Security for teams in paddock

[youngoldy]

HI folks,

For those who know who I am, will be aware that in May at Oulton I had my iPod, laptop, wallet + cash stolen from our race truck, whilst our driver had his work PDA stolen, and our other driver had his laptop stolen.

All during the Pre90 NW race.

I was made aware today that at DOnnington Park at the weekend, a drivers wife had her handbag stolen, and a team had a T.V. stolen from their awning, with other items like SatNav's, laptops and phones were stolen.

Is it time that 'club' meeting get the same security as say national events?

What and/or who is to stop a 'spectator' from wandering into the paddock, taking items of other peoples expensive possession, without being spotted???

When we went to Spa a few weeks ago, all team personel were given yellow wristbands, to show they were with a competitor, and that you were only allowed in certain areas of the circuit (pit lane, parc ferme and paddock). If you did not have one, security personel would not allow you through.

Should a similar type of security measure be put in place in the UK at club events?

Of course you can never prevent wallets, bags, phones etc being stolen, as they can fit so inconspiciously into a pocket, but a laptop or a mountain bike or a TV being certainly can.

The professional hgih level race team can probabily afford to replace such items, whereas 'clubbies' like ourselves, can't.

Any other ideas???

[kartingdad]

I have to agree.

It's always a bit worrying when you leave basecamp to go on the pitwall. Difficult to lock everything up as what happens if you need to nip back to collect a tool ect. There's a lot of kit you have to leave unsecured. (corner weights alone cost near £1000)

Security men patrolling thye paddock might help, together with a stricter policy on pedestrian access/egress might help.

Certainly takes some of the fun out of a meeting if you think you are racing in a crime zone.

[Asp]

I think having a 'closed' paddock would take something away from the spectators too though - back when I was spectating I used to enjoy having a wander round and seeing the cars 'close up', I've seen FFord drivers having a wander when not racing - it's a bit of fun at the circuit. And it's the same from clubbies up to BTCC (only F1 and their ilk having a closed paddock)

It would be a great shame to take such a draconian measure because of the actions of a distinct minority.

Short of that though, extra security and more control at paddock entrances should make some difference.

That said, people will still find ways to 'help themselves' in this day and age - it's a shame that we can't trust the environment in a race paddock like we used to, but clearly things of value need to be kept secure.

Mod Note - it's clearly a wider issue than just FFord - so to Racers it goes

[Al Weyman]

Yeah we had it at Combe one of our drivers lost tools and equipment, it is a problem and its also very easy in the excitment of the event to get slack and leave things unlocked, I did that myself at Mallory, went out to race and left my wallet on the front seat of my tow car with a few hundred quid in it for all to see and did'nt lock the doors and along side that was my mobile as well so some of it should be up to us to be more careful, how did they nick the laptops for example, did they break in or was the rig left unlocked and unguarded.

[Chris Y]

I've noticed recently at Oulton that the man on the main vehicle gate into the paddock has been missing in the last couple of events I've been to there. That chap checked paddock access passes previously, but now it seems anyone can drive into and out of the paddock. This causes a bit of a headache for parking reasons, but also presents more of a theft risk, as larger expensive items can be moved to a waiting car, and driven out of the paddock.

Perhaps the level of thefts has gone up in direct correlation to the paddock gate man's departure? I haven't been there often enough to tell for sure.

[bigted]

Just to remind everyone, security starts as soon as you leave home, how many people carry cars on open trailers? that are locked. leaving a variety of stealable bits and are open to sabotage

[bella]

just a question on this from a non-racer - would you be willing to pay an increase in entry fees to fund a security presence, or perhaps hire a security man yourselves for your own series area of the paddock? or is it something the circuit should be funding already?

[pit bull]

As far as I am aware OP know of this and hopefully will act accordingly, contracted security will put our entry fees sky high, maybe (Just a suggestion) circuit staff should patrol areas wearing HiViz tops, naturally we are ourselves responsible for securing our equipment.
On another note, I feel more secure at Angelsey circuit than I do at OP.

[Al Weyman]

Blimey dont we pay enough!

[kartingdad]

I heard thet someone got turned over recently at Donnington. Awning rear cut with knife, laptop and handbag gone.

I remember years ago at OP pedestrians had to use a full hieght turnstile to access paddock.

No easy answer.

[Al Weyman]

I'm sorry but this is the world we live in today but if anyone is daft enough to leave something as valuble as a laptop or their phone and wallet like I did either in a tent or an unlocked car quite frankly I think they are asking for trouble. In fact I had a phone go missing a couple of years ago at Snett which could have gone anywhere. To be honest its always been my view if you leave something on display and insecure you are in some way to blame as well if someone gets tempted. I know it should not be like that and I can remember when we used to leave the back door open no problem all night but those days are no longer unfortunately. If it was locked away in the car or van I very much doubt anyone would smash the windows to get in and arouse the attention of fellow competitors and get a good hiding.

[tristancliffe]

As Al says - don't leave valuables lying around unattended. Lock up your laptops, PDAs, mobiles etc in a paddock vehicle, or a toolbox (preferably one that can't be picked up and walked away with!).

Theft is never nice, but there's no point making it REALLY easy for anyone (including the odd nasty competitor, pit hand, cleaner, CotC as well as Joe Public spectators) to walk away with stuff. That's just apathetic and ignorant.

Plus, locking things away is... FREE. Security guards, or making club racing even less appealing to the public ultimately cost US money.

[Sheila M]

After a spate of thefts at Donington some years ago I used to take it upon myself to walk the entire length of the pit lane and warn every team to take care with valuables. The times I've seen expensive tool kits and other "stuff" left in open garages just waiting to be taken for a walk by some undesirable doesn't bear thinking about.

I agree that draconian measures shouldn't have to be taken to prevent thefts, especially at grass roots level, but it is YOUR stuff and therefore YOUR responsibility to make sure it's kept as safe as possible at all times. Even the simple expedient of closing a garage door leading into the paddock can be sufficient to deter any opportunist thief.

[AU N EGL]

Keep your cars, trucks, transports and trailers lock up. It is not that hard to do.

If you leavy anything open your just asking for trouble. Or carry a Glock. I keep one under the seat of my truck. Oh wait. you guys dont have that option. Well you should be able too,

[GORDON STREETER]

I had a mobile phone nicked at Snett at a Toca meeting at night when there was security at all gates, maybe someone on the inside ?
The worse that I have seen was at Oulton when we came back from our race (a few years back) a mate of mine had had his brand new Discovery tow vehicle nicked leaving just the trailer and tyres !
It caused all sorts of grief as he had to get back to the west country and had nothing except his racing overalls on. Worse than that was it wasn't even his Discovery (just borrowed it).
I'm afraid we all get complacent parked up together, but of course we all go out in the race together with the entourage and its easy pickings for these nasty pieces of work. I now lock anything of any value out of sight in the van as most of these thieving b******s want to be quick.
Oulton Park has always been a target as its within easy reach of several major cities.
This isn't something new as another friend had a trailer stolen at the Ring in 1970 now that did cause a few problems !!!

[mark_l]

Maybe the answer is to take someone to the race meeting who is under 16, so can't go in the pitlane and might have nothing else to do whilst the car is on track, to babysit the equipment and vehicles.

[Al Weyman]

Blimey I am going to Oulton next round you have me worried now better take my Bulldog trailer locks.

[GORDON STREETER]

Several years ago a local farmer near me used to fit his electric fence amplifier up to his old Landrover when it was parked in Town.
This worked a treat until a traffic warden tried to stick a ticket on it
He got fined heavily !

[Al Weyman]

An Irish mate of mine also from farming stock and a great shooting enthusiast when he was working (now retired) he had the doors on his van rigged to set off a blank shotgun cartridge if open by a thief. DOn't ask me how he disarmed it as I don't have a clue!

[warweezil]

As ever the problem is one of balance. I am (hopefully) just about to take my first steps into "involvement" with motorsport at the "wrong end of my 40's" having watched it most of my life. What has motivated me now is the ability to get "up close and personal" with the sport at paddock level, as I have recently been able to make several visits a year to a venue rather than a "once in a blue moon trip" I know that getting close to the cars isnt just great for this particular big kid - I took a mate and his 4 lads along to a meeting last year, the kids were blown away by the experience and its important not to lose that "connection".

I agree theft is a problem - but that is true in most walks of life, I feel that creating a sanitised and isolated paddock area (a'la F1) is going to detract from grassroots series in a big way. Speaking with my spectators hat still firmly on my head, whatever measures are taken, they have to be balanced against the need to get the fans feeling involved and welcome, that sense of accessibility is the great strength of club level motorsport, it is important that that is not lost.

Just My Opnion.... YMMV

[Al Weyman]

I agree and every spectator that comes into the paddock and takes a snapshot of my cars (and plenty do for some perculiar reason, must like yanks!) they also in effect take one of my business cards with them so long may it continue, just lock your stuff up more securely is the answer when practical to do so.

[GORDON STREETER]

As most of us tend to park together (not always possible) maybe it would be a good idea to approach someone from another race bunch just to wander about. And then we could reciprocate. This could work in short clubbies and could work in longer races by swapping every 15 mins or so. Just a thought !
A paddock vigilante group is not out of the question and wouldn't take a lot of organising. Anybody could do it, and seeing that most people have mobile phones it could work well.

[pit bull]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Blimey I am going to Oulton next round you have me worried now better take my Bulldog trailer locks.

Lol everyone see's "Pit Bull" on my car and backs away

[pit bull]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

As most of us tend to park together (not always possible) maybe it would be a good idea to approach someone from another race bunch just to wander about. And then we could reciprocate. This could work in short clubbies and could work in longer races by swapping every 15 mins or so. Just a thought !
A paddock vigilante group is not out of the question and wouldn't take a lot of organising. Anybody could do it, and seeing that most people have mobile phones it could work well.

There by lies a problem as a half inteligent chavs, would know that, that area of the paddock area will be void of drivers and teams when they are on circuit, and 9 time out of 10 the other clubbies would be busy working on their cars, a good idea in general tho.
I'm afraid the only real answer is lock away your equipment.

[AU N EGL]

Al make some decals that say

"Protected by Colt"