In light of the events of Chump Race in Daytona some questions has arisen about the need for a review of driver safety. (For the Daytona story look below). This particular review is about the need for additional drivers nets in either of the cars.
In response to the 4 car wrench at Daytona, yes, this is tough, and is some of the risks of running at the speeds we do. I would think twice about running at Daytona or a track like it (Fontana) with the speeds they would allow us to run. I am not at all comfortable about the similar speeds on I-5 at Buttonwillow. The only saving grace for me there are two. We don't run to the end, so there is runoff that can be used and, if you go off-roading a roll (aka Krider Racing) is likely but at least it is not into a wall like a Daytona or Fontana.
As for Nets, that is a good question. If anyone thinks we need them, I will not questions it and have them added. My quick thought is this; while driving the D we are required to wear arm restraints and 5 point harness. The purpose of those restraints is to keep the arms in the car in case an excursion occurs. For an inverted excursion the harness and restraints should keep you in. As for a side tumble, again the harness and restraints should keep you in, but possibly less so with the left arm.
As for the Z, Lugnut was right and we reinstalled the driver side net to keep the body parts in. This is unlike our first run with the Z (See phones below). Upon review that was a really good call and happy about the door net in the Z.
Team,
Maybe we want to use window and center nets in both cars....
Torch
Torch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV_-FVlj87w
ChumpCar Official:
Meanwhile, the 4-car accident happened just out of NASCAR 4, entering the Tri-Oval. Again, I was in the tower and was evaluating track conditions. It had started to rain (the first rain of the day) -- light at first, then we had a downpower. In the midst of the deluge, one car lost control and started to spin down the middle of the track. The Flying Tiger Miata hit the brakes (hard) to avoid the spinning car, which sent the Miata spinning on the wet track. (NOTE - this is the fastest part of the entire race track.) With both cars spinning, the GT30 Mitsu of Jacky Ickx Racing hit the brakes, which sent that car spinning in a collision course with the Miata. The Miata had completed about 4-5 360-degree spins and was just about to come to a stop when the GT30, now spinning wildly, slammed into the Miata broadside. It was a hard, hard hit -- one the hardest I've seen in a long, long time. A fourth car was also involved, braking hard to avoid the carnage, spinning and hitting the outside wall. The race was red-flagged while we dispatched three ambulances, 3 fire rescue trucks and a host of other emergency vehicles. The DIS Safety Team is -- without question or debate -- the very best in the business.
Keith (GT30) banged his leg-up pretty badly. I have not spoken with him but I understand he went back the hotel to rest and is doing alright. (NOTE - thanx to Evilwheel, team member of GT30 Jacky Ickx for correcting me on the driver. Evilwheel reports that he has not spoken with Keith yet.)
The Miata driver broke two ribs (neither a serious fracture) and was back at the track a few hours later to watch his teammates load the wreckage into their trailer. He was in great spirits, joking and laughing -- albeit, not too hard, as I'm sure each laugh hurt. He said to me, "I don't remember too much... but I'll be at Sebring!"
From the Flying Tigers Team:
I have a couple of suggestions for everyone as a result of the crash Flying Tigers had at Daytona on Sunday:
1. We installed a center saftey net in our Miata. In the video of the crash, you can see the drivers head hit and bounce off the net. Without it, his head would have traveled much further, and this might have caused him serious injury. We highly recommend a center safety net.
2. A good 15 minutes passed after the actual crash before we knew anything was wrong. We thought, or should I say hoped, that Evan was sitting on the track with the master off. We learned he was involved when another competitor came and told us. I know that getting the driver out safely takes precedent over everything else, and would have it no other way, but a system to let a team know when there is an issue would be a great enhancement.
As a stop gap measure, we are going to put the name and phone number of our team captain on every helmet. The Daytona represenative at the hospital was trying to get a number to call, and of course Evan did not know any of our numbers by memory.
ChumpCar Official:
Meanwhile, the 4-car accident happened just out of NASCAR 4, entering the Tri-Oval. Again, I was in the tower and was evaluating track conditions. It had started to rain (the first rain of the day) -- light at first, then we had a downpower. In the midst of the deluge, one car lost control and started to spin down the middle of the track. The Flying Tiger Miata hit the brakes (hard) to avoid the spinning car, which sent the Miata spinning on the wet track. (NOTE - this is the fastest part of the entire race track.) With both cars spinning, the GT30 Mitsu of Jacky Ickx Racing hit the brakes, which sent that car spinning in a collision course with the Miata. The Miata had completed about 4-5 360-degree spins and was just about to come to a stop when the GT30, now spinning wildly, slammed into the Miata broadside. It was a hard, hard hit -- one the hardest I've seen in a long, long time. A fourth car was also involved, braking hard to avoid the carnage, spinning and hitting the outside wall. The race was red-flagged while we dispatched three ambulances, 3 fire rescue trucks and a host of other emergency vehicles. The DIS Safety Team is -- without question or debate -- the very best in the business.
Keith (GT30) banged his leg-up pretty badly. I have not spoken with him but I understand he went back the hotel to rest and is doing alright. (NOTE - thanx to Evilwheel, team member of GT30 Jacky Ickx for correcting me on the driver. Evilwheel reports that he has not spoken with Keith yet.)
The Miata driver broke two ribs (neither a serious fracture) and was back at the track a few hours later to watch his teammates load the wreckage into their trailer. He was in great spirits, joking and laughing -- albeit, not too hard, as I'm sure each laugh hurt. He said to me, "I don't remember too much... but I'll be at Sebring!"
From the Flying Tigers Team:
I have a couple of suggestions for everyone as a result of the crash Flying Tigers had at Daytona on Sunday:
1. We installed a center saftey net in our Miata. In the video of the crash, you can see the drivers head hit and bounce off the net. Without it, his head would have traveled much further, and this might have caused him serious injury. We highly recommend a center safety net.
2. A good 15 minutes passed after the actual crash before we knew anything was wrong. We thought, or should I say hoped, that Evan was sitting on the track with the master off. We learned he was involved when another competitor came and told us. I know that getting the driver out safely takes precedent over everything else, and would have it no other way, but a system to let a team know when there is an issue would be a great enhancement.
As a stop gap measure, we are going to put the name and phone number of our team captain on every helmet. The Daytona represenative at the hospital was trying to get a number to call, and of course Evan did not know any of our numbers by memory.
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