DEATH AT INDYA 13yo boy died at Indy. 2nd death of a youngster in as many years. I know kids start out pretty early on the dirt but speeds are pretty low. So the question is, should 11,12,13yo's be road racing 250's. We all want an American world champion and it seems like they need to start early to be competitive but what's the age cutoff? What's the machinery cutoff.? Speed cutoff? They know the risks going in but ...?
What do you think?
DEATH AT INDY
A 13yo boy died at Indy. 2nd death of a youngster in as many years. I know kids start out pretty early on the dirt but speeds are pretty low. So the question is, should 11,12,13yo's be road racing 250's. We all want an American world champion and it seems like they need to start early to be competitive but what's the age cutoff? What's the machinery cutoff.? Speed cutoff? They know the risks going in but ...?
What do you think?
I think it's utterly heartbreaking for everyone - both the Lenz family and the kid that inadvertently hit him. I also think it's inspiring that the Lenz family supported their child's passion, just as I would hope a family would encourage a kid to swim or play music or write or paint or run track or whatever. A good parent would do what they can to help their kids find their path and Peter was clearly a gifted racer that loved to be on track.
That he would die is tragic, but that he was surrounded by love and support is wonderful. I have nothing but sadness for the events and hope it does NOT discourage other racers (like the next Elena Myres) that came up through that same racing environment.
What do you think?
We have to believe that the parents of the child had his best interest at heart. We all want our children to excel at all they do. Life is not without risk.
Accidents happen. Should all the other racing children now be held back because of the death of two others?
Hundreds of children die every year on bicycle, skateboards, snow skis, etc.... Where is the outcry?
I personally dont think racing is any more dangerous than the contact sports that kids are doing every day. Football, Soccer, Basketball all have the potential for harm. Shoot riding a bike down the street is dangerous. I am really sad about the Peter Lenz crash, I was following his career and really enjoyed watching him flog his 125 in those you tube videos at the Streets Of Willow track. He had the potential to be a great racer. Sad day.
I do however think much could be done to make Indy safer for the racers, that track is way too bumpy for motogp racing! I watched the moto2 race and there was about a crash every lap, its got 4 different surface types and bumps in the corners - rules changes no, but perhaps some work be done on the track to make it smoother and less dangerous, its gonna end up costing us a race there if they dont do somthing about the track. Dorna Sports will pull out and then yet another american race will be gone!
Got to the point if anyone passes wind they want to legislate something new to prevent it or its consequences. Allow people to make their choices and live with the conequences (up to a point). If their choices honestly disrupt society as a whole, then do something to correct for that but in this case it was a personal choice between the kid and his parents.
DEATH AT INDY
A 13yo boy died at Indy. 2nd death of a youngster in as many years. I know kids start out pretty early on the dirt but speeds are pretty low. So the question is, should 11,12,13yo's be road racing 250's. We all want an American world champion and it seems like they need to start early to be competitive but what's the age cutoff? What's the machinery cutoff.? Speed cutoff? They know the risks going in but ...?
What do you think?
Ive seen offroad kids with broken vertebre, broke necks ect and death (this just more publicised). I dont know that kids background, but sounded like he was crashing alot up to that point of death, or just coming off another major injury. Was it the crash that killed him or getting run over?
I personally dont think racing is any more dangerous than the contact sports that kids are doing every day. Football, Soccer, Basketball all have the potential for harm.
As both a parent and race fan, I'll disagree. I think a child is subjected to a tremendously higher level of risk of
serious, life threatening injury running down the Indy straight at 125mph (or whatever those bikes do) than playing soccer with a bunch of other 12&13 year old's. I think comparing motorcycle racing to most other sports (especially stick and ball) is doing a disservice to it. The element of danger in racing goes mainly unspoken but if it weren't there NASCAR would have never survived. :mellow:
Young riders simply don't have the bone structure/rigidity and muscle mass of a physically mature adult and can't take the same amount of blunt force trauma. That's a medical fact.
Am I for some new, stricter rules or worse cancellation of the series? Nope.
Multiple blunt force trama...
We didn't know the extent of the injuries until later in the day. I left the speedway and headed for the airport - the news was breaking and it was devastating.
The medical examiner will report more later in the week.
Hold on
I was racing when I was 14 and 40 I could take alot harder hits when I was young ,, much more flexble . Thats why I dont race any more, Protect what I have left >G< Which I'm still fully functional , but I know I cant take the hits I use to.
13 does seem young for the 250's. I read the 125's are limited to 40hp, still quite a bit for a 12 year old. It seems to me an age limit of 15 or 16 to graduate to the 250's would be reasonable, although I didn't find any specs on the 250 machines.
It's really a tough call either way and we could go on forever with valid points for and against, but in the end I really wonder if a young teenager has the wisdom to make the 'safe' choice, we all remember how invincible we were at that age. In this case it probably didn't matter since it doesn't appear he did anything wrong, just a terrible accident. I hope his family finds some peace in the decision he made to do what he enjoyed.
DEATH AT INDY
A 13yo boy died at Indy. 2nd death of a youngster in as many years. I know kids start out pretty early on the dirt but speeds are pretty low. So the question is, should 11,12,13yo's be road racing 250's. We all want an American world champion and it seems like they need to start early to be competitive but what's the age cutoff? What's the machinery cutoff.? Speed cutoff? They know the risks going in but ...?
What do you think?
It is always remarkable when, during a motogp race, a rider crashes mid track or mid turn, and the other riders are able to avoid hitting him. I wonder if the younger riders (often racing in tighter clusters and in higher numbers) have the same ability.
As to the track conditions, it is kind of embarassing that Indy is so bumpy. We had a difficult time convincing the world that laguna's surface was ok; now Indy? Sheesh.
Peter was an exceptionally talented rider and his death is very tragic. My prayers go out for the families of both riders involved. But I agree that kids also suffer injuries and death from playing football, riding skateboards, jumping on trampolines, and many other activities. It’s just a terrible situation, I cannot really put all my thoughts in words, just sad that it happened.
I personally dont think racing is any more dangerous than the contact sports that kids are doing every day. Football, Soccer, Basketball all have the potential for harm.
As both a parent and race fan, I'll disagree. I think a child is subjected to a tremendously higher level of risk of serious, life threatening injury running down the Indy straight at 125mph (or whatever those bikes do) than playing soccer with a bunch of other 12&13 year old's. I think comparing motorcycle racing to most other sports (especially stick and ball) is doing a disservice to it. The element of danger in racing goes mainly unspoken but if it weren't there NASCAR would have never survived. :mellow:
Young riders simply don't have the bone structure/rigidity and muscle mass of a physically mature adult and can't take the same amount of blunt force trauma. That's a medical fact.
Am I for some new, stricter rules or worse cancellation of the series? Nope.
True, stick and ball are not the same, but I got beaned as a kid when I took a baseball to the head after I was pitching and got hit by a line drive - disservice or not - ball is just as dangerous. I still have the dent in my head! A kid tackles in a football game with a facemask penalty and yea your gonna get hurt at 13years old with that injury even die! Lets not be niave here kids die playing ball every year just because its just too hot outside!
I dont see how a 125cc bike running over his neck would have saved him vs a 250cc bike? I saw all the crashes at the Moto2 race, and I saw Scott Russle the commentator of the race also get pummeled by a couple of riders in an ama race a few years back when his Ducati stalled, it happens to adult riders too. Its just a freak thing - I dont know if he was an adult if he would have survived it either? Sad to say the Indy track is just too bumpy for motogp racing IMHO. That and qualifying should limit the field more, there way too many bikes on the track at the same time!
Bottom line is if you as a parent dont think is wise to let your kid race than dont! Its dangerous! What I am trying to say here is that it should be up to the parents. Most parents wont allow it, some who do see the talent such as Peter had and want them to develop it, he would have been a great racer as an adult, he was awsome. I loved watching that kid ride. very sad
I say this knowing full well my parents did not want me on a motorcycle as a kid! Still dont as an adult!
The track is an embarrassment. Hayden lost one of his knee sliders after slamming in to a bump and spent most of the race tearing a hole in his leathers where the puck was supposed to drag.
I guess these guys can come off as cry babies now and then, but more than a few have said that the bumpy surface was not up to international standards. Too many different blacktop sections spliced together to make a complete road course. I took the INDY name to get Dorna involved. What about Miller or Barber Motorsports... better tracks? I'm sorry - this is off topic.
This terrible accident may NOT have been related, but I am disappointed in the INDY course.
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Peter Lenz. Just a horrible weekend.
RIP Peter.
Life is a dangerous adventure and you lived it to the max, I bet you are still going as fast as you can.
That kid was a good rider. It's a damn shame and a sad day. RIP Peter Lenz, it's too bad you never got to fulfill your potential. :mellow:
In all my years as an LEO/Medic, I have seen more kids killed in car accidents, on ball fields playing football, baseball, basketball and soccer, on skateboards and bicycles, and in the home (either deliberately or accidentally), than kids racing. In fact, in my home area just this week there were several kids who died in car accidents, a drowning, a shooting. Tragedies all. And I will wager all were less supervised than the kids in the USGPRU.
Every time something like this happens, because it is not what most people consider a "normal" sport (those people doing it are crazy/those parents must be crazy for allowing it....) the cry becomes: "this must be controlled; they should not be allowed to do it...... they are too young, its not right, those parents should not allow that...." and so on. The people who think they know better than the parents start to question the validity of what is being allowed and then push for rules, legislation, etc., to establish some form of control for what offends their personal sensibilities.
The sport has done much to improve safety, to deal with the limitations of the young rider, the monitoring of skills and judgment, etc. Unfortunately it is a risky sport, for all of us, racer or street rider. We accept those risks, just as Peter accepted those risks to achieve his life goals. His parents accepted those risks, not out of a lack of concern for their son, but because of it. They supported their son's dream, monitored his safety and skills and unfortunately, tragedy struck.
For nine years the USGPRU program has not had a fatality. They were doing something right. Who are we to judge the rightness or wrongness of it? Who are we to deny a child reasonable efforts to achieve his dream?
My heart goes out to the family, friends and fans of Peter. It is a terrible loss.
the first thing his father mentioned is that he died doing what he loved. If his pop is ok with it, so should we. Still sucks though.
I was shocked and sadden to hear this news and my condolences go out to his family and to the young rider who was involved in the crash.
I don't think any changes should be made to the current structure, in fact the best thing that could happen is some more classroom/track time learning about these types of circumstances.
I agree with what was posted earlier regarding less traffic during qualifying for all levels.
I'm torn. As a parent this is your worst nightmare and I feel for Peter and his family. My oldest son played baseball through college. I once saw him hit an opposing batter in the ear hole of the helmet with a 95mph fastball that got away. My son felt terrible about it. So did I. I also saw my son take one of those fastballs back at him on more than on occasion. Your heart stops. But, these guys were in their 20s and knew the risks. My son is now a fire fighter. I still worry about him, but he loves the work and we all know the risks.
The one thing that nags me about accidents like this, and kids' sports injuries in general, is all those little league parents I met when my kids played their various sports. I really hope this was his passion and not a dream someone else had for him. If he was the driving force behind what he was doing, and I'm assuming he was, then I'll take this not so much as a tragedy (though it is) as a celebration of a life lived well and sadly ended too soon.
End of thread · 20 posts recovered Wayback Machine snapshot 27 Jun 2013