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Oct. 10, 2013, 7:27 a.m.
10/14/2013
By Mike Garrison
LiveRC.com
Over the past several months I have heard numerous stories from around the nation of various R/C tracks and/or track owners either being threatened with a lawsuit, or actually sued by racers.
When I was paralyzed racing motocross in 2006, the number one question I got asked was, "Did you sue them?" I was injured at a local motocross track during a race, when my best friend and I were battling for the lead. We hit mid-air over a double jump and came crashing to the ground. While he was uninjured in the crash, I on the other hand, had two collapsed lungs, a shattered spine, and was paralyzed from the chest down.
Who am I going to sue? Should I sue the track owner for providing me one of the best tracks in the state to ride and race on? Should I sue my best friend for not quitting the race when I beat him, like he does playing XBOX? Should I sue the bike manufacturer for providing what I feel was the best bike to own that year?
If you truly love something, you will do anything for it. Certainly you don't want, or hope, for something like an injury or even death to occur, but as racers we have to accept that is the risk of racing. Is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY. I wouldn't change that day, that race, or this adventure I've been on since for anything in the world. It's part of being a racer. Will all the money in the world from a lawsuit, one less racetrack, one less best friend, and one less bike manufacturer suddenly make me stand up and take off running? No.
While R/C cars are far safer than any other form of motorsports, there are still risks involved. If you are out turn marshalling and get hit by car, possibly require medical attention, or even break a bone or two...man up and realize that while it is painful, expensive, and possibly life changing...it is part of racing, and part of being a racer. The pipe you tripped on was not placed strategically to make you fall and break your arm, the 1:8 buggy that hit you mid-air was not piloted by someone looking to ruin their good run by smacking you in the head, and while the stairs off the drivers stand aren't covered in shag carpet like that in your home, believe it or not they too were not built with the intention of making you scorpion your legs over your head while falling down them.
I understand that in certain circumstances (for instance if the motocross track owner would have driven a bulldozer out into the track, I hit him, he makes a creepy grin, and then backs over me multiple times) there is a time and place for lawful action in motorsports, but all that I am asking is that before you go chasing after tracks and other racers with lawsuits to fix your injuries, frustrations, pain, and suffering...sit back and really think over what your about to do, and how it will effect not only you, but everyone else as well.
I truly believe that everything happens for a reason, and with that being said I truly believe that when there is no longer a reason for me to be in a wheelchair, that is the day I will stand up and walk away. I believe until that time, no medical procedure, no super human training, or even alien abduction is going to fix my spinal cord. I was once a punk teenage kid racing dirt bikes, who has now been given the opportunity to experience some wild and crazy things, meet some amazing people, and be here writing this today because of that reason.
You don't have to be paralyzed to be in a tough situation, it could be something as simple as you left your batteries at home when you went out of town to race. Perhaps there was a good reason those batteries got left at home? Perhaps they would have caught fire in the pits ruining all of your stuff that day, or worse? Life is full of ups and downs, but suing the people and the places that provide you with happiness is not a way to turn things around for the better. Besides, chicks dig scars...so wear 'em proud!
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