window net

[manny]

quick question here, on your cool down lap at the end of the can you drop the window net in order to wave at the corner workers? this would be at the sebring track.

[manny]

"at the end of the race"

[whenry]

Officially you are on a "hot" race track until you pull into the pits and have stopped the car. While it may feel slow to you, you are still going 50-60-70 mph and things can still happen that would create a need for all of the safety measures that are in place and required by SCCA.
We had a discussion not long ago about what I refer to nudists who pull off gloves, helmets etc on the cool down lap and I feel that such actions are a threat to all racers due to the potential effects on insurance rates. This is not NASCAR and the adoring crowd does not want to see your face. The corner workers know who you are and just appreciate the gesture of the wave.

[jhooten]

I was working race control at our last race and we had a discussion about this very thing. The opinion of the cheif steward was that when a race car is on track ALL safety equipment must be in place. The victory laps at the run-offs (no helmets, crew hanging out every opening of the race car) was mention and he nearly had a stroke.

Anyway, his point was that the way the insurance policies are written the carrier can deny a claim if the driver was not using proper safety equipment. Stuff does happen on the cool down lap at times.

[cherokee]

I remember reading about someone that was hit by a street car running through the pits, I think that he was all un-buckled and everything, I also seem to remember that his head hit the cage. I leave all my gear on until I get back to my pit and have the car off. I always felt better safe then sorry.

[racer_tim]

No, DON't DO THAT. Just stick your hand out the front part of net and wave that way.

They can see your every little movement, at least from the shoulders up.



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Tim Linerud
San Francisco Region SCCA
#95 GP Wabbit (Bent)
http://linerud.myvnc.com/racing/index.html

[manny]

thanks for your answers guys. yes i agree about the safety matter, just wanted to ask. i leave everything on until i return to my pits.

[jhooten]

We had one pull in the pits with the belts, gloves, and (full face)Helmet off. How the hell do you drive the car around the track and take the helmet off?

[gsbaker]

I once flipped up the visor during the cool-down lap in an open-cockpit car. A dragonfly the size of a condor convinced me that was a bad idea.

Car moving = safety gear on.

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Gregg Baker, P.E.
Isaac, LLC
http://www.isaacdirect.com

[USGUYS]

The insurance company has nothing to do with it. There is no basis to deny coverage if you are not wearing the safety equipment. We require it because wearing it keeps the number and size of claims down. Lower claims= lower premiums.
The steward can make the call on how to interpret the rules. I know a driver that was penalize one spot for taking off his helmet on the cool off lap. I got chastised for waving out of the open power sunroof on a cool off lap at the ARRC.

[whenry]

I was black flag steward at RA for LaborDay and had one driver try to convince me that he had taken off his helmet between entry of pit road and turn 12 station. It was hanging on a hook when he made the turn at the corner station. I had him put the helmet on and demonstrate. After he made a fool of himself trying to do it, I told him that the first call came in from turn 6 that he was stripping. I stopped him at BF for every session in remaining weekend to check him and while he conformed, I had the same conversation with several other drivers. Amazing!
Gloves dont bother me as much as helmets and belts but why take the chance.

[bhudson]

I will add my two cents (from a corner worker perspective) about why it's a good idea to keep all of your safety equipment in place during a cool off lap.

1. Over the years, I've witnessed at least one rollover and three collisions on cool off laps. One resulted in a nasty fire that destroyed one GT 1 car and damaged the other one enough to miss the next season. One of the drivers had to be transported to the hospital.

2. The GCR allows drivers 5 minutes to complete their last lap after the checker falls. If someone has had mechanical problems and needs one more lap to be a finisher, that driver may be at race speed while you're waving at us.

I understand the desire to remove the helmet and gloves, and we see the pros do it all the time. Even if it is okay under the rules to do so, is it really worth an injury?

Bob Hudson
Atlanta Region F&C

[Geo]

Originally posted by bhudson:
I understand the desire to remove the helmet and gloves, and we see the pros do it all the time.

I don't understand the desire. It comes with racing. I think pros set all sorts of bad examples and the sanctioning bodies won't do anything about it. Stupid because it just causes amateurs to do the same stupid things and kids to grow up racing thinking all sorts of stupid things are just the way things are (including hitting and spinning a competitor to make a pass).




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George Roffe
Houston, TX
84 944 ITS car under construction
92 ITS Sentra SE-R occasionally borrowed
http://www.nissport.com

[Racy-Stacey]

Have to agree, there is no TV cameras waiting to take your pictur'esk profile while on your cool down lap. So it is really much safer overall to keep your gear on. I know it will make the stewards happy.

I havent seen a pro take off equipment before coming in. But I would imagine if someone did it was for TV coverage. Or they were about to have heat stroke. A Medical issue could be a grey area. At buttonwillow it gets to 112 sometimes. Time to get a forced air helmet.. *giggles*

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Toodles,
Stacey_B AOL IM: SCCAStaceyIB 1990PGL SCCA STSL "Girls Do It Better" Cal Club T&S, BWRP,WS,Lag,Hallett www.scpoc.com : www.probetalk.com Racing is my life. Winner One Lap of America 2003- SSGT2 class 1996 Ford Probe GT.

[Anubis]

At the end of the ITS/A/7 ARRC enduro this year the Robertson's used the 5 minute rule to win it. They were in fact going around at race speed as everyone else was on the cool down lap.

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Lance Snyder
Atlanta Region F&C

I watched the Indy 500, and I was thinking that if they left
earlier they wouldn't have to go so fast.