TMX Says: Trash talking starts now!
By TMX Archives on 27th Apr 16
What an absolute load of rubbish was the first thought to pop into my mind as I leaned on a sturdy Canada Heights fence at the end of what had been a fairly long day the 280-mile drive and shooting six action-packed championship motos had taken their toll somewhat.
It wasn't the quality of venue, organisation or indeed the racing that was the problem – because they were all bloody brilliant – but the actual sea of trash that a proportion of the massive crowd had left behind.
Now if there had been a lack of bins on site I could've almost understood it, although wouldn't necessarily agree with it.
I've always believed that if there's no bin nearby then rubbish should be kept safe until it can be properly disposed of (my mum will vouch for this n'all as she was constantly bollocking me when I was a kid for leaving rubbish in my pockets that would eventually end up blocking the washing machine).
Apparently not everyone feels the same as I do, though, and the evidence was everywhere to be seen on Sunday night.
Amazingly there was even stacks of stuff sat on the floor within arm's reach of some of the numerous waste bins that the Sidcup club had put out to combat this problem – I can't quite get my head around that...
After motoring back to Morecambe (another 280 mile dual with middle-lane hoggers which included a 90-minute stop on the M6 near Preston due to an accident – not my own I best add – thrown in) and nodding down for the night I came in to the office the next day to find a letter from a reader on my desk – and not the usual death threats or hate mail by the way.
Bizarrely the author was letting rip about littering at motocross events and shared his thoughts on the matter which not only covered spectators but racers n'all.
‘I am writing to say that the rubbish left behind after some meetings is ridiculous.
I attended a British Championship meeting in 2014 and saw for myself a disgusting amount of litter left by one motocrosser and his family. It was not even bagged up.
There was waste oil, tyres, food and disposable barbecues just strewn around where their truck had been.
Another track that I have been to has since been lost as a motocross track because of the litter left after a meeting.
This, again, included waste oil, tyres and even 25 litres of used cooking oil from the burger van.
Is it any wonder the owner of this track said "that's it – no more racing!”?
Surely all motocross riders and their families and fans have a duty of care here.
If we see someone leaving litter take a picture, get their number plate, do something.
Report it to the stewards of the meeting so these people can be dealt with.
Either ban them or fine them or both because if we don't do something about it now we will lose more tracks and, ultimately, end up with nowhere to race.
I ask you all to please do something about it and not just leave it to someone else.'
I'd tend to agree with what Rae Francis wrote but what do you think? Is he right or are we overreacting?
Write in to the usual address or drop me an email at anthony.sutton@jpress.co.uk...
