Foolds
Tue Jul 5th, 2011, 09:03 PM
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Police+identify+killed+motorcycle+accident+racetra ck/5052199/story.html
Police identify man killed in motorcycle accident at racetrack
The man who died Monday morning in a motorcycle collision at a private racetrack in Calabogie has been identified as 42-year-old Calvin Essex of London, Ont., but the nature of the crash that took his life remained very much a mystery one day later.
Renfrew Ontario Provincial Police have said only that Essex was riding a motorcycle during a “trackday” at Calabogie Motorsports Track, an event that gives enthusiasts a chance to practice high-performance driving.
OPP said several motorcycles were involved in the collision at about 11 a.m., and that a second man was taken by helicopter to The Ottawa Hospital with serious injuries while a third man was taken to hospital in Arnprior with non-life threatening injuries.
Their identities were not released on Tuesday and no updates on their conditions were available.
The provincial coroner is overseeing the investigation — a standard procedure for sudden deaths — which is being led by the OPP’s east region crime unit and Renfrew OPP. Charges are not expected to be laid, OPP said.
The company that organizes the trackdays, meanwhile, refused to comment on any of the specifics of the event, including speed limits.
The Calabogie track, just an hour’s drive west of Ottawa, was built to host “lapping” events like Monday’s, catering largely to amateur car and motorcycle drivers. It opened in September 2006. All of its track days are organized by Pro 6 Cycle, a Toronto motorcycle service shop.
The track was back in operation for Tuesday’s track day event.
Track manager Jane Blinn said Tuesday that Monday’s fatal crash was the first serious incident there and that the track is sanctioned by ASN Canada FIA. She would not give any other information about Essex, track procedures or oversight.
“Again, we’re thinking about the individual’s family,” she said while trackday riders navigated the 5.05-kilometre course boasting 20 turns and a 610-metre straightaway. “Really, not much more.
“Other than that, we really don’t have much to comment on. Of course, it’s very sad, and we’re thinking of the family right now.”
ASN Canada FIA representative said Tuesday that its purview does not include motorcycles, only cars, and that it therefore isn’t involved in any way. “We don’t sanction motorcycles,” said Paul Cooke, vice-president of competition. “That’s a private thing with the racetrack owner.”
The Ministry of Transportation has no jurisdiction over the private facility, a spokeswoman said. It falls under the bylaws of the Township of Greater Madawaska. Mayor Peter Emon had heard of the crash and said the township would only step in to investigate if it broke the zoning bylaw specifying who can use the site.
A Pro 6 Cycle employee would not answer questions Tuesday about trackdays, saying only that its rules were posted online and that his bosses said not to comment.
“We’re not commenting at this time, to be blatantly obvious, on any questions,” he said. “Because any of the information that we are divulging is on our website.”
The online rules, however, say nothing about speed limits. They do say that the first thing drivers do on trackday after registering is sign a waiver. Drivers must then report for a technical inspection, followed by a mandatory meeting where the track’s flagging system is explained.
Riders are separated into three groups — red, yellow and green — based on their level of experience. The red group includes only racers and very experienced trackday riders who have to be approved by Pro 6 staff. Red riders are allowed to pass others at any point on the course, and they start first.
The yellow group includes riders with racetrack experience who are comfortable at faster speeds than the green group. They can pass only in the straightaway and while exiting corners.
Green riders have no racetrack experience and are led by an instructor for their first session. They can pass only in the straightaway.
Police identify man killed in motorcycle accident at racetrack
The man who died Monday morning in a motorcycle collision at a private racetrack in Calabogie has been identified as 42-year-old Calvin Essex of London, Ont., but the nature of the crash that took his life remained very much a mystery one day later.
Renfrew Ontario Provincial Police have said only that Essex was riding a motorcycle during a “trackday” at Calabogie Motorsports Track, an event that gives enthusiasts a chance to practice high-performance driving.
OPP said several motorcycles were involved in the collision at about 11 a.m., and that a second man was taken by helicopter to The Ottawa Hospital with serious injuries while a third man was taken to hospital in Arnprior with non-life threatening injuries.
Their identities were not released on Tuesday and no updates on their conditions were available.
The provincial coroner is overseeing the investigation — a standard procedure for sudden deaths — which is being led by the OPP’s east region crime unit and Renfrew OPP. Charges are not expected to be laid, OPP said.
The company that organizes the trackdays, meanwhile, refused to comment on any of the specifics of the event, including speed limits.
The Calabogie track, just an hour’s drive west of Ottawa, was built to host “lapping” events like Monday’s, catering largely to amateur car and motorcycle drivers. It opened in September 2006. All of its track days are organized by Pro 6 Cycle, a Toronto motorcycle service shop.
The track was back in operation for Tuesday’s track day event.
Track manager Jane Blinn said Tuesday that Monday’s fatal crash was the first serious incident there and that the track is sanctioned by ASN Canada FIA. She would not give any other information about Essex, track procedures or oversight.
“Again, we’re thinking about the individual’s family,” she said while trackday riders navigated the 5.05-kilometre course boasting 20 turns and a 610-metre straightaway. “Really, not much more.
“Other than that, we really don’t have much to comment on. Of course, it’s very sad, and we’re thinking of the family right now.”
ASN Canada FIA representative said Tuesday that its purview does not include motorcycles, only cars, and that it therefore isn’t involved in any way. “We don’t sanction motorcycles,” said Paul Cooke, vice-president of competition. “That’s a private thing with the racetrack owner.”
The Ministry of Transportation has no jurisdiction over the private facility, a spokeswoman said. It falls under the bylaws of the Township of Greater Madawaska. Mayor Peter Emon had heard of the crash and said the township would only step in to investigate if it broke the zoning bylaw specifying who can use the site.
A Pro 6 Cycle employee would not answer questions Tuesday about trackdays, saying only that its rules were posted online and that his bosses said not to comment.
“We’re not commenting at this time, to be blatantly obvious, on any questions,” he said. “Because any of the information that we are divulging is on our website.”
The online rules, however, say nothing about speed limits. They do say that the first thing drivers do on trackday after registering is sign a waiver. Drivers must then report for a technical inspection, followed by a mandatory meeting where the track’s flagging system is explained.
Riders are separated into three groups — red, yellow and green — based on their level of experience. The red group includes only racers and very experienced trackday riders who have to be approved by Pro 6 staff. Red riders are allowed to pass others at any point on the course, and they start first.
The yellow group includes riders with racetrack experience who are comfortable at faster speeds than the green group. They can pass only in the straightaway and while exiting corners.
Green riders have no racetrack experience and are led by an instructor for their first session. They can pass only in the straightaway.