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Racing rider Dinesh Edwin succumbs to injuries in Chennai
Chennai, May 8, 2013 : Local rider S. Dinesh Edwin, who was hospitalized following a crash during “pay and practice” session at the Madras Motor Sports Trust (MMST) race track here Sunday, succumbed to injuries here Wednesday.

Confirming the death of 20-year-old Dinesh, who suffered head injuries after sliding off the track, the Madras Motor Sports Club said in a statement: “It is with regret that we announce that motorcycle rider S Dinesh succumbed to his injuries after an accident at an Open Day for Private Testing at the Madras Motor Race Track earlier this week.

According to eyewitnesses, Dinesh, who began his racing career last season, slid off the track at Turn-7 which is a long, sweeping right hander, and ended up in a drainage ditch which is about 30 metres from the edge of the track.

When Dinesh, who was a member of Sparks Racing team, failed to complete the lap, a friend went looking for him and found the rider lying in a ditch. Dinesh was subsequently shifted to General Hospital where the rider succumbed to injuries.

For the full article, see this link: Business Standard

[anachronix]

Read about this news on XBHP! Very sad, may the young rider's soul RIP :(

[SDP]

That's just sad! :(
What's sadder is the "safety is optional" attitude that is prevalent everywhere.

[nitrous]

May Dinesh's soul rest in peace.

From this incident, in the future, expect no "trackdays" for cars without rollcages.
Pay and practise prices will go up with mandatory ambulance and marshals.
I would accept this change in the interest of safety, which has a long way to go.

[deetjohn]

This is really sad and so unfortunate. I read the news on the accident in the Hindu today. May his soul RIP.

[Mpower]

Originally Posted by nitrous

May Dinesh's soul rest in peace.

From this incident, in the future, expect no "trackdays" for cars without rollcages.
Pay and practise prices will go up with mandatory ambulance and marshals.
I would accept this change in the interest of safety, which has a long way to go.

I'm sure they will do that. Classic knee-jerk reaction.

The incident needs to be investigated in more detail.

Is there a runoff area in Turn-7 ? How long? what surface? what is the barrier? should be sand bags...not a ditch lined with stone? All this stuff is laid out in FIA regs.

[anachronix]

Read from Xbhp that he landed in a ditch after he slid off the track during practice and there was no immediate medical care at the track too.

The Chennai track has these ditches, its not a circuit thats under the FIA regulations. Correct me if I am wrong!

Originally Posted by Mpower

The incident needs to be investigated in more detail. Is there a runoff area in Turn-7 ? How long? what surface? what is the barrier? should be sand bags...not a ditch lined with stone? All this stuff is laid out in FIA regs.

[supremeBaleno]

Sad. Seemed to be a promising guy. And too young an age to go.

Originally Posted by nitrous

From this incident, in the future, expect no "trackdays" for cars without rollcages. Pay and practise prices will go up with mandatory ambulance and marshals. I would accept this change in the interest of safety, which has a long way to go.

Actually, I think they have scrapped the pay&practise sessions itself - atleast as per yesterday's newspaper in which the MMSC head was quoted saying so.

[YaeJay]

Very sad and depressing news. I thought tracks were a safer place to race (instead of streets). Nothing can replace the void Dinesh left behind to his parents and friends. There was no report of them blaming anyone for the incident.

But what is shocking to know is that there is no Ambulance or any other firstaid facitlity that permanently stationed there. Yes, Pay per session ( not free), But if something goes wrong is there somesort of saftey backup? I thought they did. Most of my friends thought they did. It may not be included in the 'package', but dont they have anything there? Its as good as saying we might have some random fires during the season, we will hire a few fire extinguisers then and during peak season we will also get some fire fighting trucks. Other times your on your own, you get fried, you get fried, We already told you about it.

Perhaps he would have had a better chance on the street. With 108.


All of the Xbhp chennai members are having a ziplock situation about this. As of now there is no comment mention RIP from any member from chennai Xbhp on Dinesh. All of TN has one biker from ooty sharing similar views.

[IndrojitSircar]

Twenty-year-old bike racer S. Dinesh has been fighting for his life at the General Hospital (GH) for the last few days, after skidding off the track during a practice session last Sunday at the MMRT in Irungattukottai.
Doctors attending on Dinesh, a B.Com student at the DG Vaishnav College here, said he was in a very critical condition as he had suffered “a severe injury to his head”.
The accident happened during the fourth lap when he was taking a turn at the Corner (C7) when his back tyre skidded forcing the Spark Racing Team racer to go off the track.
The run-off area, said many drivers who The Hindu spoke to at the GH on Tuesday, wasn’t smooth and the place where Dinesh fell, they insisted, was an open ditch nearly five feet deep. When there was no sign of Dinesh emerging, his friend and National-level racer Tamil Arasu went to locate him. “He was inside the ditch at C7 with his visor damaged. The helmet was in a relatively good condition, though,” said Arasu.
Lack of medical help
Many drivers said there wasn’t an ambulance, a doctor or first aid facility. Sparks Racing Team owner S. Ravi said, “There was nobody for help. We had to do everything ourselves.”
He was taken to a nearby hospital where the doctors said he was in very bad shape. Frantically they then took him to another private hospital which after an examination referred Dinesh to the GH.
Dinesh’s father Subramaniam, a Sub-Inspector with the Railway Protection Force, is putting up a brave face. “He is our only son. He had said ‘Dad don’t worry I will do well and my photos will appear in all leading newspapers and television channels.’
Outside the GH’s Emergency ward, Dinesh’s school friends were seen waiting anxiously not knowing their friend’s real condition.
“He is very shy, but very jovial. Only recently did he take up racing,” said his friend Ayappan.
Emmanuel Jebaraj, a representative of bike racers, said though the facilities at the track have improved a lot in the last one year, there is scope for improvement.
Meeting with MMSC
On Monday, many leading riders including reigning National 600cc champion K. Rajini, tuners and team owners met Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC) officials and demanded better medical facilities, a marshal during practice sessions and the levelling of run-off areas. “They (MMSC officials) said they will look into it,” said Rajini.
Pramod Kumar, Secretary, MMSC said that, generally, there are no ambulances and doctors stationed on a plain practice day. Vicky Chandhok, President, FMSCI, said, there was no ditch at C7. “I have travelled the length and breath of the track. In fact he (Dinesh) went 20m beyond the edge of the track.
“The ditch (it is a water drain) is well away from the racing line. We have levelled the area in January this year. Periodic maintenance is being done.
“We have ordered an enquiry. In the light of the event, it has now been decided that in future, no session, official testing days, event days or open days, will be staged without an ambulance and medical facilities,” he said.
With inputs from Stan Rayan and N. Sudarshan

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-...cle4693392.ece

Was reading the news, cant believe what i read, its a really sad day for motorsport in India. A 5 foot ditch and No Ambulance at the track day. What would it cost Rs.2000 max.I'm sure they made more than that as a track fees per bike and car, Is that not worth a persons life? This also at the oldest race track in our country, shame on the MMSC. If the organizers of motor sporting events are going to be so irresponsible, how is the sport going to grow and get any sponsors or people wanting to associate with it. I'm hoping to participate in the Moghul road this year, i hope they have learnt from last years loss of life. If the organizers cant provide the adequate safety and back up for participants, they should not do an event for the greed of money.
So much for racing in a controlled environment, we might as well race on the roads.

MMSC should learn from the way events are conducted at BIC, where not only there is a flawless track and also safety is also given the first priority.
If you are charging money for a track day, make sure your track is flawless and so is your safety mandates or else don;t host events.

[ashphil]

MMSC is one of the oldest motorsports bodies in India. Their stand that the package which Dinesh's team opted for did not include Medical facilities is unbelievable. Safety norms and medical facilities cannot be an option when it comes to motorsport. A body like MMSC ought to have known that. You have lost your credibility MMSC.
RIP Dinesh. Our prayers are with you and your parents.

[Rehaan]

Really sad. RIP.

Originally Posted by nitrous

From this incident, in the future, expect no "trackdays" for cars without rollcages.

I think that might be a bit extreme. What i think might make more sense is slowing down the track.

Personally i wouldn't enjoy driving a "normal" car on a circuit like Buddh for example, only because the straights are SO long. For "bring your road car" track-days, they should add a bus-stop or chicane made of cones to slow things down. Similar precautions can be taken at the fastest / most dangerous corners too.

Contrary to what some people might think, I think this would also make the track more fun.

Originally Posted by nitrous

Pay and practise prices will go up with mandatory ambulance and marshals.

However - PREVENTION is better than 'cure', so some additional safety precautions at tracks would go a long way. Eg. proper run off area with no obstacles in the way, proper fencing to keep dogs and other animals off the track, etc.

cya
R

[ashtorque]

I have heard some horrific first-hand stories about this MMSC race track from my biking group buddies who go there to attend the California superbike school sessions. One of my friend went off-track and crashed on one of the corners because a Snake came on the track. People often spot pigs and dogs on this track during their practice. Unbelievable!

No wonder there are hardly any Indian riders in the world class races. Its not the lack of talent, its the lack of infrastructure.

[balenopower]

That is tragic indeed. I'm headed for a motorcycle track day at Kari next week and shudder to think about something like this happening. I dont get the fact that safety is optional on the track. Isn't the track the place where you go so one can explore one's limits or atleast try to get near it in a 'SAFE' environment?

[esteem_lover]

One hopes that this does not fizzle out and we are back to square one again. Surely this one life should be enough to put proper safety measures in place. IMO, MMSC should be directly held responsible for the boy's death. They cannot simply shrug off their responsibilities and blame the participants. Hope this is properly investigated and the responsible ones punished for their negligence.