving to the limits in general. Do it, have fun, take a chance... Live life the way you want to...I have to disagree with this with regards to deer and this one area. This is akin to using a WTF let's rock it format, don't bother with helmets, belts and other safety systems. At SP there is a known issue with Deer. Some areas of the main track are worse than others. The second 1/2 of the front straight has been the location of a notable disproportionate number of deer strikes. High speed and 150 or so pounds of Deer = bad outcome. 13 years ago I had a deer jump over my students car in this area. The deer was so close to a "through the glass experience" that it left a nice trail of hoof released mud on the windscreen as he went over the hood while the car was @ 120+ mph. Physics is a bitch and there is a lot of physics at 130 mph. ( I suspect a fair amount of OMG mud in the student's pants as well) :shock:

BSR can and should take some action to redirect the deer in the front straight and T1 area. If this was a giant rock that was being hit with the same frequency that the deer are in this area it would have been dealt with long ago.

[Vicegrip]

Thanks Dr K, typed too fast regarding 640 acres to a sq mile. Most 'incidents" from my 20 +/- years of attending events at SP are way more due to human error, mostly driver, some lack of ongoing trackside maintenance/regular checking vehicle and tyres during an event. Driver error compounded by weather is human error. Deer strikes luckily and in reality have not amounted to at a guess 20-30% of damage to vehicles, whilst admitting can be serious are less than the errors. As of now, SP is not in process of changing hands.
DirkBeing able to make a change to a 30% error rate is huge in most arenas.

[Carrera51]

The track management is taking steps to thin the herd. Not just the deer, but the groundhogs also. They removed about 100 of those. Deer can be elusive, even to a seasoned hunter so it will take time.

[HoodPin]

IMHO, a big part of the deer problem is having their habitat so close to the track. I've also seen deer clear 8 ft fences with ease, so fencing not necessarily the answer. However, clearing the land can, or should be. If the tree lines were moved far enough back from the track surface, then A) deer would be less likely to hang around near the track, and B) if they do decide to approach the track they would be much more visible, and hopefully, avoidable.

But just like any other solution, it'll cost money. Plus it would require continuing maintenance to keep the forest from growing back. But, it might open up more spectating opportunities. On the other hand, lack of "cover" may not be in the interests of the non-motorsport activities that take place there.

Vigilance is good....track insurance may be better.

[Fumes]

2 cents Summit not rly a race track so much as a rural circuit. The lack of Armco is the biggest and most expensive issue IMHO.

Deer are fact of life out there *shrugs* if you dont like it dont drive it. But dont post deer strikes to RL and complain

I love SP main and have too much fun not to drive it.

[Goggles Paesano]

BREAKING NEWS - Next year on the tech form "mandatory deer whistles on the front bumper of every car spaced 18" apart."

Those creeps at BIG DEER WHISTLE stick it to the man once again.

[Charlie Stylianos]

They should just place Deer Crossing signs in the appropriate places. Much easier and cheaper than previously mentioned alternatives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFCrJleggrI

[Carrera51]

I think it also doesn't help that people are not allowed in the infield down by turn 1 so the deer have no reason not to be in the woods there. Ask any hunter and they will probably tell you deer are elusive. I walked through the woods down to turn 5 a few weeks ago to take photos and didn't see a single deer, but I bet they were there.

[BikePump]

We all know nothing is foolproof to prevent the deer getting into the track area- just look at daMattas accident at Road America in '06 as proof of that. The deer leapt over an 8ft fence with barbed wire on the top. Having been victim of a deer incident myself I know what I want to see from SP. I don't expect miracles or perfection in the approach but rather I want to see continual efforts to improve the safety on the main circuit. I hate to say it but many trees will need to be sacrificed but the improvements for the deer issue as well as driver site lines and spectating will make it worthwhile. We always need fire wood at the SP house. :)

[Trak Ratt]

... However, clearing the land can, or should be. If the tree lines were moved far enough back from the track surface, then A) deer would be less likely to hang around near the track, and B) if they do decide to approach the track they would be much more visible, and hopefully, avoidable.

....This is a good idea but really more the underbrush than just chopping trees. SP is built on an outcrop of rock. So plenty of shelter for deer at night. Simply clearing the underbrush might open the areas near the track enough to ward off some migration. Mid Ohio has lots of farms around it like SP. But few places on the property where there is much cover even thought lots of trees. They still have deer but not in the flocks that SP does. Same with the Glen, though being on a the top of a hill and much more open helps too.