My son got hurt at Ace this past Sunday because the flagger left his post to go get a coke. The broken collarbone may have been prevented if the kid flagged. In my angst, I wrote it on the NEMAMX.com message board because every single organization has trouble getting flaggers and for a hot dog and $40 the promoters will sign anyone up to flag. I commented on "labor laws". Well guess what, a guy wrote in the labor laws and Mass General Law. Kids can not be hired to flag in Mass., without complying to the MGL. So Mass tracks better be prepared to comply. Maybe the promoters didn't know this, but know they will and we can tell them. Hopefully, your first line of defense won't be a seeing eye dog sleeping in the tire on the side of the track.

-- Peggy (pbelmore@ziplink.net), June 12, 2000

Answers

IM SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR SON YOU SHOULD SEND A COPY OF THE LAWS TO LEWISTON,MIDDLEBORO AND SOUTHWICK.IVE SEEN SOME OF THE FLAGGERS AT THESE TRACKS I THINK SOME OF THEM JUST GOT OUT OF KINDERGARDEN.

-- JACK CAMELIO (jack camelio@aol.com), June 12, 2000.

peggy sorry about your son. you have a good reason to be mad i understand it is illegal but i think the only reason they hire kindergarden kids is because noone else wants to do it and i think they are better than nothing dont get me wrong i would love to have competent flagers out there but what do you think will happen if kids arent allowed to flag. i just dont think there are enough people that will do the job like is should be done if there arent kids do you have any suggetions?

-- randy (randygrapes218@aol.com), June 12, 2000.

I agree there may be a lack of flaggers but it is up to the track to have flaggers lined up for the day. Maybe that means paying them hourly for their time. Trouble is I'm sure the tracks prefer to pay kids $20 bucks and a few hot dogs! Botton line is the tracks need to hire competent people to do the job!

-- Lee Correa (lcorrea@ciswebdesign.com), June 13, 2000.

Sorry about your son Peggy. Hope he has a speedy recovery.

I don't race(YET), but have been to many. After seeing Southwick for the first time this past Sunday I can't wait to ride there. I am curious though. It's obvious that the only people that have a vested interest in good flaggers are the riders themselves. With the amount of down time at a race is it unreasonable to expect some of the riders to flag. They are the best choice for the job in my opinion. Screw the free hotdogs. Maybe they could race for free if they flag. Obviously, each rider couldn't flag all day, but it seems to me that all it would take is some commitment and careful planning.........Thoughts?

-- Mike Crosby (mike.crosby@lpl.com), June 13, 2000.

Mike, awesome suggestion! I'm sure there are plenty of racers that would flag with or without free entries (of course the free race entries wouldn't hurt ;-) And Peggy, sorry about your son. Hope he has a speedy recovery...

-- Lee Correa (lcorrea@ciswebdesign.com), June 13, 2000.

Another thought........

If minors worked as flaggers in exchange for race fees would they not be exempt from labor laws?

-- Mike Crosby (mike.crosby@lpl.com), June 13, 2000.

Just thought I would drop in my 2 cents worth ! skowhegan motocross pays there flagers bye the hour ! and they are supervised the whole day if they are under age ! Skowhegan MX has there stuff together ! no registration lines ! its cheaper and fun ! Flagers are the most important guys out there ! with out them your a dead man ! I would be more then willing to traded off a couple hours of flaging for a free entry ! I think the only guys that would not want to do that is the experts , due to the fact the get all the DAM TRACK TIME ! they might be to tired :( but I only race 7 laps plus to practice laps that a a joke ! I plenty of time on my hands !

-- -guess- (yzf400dj@aol.com), June 13, 2000.

At district 34 they actually inforce the no pass or jump rule if flag is out. I don't know how many times I have lost my edge or been passed because I slowed down too much for flags at NESC.

-- clint (w1eyeski@yahoo.com), June 13, 2000.

Hey guys, I'm not whining about my son, it's part of the risk you take. I'm just made that it could possibly have been prevented. Actually, he's pretty happy he's missing school and going to get a go-ped tomorrow (kids). I have been harping on this for years. I've suggested rider's flagging in exchange for discounted entries, I've suggested training sessions, I've suggested explaining to the kids how important they are out there and they need to be willing to take their jobs seriously as they are the first line of defense, I've suggested rotating around the track so they don't get bored looking at the same spot all day. I've suggested giving them breaks with "relief" flaggers. Now that that guy posted the labor law, the tracks are going to have to at least acknowledge it and do something different but you know it will cost them money and I'm going to be on THAT LIST. Hopefully, they may look at it as "hey, we are subject to major legal consequences if we don't change things and comply" Maybe they didn't even know about this. I just hope the guy that posted it holds off on notifying the appropriate agencies, Motocross has enough trouble overcoming negative impressions. Thanks for asking about Joe. I appreciate it. He wants to race mini-dragsters &^#&(^$)(#*#^^&$() Oh YEAH. Cheers, a middle-aged mom who loves the sport and the racers. Keep the faith and ride smart. Cheers, Peggy

-- Peggy (pbelmore@ziplink.net), June 13, 2000.