FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: How many riders will it take to get hurt before they fix the curb at VIR? I was one of the fortunate to find the curb in Turn 10 last year. Busted my knee wide open,no big deal, some stitches and I’ll be fixed up in no time. Wrong, on the table I went Two months of laying up and rehab. Insurance bill was $15,000 and my out of pocket was $4500. Next day same turn same injury to another rider (CCS/USGPRU weekend). I was shaking my head when I heard about DiSalvo’s same incident the AMA weekend three weeks later. Now another knee bites the dust. Unreal. Steve Wenner Pompano Beach, Florida FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: VIR Knee-buster: I hit my left knee on the left hand gators going down the roller coaster and cut my leathers and my knee open during FX qualifying in 2004. It has been two years and the scar is still visible. Pretty much the same place as DiSalvo I believe. The problem is if you get close enough (as you should be) to the apex, your knee will be over the gator (inside) portion of the curbing. It is going to permanently injure someone one day, I think. Dafan Zhang Upper Darby, Pennsylvania This just in from VIR: FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: I saw Frank Pate’s posting about curbs at VIR and wanted to respond. After Jason DiSalvo’s brush with the curb at VIR during the 2005 Superbike event, we redesigned and rebuilt the curb where Frank’s rider hit his knee this past weekend. After hearing of this latest incident, we will take another close look at the curbs. Coincidentally, we have the AMA Superbikes testing at VIR this week in preparation for the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals August 18-20, and I just toured the track with several riders and came away with several ideas for track improvements. We always want to hear from our participants at VIR. Contrary to what Frank said, this is not a money issue and our goal at VIR is keep our participants (in both cars and bikes) as safe as practicable, recognizing that racing does have some inherent dangers. Josh Lief General Manager & Counsel VIRginia International Raceway Alton, Virginia