Critics say desert off-road races are unmanageable

A desert off-road race from Las Vegas to Reno remains green-lighted for Friday even as the agency that regulates races across federal land reviews its safety policies following a crash that killed eight spectators during a similar race Saturday in San Bernardino County.

Officials with the Bureau of Land Management, which permits more than 100 off-road races a year on desert land it oversees, said they are confident adequate safeguards are in place for the Nevada race.
But critics of the agency called the decision reckless, saying the bureau lacks the manpower and desire to ensure the events are safe.

“These races are unmanageable. They are almost impossible to control and enforce. So the real question is, is the [bureau] permitting far more events than they can deal with safely’’ said Daniel Patterson of the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, an advocacy group of government workers that has clashed with off-roaders. The bureau "needs to take a time out and say, 'Can we deal with this?' "

Eight people were killed and 10 others seriously injured in Saturday’s California 200 off-road race in the Lucerne Valley after a truck lost control after a jump and plowed in the crowd gathered within feet of the racecourse.

The promoter of that event, Mojave Desert Racing of El Monte, is scheduled to host a 250-mile off-road race Sept. 25 near that same site, the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area on bureau-controlled land in the Mojave Desert. Federal officials said there are no plans to postpone the Lucerne 250.

Officials with Mojave Desert Racing have not responded to repeated requests for comment, but did post a statement on the firm’s website: “MDR offers its sincere condolences and prayers to all those affected by the incident in Lucerne Valley. We would like to thank all those individuals who helped at the scene."

An official with Nevada’s Bureau of Land Management office on Tuesday said that the promoter of the Nevada race has an excellent safety record and that the agency reviewed all safety measures in the wake of Saturday’s deadly crash.

“Motorized recreation is an accepted use of public lands. And I know it's not everyone’s cup of tea, but we’re here as a multiuse agency to provide recreation opportunities when appropriate," said Leo Drumm, coordinator for the Nevada office’s off-highway vehicle program. “It’s part of our mission. It’s what we do. Some people would like us to stop it all together, but that is not what we intend to do."

-- Phil Willon in Riverside

Comments

[Pat Kapko]

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility............... Enough said.

[K.E.]

This is the nature of the ORV community - they don't need no stinkin' rules!

Then - OOPS! Death, damage, and destruction.

And they wonder why so many desert RESIDENTS want them cordoned off - AWAY from communities.

Bunch of self-centered, dangerous scofflaws. Sorry to see people get hurt, but no surprise here.

[Mike]

I read that the rules for these races requires vehicles to drive at a top speed of 15 mph when in the vicinity of onlookers. Everyone knows that's not going to happen. Seems like the rules are like software Terms and Conditions no one every reads, but clicks on as accepting them so they can finish the installation and go about their business. A true tragedy what happened, but when tons of motorized steel goes zooming by a willing audience at freeway speeds, this was bound to happen. I hope that the "need for speed" of both the participants and the spectators can somehow be served while keeping everyone as safe as possible.

[Peace and Love]

Nothing like capitalizing on some deaths to promote your anti-human agenda.

[MLS]

Wait to the law suits start. I am sure the victims families will all sue the government for damages.

[Justin champlin]

I feel very sorry for the people and familys affected by this crash with that said the ''unmanagable'' races are best left at this these people chose to stand a few feet from the track they werent made to and this driver had to have security to leave the race that is insanity this man im sure is miserable with guilt but he had no controll over where the people were watching the race or of that truck at that moment we can not blame the race or driver for this in my opinion

[nedclark]

I have yet to hear any reports that the race organizers had emergency medical personnel and/or ambulances stationed at key points around the race course - a standard precaution in any type of conscientious racing, particularly when done by professional promoters.

If this proves to be the case, on top of the hands-off attitude of allowing the spectators to get within `side-mirror distance' of the fast-moving trucks hurtling along inherently unstable dirt and rocks, Mojave Desert Racing deserves to be sued out of existence, and its owners charged with criminal negligence.

[Prescott Bush]

Well beer at the event?

[Mike simms]

Kudos to the folks in Nevada! We know that there are plenty of Environmentalist women (And the metrosexuals who bow down to them) who would just as soon have all racing relegated to an abondoned Kmart parking lot in Barstow! Sorry, but racing (especially desert racing) is NOT going away! If you try to ban it, we will race without permission! Then you will really have some problems to cry about! Although you tout the environment, your real agenda is to feminize the entire human race because it's comfortable for YOU. You're no better than any other bigot out there! Men need to compete. Sorry if it gets your ovaries in a boil! Now, I'm gonna go kill something meaty and EAT IT!

[BM]

Shame on all of you enviromentalists(CBD, PEER, LA TIMES, K.E. posting below) using an accident in the desert that had "NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ENVIROMENT" to promote your self serving agenda....I guess its par for the course ..never let a crisis go to waste huh?

[The truth]

The driver was not threatened at any time, did not need security and no rocks were thrown. The 15 mph rule is for spectators driving in the desert near the event, not competitors. If your attitudes and opinions are based on false information and you believe them solely because "you heard it on the news or read it in the paper", what other things that you believe in are just wrong?