COVID-19 and the return of autocross?

We are all familiar with COVID-19 and it's effects not only nationally, but also here in the GRM family. In the autocross world, local clubs had all but abandoned the season, host sites were closed up, and many SCCA National Tour and ProSolo events have been postponed or canceled, including the Packwood, WA event. Yesterday everything changed, and not only is Packwood back open for local events (starting 6/27 & 28), but also apparently the National Tour and ProSolo are back on. Seems like great news, no?

Well last weekend (5/30 & 31) a local club held an event in Shelton, WA with social distancing guidelines enforced including mask usage. Seemed like a well run event with minimal issues.

Today the organizer of that club and event emailed everyone that his pregnant wife (who competed at the event) tested positive for COVID-19 with a test taken 6/4. He is attempting to get tested now.

Yesterday I was pumped for racing again and fully intended on attending not only the local events, but also the heavily-participated in National ones. Now I am unsure. This positive test hits really close to home, as they are friends of mine, and I am worried about them, and all of the other competitors.

Thoughts?

I'm having a hard time recognizing the risk factor in autocross. 

Also...

Considering the incubation period, it's unlikely she got it at the event. 

In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :

Check-in, drivers' meeting, novice walks, corner stations, ride-alongs...  Distancing is not insurmountable but I can see plenty of places for propagation. 
 

In reply to Duke :

Those are all easy to manage, and he said it was a well-managed event. 

In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :

Internet says 4-5 days is the median incubation period so it's possible. But unless either they didn't really enforce distancing or that was the only interaction she had with the public in the last two weeks I'd say it's pretty unlikely it came from the event.

I'm fine with local events, and the local event last weekend actually felt more normal than I thought it would. National events concern me a little, but mainly for the travel/lodging aspect of it.

While it may not have likely spread at the event it was good that they notified everyone. The sooner people get checked and if needed isolate the better it is controlled.  I hope they are ok. 

Participants should get medical advice.  (Not from the Internet). 
 

Ive been in that situation (exposed to a person who tested positive), and I'm pretty sure I know what the advice will be. Get tested, and self-quarantine until the test results come back. 
 

If no one at the event got it from her, then congratulations. Job well done!

SVreX (Forum Supporter) said:

I'm having a hard time recognizing the risk factor in autocross. 

Well, she co-drove the car with her husband to start. And he was the event organizer and handled all of the radios, waivers, timing, etc.

In reply to Javelin (Forum Supporter) :

Sounds like a questionable management decision. (Although, her husband is obviously exposed to her regardless). 
 

Radios, waivers, timing, etc can all be disinfected, and distanced. If they weren't, not so good. 

SVreX (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to Javelin (Forum Supporter) :

Sounds like a questionable management decision. (Although, her husband is obviously exposed to her regardless). 
 

Radios, waivers, timing, etc can all be disinfected, and distanced. If they weren't, not so good. 

That is what we did at yesterday's rallycross.  No loaner helmets, no ride alongs,  no non-competitors on site.  No on site registration, online payment only.  When you filled out forms you kept the pen.  (Somehow I have two)  There were enough radios procured that sharing was not necessary, and they were sanitized after use.  Etc.

I feel there would be a much greater chance of exposure at a gas station along the way.

 This thread has me wanting to bring my own radios to our first rx scheduled in July ( if it happens).

My club is debating having an event mid next month if legally able. This is the first year my fmod has good tires on it and I'm stupid excited to run it...

That said, my son has asthma and my wife is pregnant with number 2.  Had already decided I'm not going for the foreseeable future. At least not with the way things are right now. 

I'd go on about how much it sucks, but #1stworldproblems.  Wife and I are both working from home, actually been saving money through this. Lots of people worse off health/money wise. So instead of lamenting, I'm just going to try to be happy with what I got.

Jav, call your doctor for advice. See if they will test you in your area under your circumstances. Follow docs advice, which will probably have you self quarantining for awhile. Hope you stay healthy.

Kind of moot for me.  AFAIK, neither club I usually run with has scheduled any events.  I'm pretty much writing this season off.

This is the concern I have for the car parts Swap Meet that is Pending for next weekend , 

1000+ random  people mostly men  in groups of 2-3  roaming around for an hour or 2 ,  pretty hard to keep 6 foot distance for the buyers walking down the rows ( One-way would help)  ,  and  same problem with the sellers (hopefully) grabbing money  when they sell stuff ......at least its outside

At least with autocross you have a limited number of people and crew , 

Anyone  been to a large swap meet lately ?

Just going down the street to the supermarket you're far more vulnerable than at a motorsport event, in my opinion. So, if you're one of those who are doing a "full" quarantine at home until TBD time for one reason or anther, then obviously you're not going to break that to go autocross anyhow..

If you're not doing "full" quarantine (i.e. you're going to work, or going to the store, or whatever), I don't see how going to an autocross would statistically increase your risk - provided things are done correctly. There's already pretty limited close-contact with other people at motorsports (unless you're sharing a car).  Bring your own safety vest (at our RX, most people just wear a bright-colored shirt rather than a vest).....bring your own PTT radio (or some clorox wipes).....bring your own helmet......spread out in the driver's meeting and don't all crowd around the timing display like we all usually do :)  And don't take riders. 

It really shouldn't be all that hard to mitigate risk at motorsport compared to pretty much anyplace else you might go. 

In reply to irish44j (Forum Supporter) :

Especially when there are only 22 entrants at the rallycross.  Hey, at least we didn't have to worry about having too many corner workers per station.

Here's the thing... autocross is completely in our control. Bigger events like a swap meet may not be. 
 

We really need to take personal responsibility for our own safety. Bring wipes. Wear a mask. Don't share helmets. Wipe down the radio with a disinfectant. Don't stand too close to others. 

Even a poorly run event can be controlled by the participants. 
 

It shouldn't have to be the sole responsibility of the event sponsors to keep us safe. We can (and should) do it ourselves.

I just can't see what is inherently dangerous about riding around in a parking lot by yourself in your own car. 

My club had a great day today.

 Limit 50 cars, online payment only, sanitized radios between users, no ride along, no spectators, no loaner helmets, bring or buy safety vest from club bring your signed waiver or sign on site with own pen, bring own tp, lots of sanitizer provided, everyone kept physical distance, wifi results so no visiting at timer station.

I think it was pretty safe.  Safer than the Tim's drive thru or ice cream truck afterward.

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

In reply to irish44j (Forum Supporter) :

Especially when there are only 22 entrants at the rallycross.  Hey, at least we didn't have to worry about having too many corner workers per station.

 

we usually have 60-70, so a bit more crowded.

then again, DC autocross usually has like 250 entries.....

In reply to irish44j (Forum Supporter) :

Sounds like OVR autocross.  It's nuts.

Meanwhile, my class was literally 50% national champions and I won by a margin of 16 seconds over 300 seconds of competition.  (I had my ass handed to me on raw times,  but I hit 3 cones all day instead of all of them)

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

In reply to irish44j (Forum Supporter) :

Sounds like OVR autocross.  It's nuts.

 

Meanwhile, my class was literally 50% national champions and I won by a margin of 16 seconds over 300 seconds of competition.  (I had my ass handed to me on raw times,  but I hit 3 cones all day instead of all of them)

based on my experience with your national champions from Ohio, yeah....they love to hit all the conez lol.

In reply to irish44j (Forum Supporter) :

I'm with SVreX on this one. Watching out for yourself is fairly easy. Keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you at all times and use it frequently. Keep to yourself. Wear your mask. 

Even if everyone uses the same pen and radio, if you take responsibility to keep your hands sanitized, it's not a issue. COVID 19 is not very robust and a simple wipe down with a disinfectant will destroy the fatty layer that surrounds it. A few precautions is all it takes to defeat it. Be conscious of what you touch and what you do after you touch it. 

Personally, I'm not willing to wear a mask all day for a couple of minutes of driving to make other people feel safe. So this year is done as far as I'm concerned. I'm going to do some camping instead.

Toyman01 (Generally Supportive Dude) said:

I'm with SVreX on this one. Watching out for yourself is fairly easy. Keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you at all times and use it frequently. Keep to yourself. Wear your mask. 

Even if everyone uses the same pen and radio, if you take responsibility to keep your hands sanitized, it's not a issue. COVID 19 is not very robust and a simple wipe down with a disinfectant will destroy the fatty layer that surrounds it. A few precautions is all it takes to defeat it. Be conscious of what you touch and what you do after you touch it. 

Personally, I'm not willing to wear a mask all day for a couple of minutes of driving to make other people feel safe. So this year is done as far as I'm concerned. I'm going to do some camping instead.

with all the dust at our venues, half the people have been wearing masks for years while working the course lol..Keeps me from blowing dirt out of my nose for 2 days after the event.....pre-COVID