How do you stay safe at the drags, olds and all the other high traffic places?

Me personally, i just stay away from them. I go to Glamis to ride, and I'd rather be out in the dunes.

But for all of you people that do hang out there, what tips do you have for everyone else, to stay safe when hanging out at those places?

I know it's best not to hang on the east side of the drags, unless you like eating dust!!!

Any other suggestions?? Thanks in advance for the tips!!

When I go to the drags I always stay near the start area. I dont trust the idiots going 100mph past me. I think the people who watch at the end are crazy!

at the drags, I try and stand next to a big truck. that way I can duck out of the way when the shiat hits the fan.
Most of the time though we dune during the drags.

Drags
* Park on Westside
* Park near starting point
* Stay a row back from front line
* Always look at whats comming towards you
* Cross from one side to the other Well before the Staging/Start side...not the end or anywhere near it.
* Never-ever cross the drags themselves

when I am in Glamis, I usually bypass the drags unless someone REALLY wants to go and I take them there in the buggy. Like flashpoint said, if I cant get within the first 100 feet of the drags, I dont stop.

I bypass Olds all together when its busy, and the very most I may cruise by on the far east edge of the valley, but there is no way I am driving or riding through the "alleys"

I just think its way more fun to go dunin when all the people are at the hill or drags. Way less crowded and way less chances of getting into an accident where people are not.

I stand at the end, right in the middle and drop a checkered flag for everyone

Everyone has to visit the Drags at least once... just for the experience. Olds is a neat place to visit... we tend to spend our time at the jump by olds to see the crazy people jumping! I have never felt 'in danger' while in Glamis... came close at the Drags but nothing ever happened!

In some cases, that may be THE safest place.....lol

I go duning,
but I also go to the drags, olds, canal, Boardmanville, vendors, the store, the storage place, other camps, deep washes, gecko loop, sweet maries, Brawley Slide, Lizard hill, Competition hill, and China wall.

If you want to be safe, just keep movin...

Defensive driving at all times. I act like everyone around me is an idiot, and I have to react before they do. Have been pretty lucky so far. If bike, quad, truck, rhino, etc cuts in front of me in the drags, I let up and run her again. Olds, we saty way in the back and just watch the circus. It's very fun to people/buggy watch.

I stay at camp and play with my Girls...

We usually hit long dune runs with our crowd but we do show up at all the dangerous spots to race. We stay there our good 1/2 hour then jam outta there..

Just keep doing what you are doing and stay safe..............

X2

Like others have said, west side so you don't have to stare at the sun and around the beginning somewhere. I usually leave my helmet on unless I am behind a truck where I can dive for cover, and I am always looking south. I try to stay next to my wife, so I can yank her with me, and I always make sure there's and exit path.

At olds, when its busy, I don't go up, and I sit back pretty far in the rows. Olds is generally pretty safe unless you're on the hill.

I stay away from Sand Highway, cuz there's always that kid in a Ranger who thinks he's the next Robbie Gordon and he's not looking for you. I also try to stay on the ridgelines in the dunes unless I have a nice peek before dropping into a bowl. I'm always looking 3 dunes ahead for the other guy.

Last tip I always tell newbies...if you get lost, ride into the sunset and when you hit the canal or gecko, go north. You'll find the Ranger station.

Haven't been to the drags in a few years, like almost everyone has said I try to stay at the beginning, even if it's a few rows deep.
Olds? I might cruise over just to spectate and I stay in the way back.

Otherwise when thos two places are crowded it's a perfect time to be in the dunes.
BTW you should see olds in the summer! Absolutely amazing

When I first started to go to glamis I thought the drags were awesome now I realize it's the best time hit the dunes!

Great stuff people. Thanks!

Well looks like I'm the hillracer here. Basically defensive driving will do most for keeping you safe. Glamis drags are crazy and I haven't been there for years. Stay towards the start, try and have a truck to dive along side incase of danger, and always keep a eye on what's going on. At the hill basically I race alot. Always look up and see who and what is racing infront of you and coming back down. MAIN RULE : ALWAYS LOOK AHEAD ! ! ! ! Don't worry about how much your winning or losing by. If you don't see him you are ahead. Looking back = accident waiting to happen. Only real line from Fast and Furious... "doesn't matter whether a inch or a mile, win is a win". I always look quick before I turn incase a rail or quad is coming up on me. Just have to use your head and if it's risky and gettin too crazy take a break and watch.

We just dont go.......prefer to dune and then sit up on a ridge overlooking the dunes and toast the sunset while watching the madness and dustbowl unfold from a safe distance.

There's drags out there? There's other hills besides China?

you gotta go to olds... its fun to talk S*** to your friends and then race them up the hill..

i dont go up olds unless theres only a few ppl on the hill at that moment, otherwise no, and a big hell no if theres buggies on the hill

Half the fun for me is watching all the kool cars, bikes, trucks....etcc..
I usually am looking for my "bitch"... the guy you JUST KNOW is going to stuff his rail...
I don't park at the end and I always park near a truck/jeep/group of rails.
It's a rare day that you hear about someone getting taken out as a bystander.
I really find it odd about all the haters. I bet 90% drag race/love to drag race but for some odd reason it just isn't "cool" here....

You don't go on busy weekends so you have nothing to worry about. We don't goto the drags anyway. The popo might decide my flag is the wrong color red.

for me the drags i try to stay towards the start or hang back a bit. olds is pretty much a place to meet up with peple you know that camp in other areas of glamis.

keep on hitting the dunes and u will stay away from trouble

those aren't the places that scare me. it is sand highway. Almost every close call I have had has been on sand highway. I avoid it other than in an emergency (limping or towing something back to camp)

I got yelled at there once. Scary. I think the Drags are safer than the store.

Easy for us... usually go out where there's no traffic. Or better yet, we make the best of our three 10 day trips every year and dune when there's little to NOBODY around. That's duning at it's best!

Can't think of a better way to burn up vacation time baby

Three 10 day trips?



Pfffft. Try 38 days straight.

purty sad when you gotta plan for your safety on your vacation trip

personally, i dont care much for vacations where there is no danger involved! maybe when im 80, and sittin on a the deck of a cruse ship, i wont worry about such things.

shhhht... can't afford to do it that way bro



True for me too, but not for the wifey and boy. They are not comfortable when there's a gazillion people everywhere. I'll ride whenever, wherever

Not to pee in anyones Cherrios,, but ... complacency = CATASTROPHE waiting to happen.

I'm a veteran of a 1/2 a dozen dangerous sports and hobbies, 150+MPH drag racing, flying, working around Cat 797B 400ton haul trucks, and marriage just to name a few. I am new to the dunes but safety always boils down to one thing.

NEVER LET YOUR GUARD DOWN When you think your the only one out there, or think" I've done this a million times" is when people get hurt. Dont let the last think you think be

Pretty Accurate Marv D - Welcome to

I enjoy the drags for the competition and getting the chance to meet and talk to fellow duners, but i always seem to get really stressed out because it seems there is alot of unwatched children that i feel im keeping a eye on. Last year there was 3 children between the ages of (4-8) playing in the sand pretty much on the drags.. there was nothing shielding them in the event of a crash or someone losing control. I decided to leave because i could no longer stand watching that.

Awesome thread,I just found out where to meet all the GD peeps!At the drags,west side,at the start,behind a truck!

X2, and I stay back a few extra feet.

X2, and I stay back a few extra feet.

We shoot off rockets and light a fire and watch the sunset or make a quick trip to China Wall with the kiddos. Olds isn't bad if you stay off the hill and look left and right.