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Topic: Medstar Beaver Dam Raceway
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June 27, 2017 at
11:47:29 AM
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06/27/2017
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I attended my 1st World of Outlaw race at Beaver Dam Raceway on Saturday. Very nice facility and awesome racing, even though leaving the track at 2am. I've seen many posts where Medstar Track Safety team has criticized some good track safety teams and yes even some consistently bad teams for things they did/do bad. Well on Saturday night, we watched Jacob Blachurst #25 slow on front stretch and stop in turn 2 on the track and exit his car immediately and appeared to have a fire. He had to wave the only safety guy on the track over to him in the mean time the Medstar Safety truck sat inside the pits at the track exit. Took well over 2 mins for the truck to move. If your the best, the entire team should be on the track and ready to go as soon as the first car hits the track. The second incident involved a sprint car flip on the front stretch, #43 I believe and was hit by another sprint #14 who spun into the infield. The entire safety team went to the #43 car and no one ever checked on the #14 car/driver. Finally a young lady from a tow truck went and checked on the driver and eventually pushed it into the work area. When I worked a track safety team, you always checked all drivers involved in the incident. I was disappointed to see what is claimed to be the best Safety Team in the business in action.
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June 27, 2017 at
07:56:57 PM
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12/02/2004
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148
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Reply to:
Posted By: BlackHelmet on June 27 2017 at 11:47:29 AM
I attended my 1st World of Outlaw race at Beaver Dam Raceway on Saturday. Very nice facility and awesome racing, even though leaving the track at 2am. I've seen many posts where Medstar Track Safety team has criticized some good track safety teams and yes even some consistently bad teams for things they did/do bad. Well on Saturday night, we watched Jacob Blachurst #25 slow on front stretch and stop in turn 2 on the track and exit his car immediately and appeared to have a fire. He had to wave the only safety guy on the track over to him in the mean time the Medstar Safety truck sat inside the pits at the track exit. Took well over 2 mins for the truck to move. If your the best, the entire team should be on the track and ready to go as soon as the first car hits the track. The second incident involved a sprint car flip on the front stretch, #43 I believe and was hit by another sprint #14 who spun into the infield. The entire safety team went to the #43 car and no one ever checked on the #14 car/driver. Finally a young lady from a tow truck went and checked on the driver and eventually pushed it into the work area. When I worked a track safety team, you always checked all drivers involved in the incident. I was disappointed to see what is claimed to be the best Safety Team in the business in action.
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Medstar is far from being the best safety team. While Medstar is busy with radio, television and newspaper interviews and telling everybody how good they are the safety crew at Knoxville is by far the best safety team in sprint car racing followed by the crew at Jackson,Minnesota. The Knoxville safety crew are well trained and respond to incidents within seconds with the proper procedures and equipment and implement measures to insure the safety of all involved at all times and they have never bragged or boasted about themselves or told the world just how valuable they are. Knoxville is the sprint car capital of the world and the safety team quietly performs as the professionals they all are.
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June 28, 2017 at
08:39:46 AM
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While I appreciate anyone who takes on the role they do, it is ironic I saw this post today. While watching the heat races at Beaver Dam from the work area, I thought it was an odd time for them to be taking group photos, over by their operations trailer, while the race was happening. Maybe not a big deal, but it struck me as odd, especially with the track being as fast as it was and the amount of junk being made.
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June 28, 2017 at
08:45:24 AM
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This message was edited on
June 28, 2017 at
08:46:59 AM by ILSPRINTS
I wondered the same thing while watching from pitside. MidWest Safety would have been on the infield watching drivers, not in a silly photo op.... They also wasted time and effort draging the hose of the truck for every incident. and did NOT respond well to the Hot lap fire.....
I tell it like I see it.
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June 28, 2017 at
09:31:03 AM
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11/30/2004
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I was quite surprised to see Medstar at BDR this past Saturday night. I agree with the above statements and also share the same feelings. It took way too long for them to respond to the #25 fire and throughout the evening their reaction times and service were subpar at best. It is of my opinion that this group was more interested in showing off the glitz and glam of their shiny truck with fancy red & blue lights and getting camera time holding the checkered flag in Victory Lane for social media posts more than anything else. They seemed more fitting to be on display at a World of Wheels Show than working a race event.
While I am not taking away any of this groups past credentials and accomplishments, nor am I dismissing the risks they take in the name of safety and their investment made, I had an un-easy feeling about them being there Saturday and the first incident confirmed that. I just didn’t see anything about this group that had me thinking they were superior over any other safety crew or had me think that I sure would love to have them at all events. Truly the first time I’ve ever I had an unsettling feeling about a safety crew- and I was just a spectator on Saturday. I’m not sure who authorized or paid for Medstar on Saturday, but I’d surely be cautious to hire them again.
Jeff Wesell
Hartford, WI
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June 28, 2017 at
11:50:56 AM
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09/12/2011
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118
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Reply to:
Posted By: dakob on June 27 2017 at 07:56:57 PM
Medstar is far from being the best safety team. While Medstar is busy with radio, television and newspaper interviews and telling everybody how good they are the safety crew at Knoxville is by far the best safety team in sprint car racing followed by the crew at Jackson,Minnesota. The Knoxville safety crew are well trained and respond to incidents within seconds with the proper procedures and equipment and implement measures to insure the safety of all involved at all times and they have never bragged or boasted about themselves or told the world just how valuable they are. Knoxville is the sprint car capital of the world and the safety team quietly performs as the professionals they all are.
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I will COMPLETELY agree with you on the crew in Jackson being one of the best. As a racer I can't say THANK YOU enough to all them guys/gals for their time at the track and the time they put into their training for us drivers! Thanks guys!
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June 28, 2017 at
11:53:24 AM
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12/01/2004
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Did they actually show up on time?
BIG J
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."
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June 29, 2017 at
06:30:31 AM
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06/07/2007
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Reply to:
Posted By: sprint99 on June 28 2017 at 09:31:03 AM
I was quite surprised to see Medstar at BDR this past Saturday night. I agree with the above statements and also share the same feelings. It took way too long for them to respond to the #25 fire and throughout the evening their reaction times and service were subpar at best. It is of my opinion that this group was more interested in showing off the glitz and glam of their shiny truck with fancy red & blue lights and getting camera time holding the checkered flag in Victory Lane for social media posts more than anything else. They seemed more fitting to be on display at a World of Wheels Show than working a race event.
While I am not taking away any of this groups past credentials and accomplishments, nor am I dismissing the risks they take in the name of safety and their investment made, I had an un-easy feeling about them being there Saturday and the first incident confirmed that. I just didn’t see anything about this group that had me thinking they were superior over any other safety crew or had me think that I sure would love to have them at all events. Truly the first time I’ve ever I had an unsettling feeling about a safety crew- and I was just a spectator on Saturday. I’m not sure who authorized or paid for Medstar on Saturday, but I’d surely be cautious to hire them again.
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I couldn't agree with you more on the comment about the social media. Do you follow them on Facebook? They are notorioius for posting photos of themselves either in vicotry lane with the winner or photos of eachother. From an outsider looking in it appears they, or at least the owner, are very much into themselves. I can not speak for thier talent level when it comes to safety of the drivers and responding to on-track accidents; I simply don't know how good they are. I only know that the owner constantly boasts about saving Tony Stewart's leg in Oskaloosa and since then he seemingly uses that inccident and social media to talk about himself and how great his operation is.
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June 29, 2017 at
07:22:50 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: resprinter on June 29 2017 at 06:30:31 AM
I couldn't agree with you more on the comment about the social media. Do you follow them on Facebook? They are notorioius for posting photos of themselves either in vicotry lane with the winner or photos of eachother. From an outsider looking in it appears they, or at least the owner, are very much into themselves. I can not speak for thier talent level when it comes to safety of the drivers and responding to on-track accidents; I simply don't know how good they are. I only know that the owner constantly boasts about saving Tony Stewart's leg in Oskaloosa and since then he seemingly uses that inccident and social media to talk about himself and how great his operation is.
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There's a fine line between utilizing marketing measures (he is a business man afterall) and arrogant, self-serving narcissistic actions. From how quickly this operation ran to the media after the Badlands incident and what is being mentioned here, sounds as if he's quickly falling into the latter category...
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June 29, 2017 at
11:49:22 AM
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Joined:
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06/27/2017
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2
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Reply to:
Posted By: resprinter on June 29 2017 at 06:30:31 AM
I couldn't agree with you more on the comment about the social media. Do you follow them on Facebook? They are notorioius for posting photos of themselves either in vicotry lane with the winner or photos of eachother. From an outsider looking in it appears they, or at least the owner, are very much into themselves. I can not speak for thier talent level when it comes to safety of the drivers and responding to on-track accidents; I simply don't know how good they are. I only know that the owner constantly boasts about saving Tony Stewart's leg in Oskaloosa and since then he seemingly uses that inccident and social media to talk about himself and how great his operation is.
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I am glad I am not the only one who notices the lack of "immediate response" to the track incidents at the Outlaw Show in Beaver Dam. While I as well as, drivers, promoters, track owners and families and fans appreciate al the time and effort ALL track safety teams put into everyone's safety. If you claim to be the "best" and openly criticize other track safety teams, you open yourself/team for criticism. I've been in MedStars Facebook page and who's picture do you see all the time....I know Knoxville Safety Team members who stand toe to toe with the MedStar Staff and you don't see their faces posted all over social media bragging to be the best. ALOT of teams just do it because they enjoy it and don't want all the social media attention, my hats off to all of you. Your right, they got the hype with the Tony Stewart incident, happened to be at the right place at the right time. I'm willing to bet any good Safety Team along with a good EMS service would have done the same job as well.
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