PLNewman

Interesting that the next Wanna Go Fast event is right down the street from me at John Travolta's private airport near Ocala, FL. The event is SOLD OUT (150 Cars) "$275/DAY OR $500/WEEKEND" includes "Unlimited Runs" and "Free Lunch." (How can it be FREE when you pay $275 a day?) Spectators are $30 each. Pit crew are $50 each.
https://wannagofast.com/product/florida-2018-driver/

Safety Equipment? "All drivers will be required to wear SA2010+ helmets."

stownsen914

That's nuts. I figured there would be a hiatus at least.

Then again, lots of people think we're nuts for driving on race tracks ...

stownsen914

Out of curiosity, I went to look at their tech form. Good they have one at least, I guess. 5 and 6 point belts are optional, with no specification for racing seats. Also, convertibles can run without a rollbar.

They do things fast n loose there, apparently.

nxfedlt1

Despite the lack of vehicle safety devices, what really bothers me is the venues. When I ran it, the "paddock" area was along side the finish line, with no barrier between you, and cars at 180+ moving by. Some of my family came out, and I threw a fit about where they could and couldnt walk around because I was too worried about a car launching into the crowd with nothing to protect them.

Veloce Raptor

Darwin was an optimist...

Coochas

One thing I'm sure of with this outfit is that history will repeat itself.
This stuff just seems nuts to me.

stownsen914

Reminds me of this well thought out staging arrangement that apparently took place at Pocono a number of years ago. Cars staged next to a short straight on the infield portion of the course, car lost control on track and plowed into a staged car (with driver in it), almost taking out the pit out guy ... Action starts just after 2:30 in the video.

Coochas

mbean

Gotta love the hoody on the guy waiting to go out, and the guy standing on the exposed side of the car that got hit! Just what I want when I'm driving: something flopping around in my peripheral vision and someone to hit if I go off! I've never seen anything this lax in the groups I run with, thankfully. Kind of reminds me of a non-PCA autocross "school" a few years ago where course workers were setting up cones as Vettes were spinning out of control towards them. Won't go back with that "school" again.

okie981

That's good. I'm going to use it.

K964

Veloce Raptor

Holy crap

NaroEscape

Not much to add here regarding opinions and theory - it won't undo what happened. No one can say for certain if more safety gear would have saved him. We just don't know. But it certainly wouldn't have hurt. Unfortunately it seems that the only way we ever learn is once a tragedy happens. But also unfortunately, I see way too many organizations sacrifice safety for 'ease of entry' to keep the numbers up. In theory, I get it - tough to tell a newbie that they need to spend thousands to modify their car (cage/seats/harness/etc) and thousands in extra drivers gear to go out and have fun in something they may do once every year or so. But there needs to be a compromise...somewhere...

SCCA has their Track Night In America and their new National Time Trial program - no instructors, no safety equipment required except helmet. I cringe each time I attend one (as a vendor hoping to explain to people they should get SOME safety equipment). I watch guys who have never been on a track before in brand new Roush Mustangs, Camaro ZL1 or Corvette ZO6's bragging about top speeds, most of which are way higher than my race car...wearing t-shirts and jeans.

I have to admit - years ago I was in that boat: helmet, jeans, long sleeve shirts (PCA Requirement). But our car had race seats/harnesses and a full cage so I felt 'safe'. Then I saw a friends car catch fire in a wreck. Then an instructor friend got killed. Then another fire... Now I wear full gear anytime I'm on track. Honestly...this is actually one of the reasons we started the company. We both LOVE track stuff and racing. But we all want to see our friends and fellow participants come home safely. What we do is inherently dangerous. We owe it to ourselves, our families, our friends and to our fellow track junkies to do our best to be safe. Stuff happens. But cars can be replaced...people can't.

Philement

85Gold