Tweet
Kelly and Stan, I feel for you having to explain or defend some of this all by yourself so don't take my comments as going after you in any way.
1. First and foremost in my opinion mandatory safety rules should only be for protecting people that could be affected that weren't the cause of said problem like pit crew members, fans, and etc.
A. Take for example eye protection while driving, not having any could cause the driver to get something in his eye and crash into another competitor or go into the stands. Things like this I don't think anyone can disagree with needs to me mandatory.
B. However you could argue about a fire suit (Hang on and least listen to this and keep an open mind). Not having a fire suit, shouldn't result in anything happening during a race that would cause the driver to put other people at harm by not wearing one, only himself. Now doing so would be extremely stupid on any drivers part, but has no effect (for the most part) on any one else there at the races and the risk is all on said driver.
C. So in my opinion mandatory stuff should be about everyone else's safety, but the things that only effect the one person/driver should be their choice and therefore not mandatory. Obviously you have to balance this with insurance requirements for the tracks, but we all know this can be a dangerous sport.
D. Show me data, that does definitively shows that a full containment seat lessens the change of injury? And if it does show me where it doesn’t increase the chance of concussions? #Note: I do believe they are way way better, but I only staying in a holiday inn so what do I know as I have no data to support it one way or the other. Shouldn’t that decision be left to the person in the car as to what is best for him?
I can see the wheel covers as that will effect people other then the driver, but many of these other things you have to stretch pretty far in circumstance before you are risking others safety. Now a guy could argue the fuel cell to some degree because in a wreck the other cars involved could burn do to someone’s unsafe fuel cell. However I can't recall ever when someone else was burned do to a fire that came from someone fuel cell other then their own.
I think what we need more then mandatory rules is more education, knowing what can happen and being on top of these things will allow people to make the decision for themselves whether or not they feel the risk is worth having or not having some of these devises.
It's still a lack of tech that is the biggest problem; they can't enforce the basic body rules they have now. Do you really think much of this stuff gets checked after the first or second race of the year? I'm more worried about the crappy fuel fitting and plumbing job on some cars then the fuel cell itself. I've seen more fuel spelt from broken off fittings and lines then actual rupturing of the cell itself. I'd start with no aluminum fittings on the fuel system as that is what typically gets ripped off during a crash and spills more fuel then the cells themselves.
Now don’t take this as I’m saying just let us do what we want as far as safety rules go, as we all know we need the encouragement to do the right thing for ourselves. But at some point you have to let people decide for themselves what the proper equipment is as long as it isn’t affecting anyone else but them. If you have the money, it’s a no brainer but I’m so tired of anyone telling me what I have to have to protect myself, don’t treat me like a 10 year old the government does that enough.
I can’t be clear on this enough: I purposely took the devils advocate and unpopular side just to show the other side of things.
1. First and foremost in my opinion mandatory safety rules should only be for protecting people that could be affected that weren't the cause of said problem like pit crew members, fans, and etc.
A. Take for example eye protection while driving, not having any could cause the driver to get something in his eye and crash into another competitor or go into the stands. Things like this I don't think anyone can disagree with needs to me mandatory.
B. However you could argue about a fire suit (Hang on and least listen to this and keep an open mind). Not having a fire suit, shouldn't result in anything happening during a race that would cause the driver to put other people at harm by not wearing one, only himself. Now doing so would be extremely stupid on any drivers part, but has no effect (for the most part) on any one else there at the races and the risk is all on said driver.
C. So in my opinion mandatory stuff should be about everyone else's safety, but the things that only effect the one person/driver should be their choice and therefore not mandatory. Obviously you have to balance this with insurance requirements for the tracks, but we all know this can be a dangerous sport.
D. Show me data, that does definitively shows that a full containment seat lessens the change of injury? And if it does show me where it doesn’t increase the chance of concussions? #Note: I do believe they are way way better, but I only staying in a holiday inn so what do I know as I have no data to support it one way or the other. Shouldn’t that decision be left to the person in the car as to what is best for him?
I can see the wheel covers as that will effect people other then the driver, but many of these other things you have to stretch pretty far in circumstance before you are risking others safety. Now a guy could argue the fuel cell to some degree because in a wreck the other cars involved could burn do to someone’s unsafe fuel cell. However I can't recall ever when someone else was burned do to a fire that came from someone fuel cell other then their own.
I think what we need more then mandatory rules is more education, knowing what can happen and being on top of these things will allow people to make the decision for themselves whether or not they feel the risk is worth having or not having some of these devises.
It's still a lack of tech that is the biggest problem; they can't enforce the basic body rules they have now. Do you really think much of this stuff gets checked after the first or second race of the year? I'm more worried about the crappy fuel fitting and plumbing job on some cars then the fuel cell itself. I've seen more fuel spelt from broken off fittings and lines then actual rupturing of the cell itself. I'd start with no aluminum fittings on the fuel system as that is what typically gets ripped off during a crash and spills more fuel then the cells themselves.
Now don’t take this as I’m saying just let us do what we want as far as safety rules go, as we all know we need the encouragement to do the right thing for ourselves. But at some point you have to let people decide for themselves what the proper equipment is as long as it isn’t affecting anyone else but them. If you have the money, it’s a no brainer but I’m so tired of anyone telling me what I have to have to protect myself, don’t treat me like a 10 year old the government does that enough.
I can’t be clear on this enough: I purposely took the devils advocate and unpopular side just to show the other side of things.
Comment