THE New Year weekend was marred with upsetting news that a spectator was hit by a racing car at the Dato’ Sagor circuit in Kg Gajah, Pasir Salak, Perak. The 32-year-old spectator was later confirmed dead at Changkat Melintang Hospital.
A race on a dedicated track, away from public roads, is supposed to be safe for spectators. It is meant for anyone to race and for the public to enjoy motorsports in a safe setting, instead of on a public road or highway.
However, this has not been the case in recent years, which have seen a series of tragedies and lives lost.
I am not talking about a race track at the level of the Sepang F1 circuit. But while there is grassroots development to identify up and coming talent in motorsports, safety should never take a back seat at a racing circuit.
With the latest incident at the circuit in Kg Gajah, local races are now under heavy scrutiny with a big question mark over safety aspects and organisation.
Do local races follow the safety guidelines set by the country’s national motorsports body? If tragedies occur, who should be accountable? Who was supposed to check the perimeter and safety elements of the track before the event and on race day itself?
Was the race and circuit sanctioned by the national body? Looking at the deaths and injuries among spectators over the years, the “couldn’t care less attitude” prevails.
Here’s a list of racing circuit tragedies over the years:
May 8, 2016
A 37-year-old racer died in a drag race at an old airstrip in Lutong, Miri, Sarawak.
September 25, 2016
Two spectators, a 38-year-old father and his 5-year-old daughter, were killed when a go-kart crashed into them at the EIMARace at Indera Mahkota, Kuantan, Pahang.
December 16, 2018
A 22-year-old racer in the Malaysian Cub Prix motorcycle race in Bandar Penawar, Johor was killed.
October 15, 2022
A 40-year-old racer in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo was killed in a drag race at the Gong Badak race track, Terengganu.
December 31, 2022
A spectator was killed at the Dato’ Sagor circuit in Kg Gajah, Pasir Salak, Perak.
We need to end this man-made carnage on the racing track. It is clear that local races are not safe, based on the number of people killed over the years at community tracks, whether spectators or racers.
Even the well-organised Cub Prix race, known for following safety guidelines for spectators and crowd control, claimed the life of a motorbike racer in 2018.
Safety standpoints at local races
Bear in mind that organising a local race is not just about putting old tyres around the track.
No doubt, it is costly to have worthy safety measures with international standards, such as the Vios Challenge and Cub Prix series, where concrete barriers and high fences provide protection for spectators as well as racers.
In the latest incident, at the 1.3km-long circuit in Dato’ Sagor, Perak on the last day of 2022, there was indeed a security and safety breach.
I urge police and motoring bodies to investigate the matter in depth and scrutinise the safety aspects of the circuit, as well as the organisation of the race.
Make the organisers responsible and charge them in court. Enough is enough because this involves people’s lives.
I also call for the authorities, together with academicians and those with long experience in holding races over the years, to review and audit the organisation of the local races, including the safety conditions of tracks from this point forward.
This requires a thorough review with Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM) and other racing affiliates, since it is clear that even the authorities, including local councils, do not have the expertise on the optimum safety guidelines to hold a race.
Freeze all local races until everyone fully understands how to comply with the safety guidelines set by MAM, as well as Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile guidelines and regulations.
If nobody is willing to comply with the minimum safety measures to hold a local race, including providing protection for spectators and initiating crowd control, then call it off. – The Vibes, January 6, 2023
Shahrim Tamrin is a journalist with The Vibes and has covered the transport beat. He yearns to save lives on the road and has served on the board of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, whose aim is to foster better road safety interventions
