shiners780

Do you guys want to be able to wear shorter skirts too? Just asking.

Tedster

I agree with the concept of the graduated requirements. The newbys should be able to wear long sleeves and long pants. Advanced groups which typically run at club racing speeds should require fire suits and Hans. Intermediate however would be the tough one. I have seen more crashes in the intermediate groups than in expert and beginner groups. Never seen a fire yet and hope to never do so, however there are plenty of cases where they started after crashes no worse than many I have seen at DE events.

I do have a question though, is the tradeoff to require windows closed (risking broken glass?) worse than the option to run with air conditioning? Our cars all use tempered glass.

CCA

I wear my race suit in my car. However, when instructing, I often don't wear it in my students car. This largely depends on the students level and how much I feel they are getting out of themselves and the car, and if the car is street or track prepped. This said, bad things can happen in a DE just as they can in a race. I've had a students car rupture a fuel line and soak my back in gasoline during a DE. Even nomex is not very good when soaked in gas.

VERBOTN

^Real world story. I was instructing a dude in 993 twin-t and having good time. Stock car no mods and I kept asking how are your brakes "OK"........then going into T-7 at Sebring at +127mph: "I haved no brakes" I was able to throtle the e-brake to slow us down enough so we did not crash into the wall. Chest heaving I looked at the corner worker and he was holding fire bottle over his head. I told my guy to get the f&ck out when asked why I said we are on FIRE. Things happen at the track be prepared and be vigilant.

It all sorted out OK but I was glad I was wearing my bunny suit.

SAM DACOSTA

Accidents happen and when we're racing or participating in a DE/TT, even to a lesser extent Auto X, we need to be diligent with ourselves and aware of others. A detached fuel line will cause serious consequences when the fuel touches a hot exhaust.

This video says it all;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIatXMiyZ6w

333pg333

Really surprised that in such a litigious country as the US that you're allowed to run without complete coverage top to toe?

ervtx

Windows need to be open at a DE in order to communicate w hand signals to corner workers and other drivers. In Texas you would get black flagged for having a window up.

IMO, running around with the windows up and the AC on would further remove the driver from appreciating the reality of extreme temperatures just a few feet away (rotors, exhaust, engine, etc.).

Flying Finn

Yeah smartass, buying a $10 long sleeve shirt and $30 pants is the same as buying $8000 worth of safety equipment...

And yes, long sleeve pants and shirt are safer, I don't thing there's any doubt about that.

todinlaw

I would never criticize anyone for the decisions they make to protect them self. Running a DE has different considerations, at least from the marketing, and sponsoring point of view. We don't want to raise to much of a barrier for participants, some people still borrow our helmets. I am reluctant to jump into a students car with my full fire suit on and hutchens Hybrid on. That could be a bit intimidating. Also it may be a comfort zone issue for me, the DE environment is so much more subdue as compared to the race environment, I just feel like I am OK without my fire suit. Most student cars I can get out of quick and we are generally not going at a speed that I don't condone anyway. Not to say that I have total control, but I feel like I have significant control over the situation.

SAM DACOSTA

I saw this today on 'the other forum' and immediately thought of this thread and our previous discussions. There's no details surrounding this picture, but it's worth a 1,000 words. Fires are unpredictable, especially when on a track and the level of safety items used can sometimes mean the difference of walking away or .....

Bob Rouleau

Well we did it. Today was hot and we went short sleeves to the relief of all. The DE was incident free. IMO, guys with race cars with a cage should wear fire resistent clothing. It can take time to extract yourself especially when wearing a HANS. Street cars, heck, open the door an get out. That being said my race car has a full fire suppression system including nozzles which will soak me. We plan to keep doing short sleeves when the weather calls for it.

Gary R.

But Bob, I bet you didn't check for "Truck driver's sunburn". I bet those short sleeved drivers were suffering at the bar later!

RickBetterley

Says the guy that had to clamber out of my cage!
Great event, Bob - you and your team always give us a great time (and thanks for riding with me).
Short sleeves felt odd, but I think people liked the option.

early_grayce

Loved the short sleeves, minus the left arm burn.
Thanks Bob, great idea to have the option.

+1 on another great event with perfect weather.

Dwane

+2
I lucked out and had Rick as my instructor!
Dwane