LuigiVampa

The PCA medical committee revoked my race license because I felt that their request for me to verify treatment for sleep apnea went beyond what PCA’s minimum standards require.

In my last PCA medical evaluation form I disclosed that I have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine. I have been using a CPAP machine for several years now, and through an omission, I did not disclose it on my last medical evaluation. That mistake is not the issue.

Even though I had a year left on my existing medical, when I got a new physical in January I thought I would send in a new medical form to get extended for another two years. When PCA saw that I disclosed the use of a CPAP machine, they asked me for more information, which I initially complied with.

The machine I had been using was recently recalled. I forwarded to PCA a receipt showing the recent purchase of a home CPAP and travel CPA, for a total of $2,300. Since the CPAP device was brand new I provided three days’ worth of data from my phone app. PCA said they wanted more information (without specifying what they wanted), so I asked to be put in touch with the medical committee.

Dr. Harry Kintzi, who is the chair of the medical committee, called and told me that the PCA medical committee uses the DOT standard for truck drivers with sleep apnea, and I had to provide much more data from my CPAP device. He said that I was at risk of falling asleep while driving my race car which, barring some things my brother-in-law has said over the years, is probably the most ridiculous statements I have ever heard in my life.

I pushed back in an email and told the medical committee that there was zero correlation between a truck driver sitting sedentary for hours, and a race car driver with an elevated heart rate and adrenalin pumping through their veins. The response I received back from the medical committee was as follows:

“Your analogy with truck drivers is understood. However, a poor night’s sleep with underlying OSA, worries of competing, concerns with race car issues, etc. etc. can take a toll on a racer and poor judgments can be turn into a bad day at best and disaster at worst. It is the consensus of the medical committee that you provide us evidence of compliance with your CPAP regimen prior to being medically approved to continue in PCA Club Racing.”

1. To my knowledge, PCA does not verify treatment of medical conditions. While the medical committee may ask for additional tests, they do not verify treatment. They do not ask for proof if drivers who are diabetic are taking their insulin; drivers with high blood pressure are taking their medicine; or any other medical condition. For the benign medical condition of sleep apnea they want proof of treatment.

2. There are a million different reasons why a driver could be tired, and sleep apnea is only one of them. Should PCA enforce a curfew? How is me being tired from sleep apnea, if I don’t use my CPAP device, any different than the driver who stays out late drinking the day before a race?

3. Providing data from a CPAP machine is only historical. I can use a CPAP device for months, but if I fail to use it the day before a race, I will be tired the next day. There is no cumulative benefit from using a CPAP device and thus the data is only historical. Providing past data does not make anyone safer.

4. I was advised that I could get a letter from my doctor saying that I am in compliance. I responded that my doctor is not in my bedroom at night and he has already signed the medical certification disclosing the use of a CPAP device and that I was clear to race. What would another letter accomplish?

5. To this the medical committee replied, “We understand the rigors and requirements of racing much more than most family doctors as most of us have raced or continue to race.” One of my doctors is a doctor for the US Olympic Track Team so I am pretty sure he understands the rigors of an endurance sport. The medical committee is taking the small amount of information contained in a two-page form and substituting their judgment for the judgment of my doctor, who has known me for many years.

6. If the medical committee has no faith in our doctors than why are we required to submit to a physical every year or two?

7. I have asked repeatedly for the PCA minimum standard that requires this additional information, or even a hint of a medial reason that has some correlation to racing (and not truck drivers), and PCA has not responded.

8. Why would I spend $2,300 on two new machines, just last month, if I was not complying with treatment for sleep apnea? Why wasn't three days worth of data showing that I use the machine enough? Why have I never been told what they want?

The irony is that I disclosed a serious, but unrelated medical condition, ever since I started racing ten years ago. If the medical committee had asked me for copies of an MRI, or other treatment information related to this condition, I would absolutely have turned it over because it would be relevant to my ability to drive. They have never asked me a single question about this, but for sleep apnea, they want more information!

Many of my friends have said “you’re right but why don’t you just give them the information?” The problem is that I am not wired that way. I do not have to agree with a rule in order to see its value, but a requirement in the name of safety needs to yield a safer result in order to be of value. Providing proof of past use of a CPAP machine does NOTHING to prove compliance in the future. Accordingly, I find it impossible to submit to their requirement.

I’m currently a PCA instructor, CVR assistant track chair, a club racer, and my company is the trophy sponsor for the LRP race this year. I was registered to race my 911CUP and GTC6 in two weeks. My registration is cancelled and the race will be out $1,600 in revenue.

I have no doubt PCA will not implode, nor will there be mass resignations, but they won’t get my money or my support. In another bit of irony, I sent my PCA medical evaluation form to IGT and SVRA and my licenses have both been renewed.

I’ll miss my PCA friends, but I won’t support an organization that won’t support me. It’s a personal choice, and I am sure some people will feel I am being petty, but I have never been big on bending the knee to bureaucrats. As has been discussed in another thread recently, there are many options to drive elsewhere, so I will just increase my days with IGT, SVRA, AER and Champ Car.



TL;DR – The PCA medical committee can require that you to submit to any request, even if it is not based on medically sound reasoning, and if you don’t comply they will revoke your race license.

ProCoach

That is simply absurd.

I haven't seen this happen in dozens of different clubs (most of which have Regional, Divisional and National MD's to review) over tens of thousands of drivers in the thirty-five years I have been part of issuing novice credentials and comp licenses for a variety of different, national organizations.

Point #1

Enough said.

sbelles

Surely there's a way to resolve this without walking away. Many of us have medical issues that could cause a bad nights sleep. I agree that unless you have narcolepsy or similar disorders or maybe if you are racing a Yugo, it would be tough to fall asleep while racing but I can see wanting to ensure that people are receiving appropriate treatment for some conditions that could effect a racers fitness. Just not sure it's that applicable in this case.

Nowanker

I feel your pain.
Pisses me off when some petty-*** bureaucrat takes some half baked idea and decides it's the LAW.

There's the current thread about club racing participation being down.
Add one more item to list of drawbacks: The bullsh*t factor.

I don't race with the PCA, so I'm not intimately familiar with their structure, but I did race with the BMWCCA for several years.
I filled out all their forms, and met all their many requirements for a race license, and in a timely manner for an upcoming race.
It wasn't 'good enough'... They had a few more hurdles they wanted me to jump through, and were thereby unable to grant it in time.
At which point I said, out loud... "F*CK THOSE GUYS! I'll go race with NASA."
I doubt my absence effected them, but it made me feel better.

ExMB

Sorry to hear that. Did you tell'em you weren't racing anyway. Link

LuigiVampa

I can bend the knee to the medical committee.

Without saying too much, there were a few people high up in PCA who appeared to support me, but none would go against the medical committee. It is maddening!

First time I have laughed in the last few days!

Kitc2246

American's with Disability Act

Carlo_Carrera

Crazy, I feel for you dude. Bureaucracy at its worst.

As Nowaker wrote, yet another reason PCA is losing racers and DE drivers.

De Jeeper

Shouldnt u have just posted this here?

https://rennlist.com/forums/racing-a...ing-lower.html

Nizer

Nobody likes Cup car drivers. I thought you of all people would know that.

MSR Racer

This is very unfortunate. As a physician albeit not a pulmonologist, I am a little puzzled with the decision. For one thing I know for a fact that many PCA club racers submit sham History and Physicals (don’t ask me how I know!). On the other hand, the problem with “medical bureaucracy” is that either you “submit” fully or not at all. I wish you had shammed your medical just like many others. After all, there is no independent medical exam like in IMSA for instance. If your personal doctor “cleared” you to race, that’s good enough for me.

Matt Romanowski

This is completely absurd that they are running you through this ringer. I've watched guys take 20 minutes to get out of a car after a race and need help, yet they get to keep going out. I can't tell you how many diabetics are on track and pose a real threat to other racers. I wouldn't worry about the 1/3 of the field that has a cpap, I would worry about the 1/3 that needs one and doesn't have one! Sorry you're dealing with this BS.

Maybe Driver8 who reads Rennlist and occasionally comments can pipe in. He is one of the people that has the ability to put an end to this the right way.

Cyclman

Absolutely absurd, but not worth giving up your joy in life to “take a stand”. Bureaucrats always win, not worth fighting.

mthreat

Wow this reminds me of FAA pilot medical crap. But even the FAA allows sleep apnea - although there are some specific criteria. It's called the Berlin questionnaire I wonder if showing that you meet the FAA standard would help - surely if it's good enough for an airline pilot, it's good enough for a driver. If you're interested, message me and I can send you contact info for an aeromedical doctor that specializes in cases like this (for pilots).

It sounds like PCA's behavior will encourage lying.

Difool

So we are long-haul truckers now. Got it.