PHASE 1: COMMON
TRACK PROBLEMS
The two largest problems at race tracks are cleanliness and safety. If a track is to be competitive with traditional sports, a high level of cleanliness is mandatory. How often is there garbage littered all over the hallways of a stadium? How often in an NHL game is the Zamboni parked next to the ice rink in blatant view of the public? The frequency of the above events is rare. Unfortunately, at race tracks it is common for the area underneath the bleachers to be covered in trash, the asphalt walking areas to be patched over many times, and the buildings to have faded paint composed of different colors. The motorsports industry must not only mimic the cleanliness associated with traditional sports but go beyond it.
Another problem is race track safety. It is simply astounding that there have not been more deaths and injuries due to the poor security measures on the part of track officials. Upper levels of the grandstands are not fenced in, there is ease of entry onto the roofs of control towers, access to chemicals (VHT) is not uncommon, and security to stop people from being in “employee” only areas. TSM applies an automotive dealer principle used in the repair process of vehicles to address its race tracks’ problems. Called the three “C’s,” the principle addresses Compliant, Cause, and Correction. In answering the three “C’s,” each problem is noted, the reason is recognized, and changes are made to remedy it.
With many parents’ attention on the cars racing down the track, it is often difficult to keep a constant vigil on their children. At times, children innocently wander off, curious about all the amazing features of a race track. The easiest method of solving safety-related issues with children, and with adults who act like children, is to apply the following concept:
Question 1: If you were a child, would you be curious about the area/object?
Question 2: Is there a method by which you could climb, crawl, or run to that area/object?
Question 3: Upon arrival, are you in a better position to touch, see, smell, hear, or taste the object(s)?
The answer to question one is almost always yes, the governing factor being that a few children are equally frightened of the area or object. Nonetheless, it is the tracks responsibility to ensure that the management child-proofs the track as much as a parent does to his/her home.