Palm Beach Track Day Nov 24th cancelled Florida Track Days Discuss Palm Beach Track Day Nov 24th cancelled in the Motorcycles on the Road forums; Originally Posted by StormTrooper I'm guessing that an "Air Fence" is basically a VERY tall fence that prevents stuff (a crashing rider/ his bike, etc.) from going over the wall ...

[gummo]

Originally Posted by StormTrooper

I'm guessing that an "Air Fence" is basically a VERY tall fence that prevents stuff (a crashing rider/ his bike, etc.) from going over the wall into other parts of the track? Or is an air fence something that buffers the wall from riders?

It's a buffer between the rider and the wall. We use an air fence on turn 7 (thanks to d-wire ) at Homestead.

The tall fence is a catch fence.

[StormTrooper]

Originally Posted by gummo

It's a buffer between the rider and the wall. We use an air fence on turn 7 (thanks to d-wire ) at Homestead.

The tall fence is a catch fence.

Still dont know exactly what were talking about but I sure wish there was an alternative! I'm no Track Engineer but If the wall is fully covered by tires, I dont know why there may be an issue. Do you have pics of the areas your concenred about? If so, would you post em so we can at least understand the issue better?

[shmike]

Originally Posted by StormTrooper

Still dont know exactly what were talking about but I sure wish there was an alternative! I'm no Track Engineer but If the wall is fully covered by tires, I dont know why there may be an issue. Do you have pics of the areas your concenred about? If so, would you post em so we can at least understand the issue better?

It is literally like a giant pillow that attaches to the wall or tire barrier.

I'd much rather hit an air-filled bag at speed than a concrete wall or even tires.

Here is a link to the air fence site: Airfence Bike

and a pic of Pedrosa putting it to use:

[fdlr248]

In a way I'm ok it got suspended, I slip on a carpet yesterday inside the garage and I tourht two ligaments on the side of my ankle, I was already trying to walk to get ready for the track, now I can relax!

[knedragon]

the 2 I would be concerned with and I'm no engineer but I do kinda understand the laws of physics.The last right hand turn entering the back straight away and the the right hand turn at the end ot the straight away.Air fence,tire walls,soft barriers etc... mean nothing when a bike and rider are involved.They may help some but even airfence can lead to big problems,like say you follow the bike into the fence,the fence will help the bike but you will hit it after or maybe not even hit it,it may be deflated or moved.Or maybe the bike follows you into the fence!
I rode it and seen it,it really makes no sense to me why there is so much concrete wall around the place.They could have done many things differently and moved walls way back from where they are now!Is it safer then the old track?By far but I think its going to be faster then the old track.I would much rather make it right then be or hear about someone else and what could have been done to stop it or have people say "man I can't believe so and so hit that!" Perfect example,Jamie Bowman on the outside of turn #3 at Laguna RIP Jamie.
We all understand that things can and will happen on the track.Its a risk we all take either racing or just a track day.Thats the way I looked at the track when we rode it a few weeks back and I put my say into what needed to be looked at going each way.

[StormTrooper]

Originally Posted by shmike

It is literally like a giant pillow that attaches to the wall or tire barrier.

I'd much rather hit an air-filled bag at sped than a concrete wall or even tires.

Here is alink to the air fence site: Airfence Bike

and a pic of Pedrosa putting it to use:

Although I appreciate the pic, I dont remember seeing anything like that at Homestead unless it deploys like a freeken auto air bag or something. Also, what tracks in the U.S. have that? I dont remember seeing that ANYWHERE including DAYTONA! I would also "rather hit" that, but is that REALLY neccessary?

[shmike]

Originally Posted by StormTrooper

Although I appreciate the pic, I dont remember seeing anything like that at Homestead unless it deploys like a freeken auto air bag or something. Also, what tracks in the U.S. have that? I dont remember seeing that ANYWHERE including DAYTONA! I would also "rather hit" that, but is that REALLY neccessary?

Sometimes you don't even notice it.

I don't remember seeing it at Daytona either but it is definitely there during some of the AMA events.

A pic of Airfence at Daytona is here. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.airfence.com/images/2002_FXA_Winton.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.airfence.com/news_whocares.html&h=251&w=370&sz=34&hl=en&start=1 3&um=1&usg=__nXeIopKIANFUZ_lVZWqDvXpf_Ec=&tbnid=ay qQsF7YPs-ajM:&tbnh=83&tbnw=122&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dairfence%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3D en%26safe%3Dactive%26rlz%3D1T4DMUS_enUS222US222%26 sa%3DN

As for Homestead, if you saw it you were looking in the wrong place. It is on the outside of turn 7 before the track straightens out.

If I remember right, they have a section up now which is better than nothing but will be extending it further which will make it more obvious as you go by.

[knedragon]

PBI is going to be using soft barrier which is different then the Air Fence you always see.I've never seen the soft barrier stuff yet.

[gkgsxr78]

Originally Posted by shmike

I'd much rather hit an air-filled bag at speed than a concrete wall or even tires.

[StormTrooper]

Originally Posted by shmike

Sometimes you don't even notice it.

I don't remember seeing it at Daytona either but it is definitely there during some of the AMA events.

A pic of Airfence at Daytona is here. Google Image Result for http://www.airfence.com/images/2002_FXA_Winton.jpg

As for Homestead, if you saw it you were looking in the wrong place. It is on the outside of turn 7 before the track straightens out.

If I remember right, they have a section up now which is better than nothing but will be extending it further which will make it more obvious as you go by.

I'm all for safety too but I dont see how that would be so much better than tires.