Roll over pictures

[Marsh]

Some guys in the Toronto Prelude Club, were talking about how they weren't planning on wearing helmets at an upcoming lapping day. I was wondering if somebody still had some roll over pictures from Shannonville to help me show them the light?

[FrankC]

...but it should have the same effect.
This also goes to people who use racing harness without proper rollover protection.

http://www.teutonic.ca/~fc/Misc/deadm3ie.JPG

[ctenche]

Check out Chapter 4 on my web site. It's got the goods on the three roll overs at SMP last year. The link is in the sig.

[FrankC]

I also went over chapter 4 (the crash part) couple times and it still gave me chills, especially the Miata part. I had no idea that Nelson has the capability of 'launching' cars into the air.

Both drivers escaped with only surface bruises because of the safety system (helmet and bars). But in my post above, the driver literally walked away from the multiple roll-over and impacts. He had a helmet and lots of luck. So the danger of being crushed during a roll-over isn't just for the opentop guys.

BTW, did the Miata only have the rollbar behind his seat or a full cage? Are there roll-over protection rules for open top cars? The factory systems (like the hoops on S2K and Z3 and their 'renforced' windshield) are bare minimum safety standard on the raod, but when it comes to performance driving on the track, I wonder how well will these 'factory setup' do against the force of the impacts.

[alexb]

Frank,
Please do not get the wrong idea about Solo1 from the posted pictures.These were rare instances.There were a lot of variables involved in each case and to the best of my knowledge they have or will be taken care of.
Alex.

[FrankC]

:D Relax Alex, I am still joining the series.

Yes I have seen my share of track incidents and I understand that the sport (solo1, lapping, even driver education ) has its potential risk and dangers. But the fact that those two incidents were responded and taken care of as soon as they started should 'encourage' newcomers to join because of everyone's (drivers, organizers) awareness of safety. :cool:

But the 'car launching from the concrete wall' was new to me. I can from ctenche's description how unreal (or surreal) that could be when seeing it in person as it happened.

My question re. rollover protection was raised primarily because some organizations (ie. Trackmasters from the States) won't even allow opentops onto the track unless they have proper and legal rollover protection.

[FrankC]

On a side note, I have seen some lapping days done by XXXX clubs and THAT was truely scary: bunch of cars dicing out with each other on the straight AND turns, hanging arms out of the driver's window when driving, going agricultural as if it's part of their lines, etc.etc...should we throw in cellular phone? :rolleyes: :mad:

[Dave]

Frank, the pitwall at Nelson doesn't launch cars. What happened last year is that a bunch of hay bails were laid down on the track side of the wall (for motorcycle racing) and both rollovers were caused by cars getting into the bails, which sort of sucked them in further once contact was made, and then acted as a ramp because the bails would compress and get under the wheels. The end result was very unfortunate, but we'd never previously run at any track that had hay bails in place like this before and we've subsequently made a point of pulling these to the other side of the wall when we do run at a track that has them in place.

Solo 1 does have a strict rule about rollover protection for convertibles, and it's getting even stricter for 2002. Minimum standard is a 4-point rollbar built to Ice Race specs. The Miata that rolled last year had the required rollbar, which I'm sure saved him a very serious headache or much worse. The other car that rolled had a full cage.

Dave

[ctenche]

Glad to see you're still coming out FrankC. The thing is, shit happens. It doesn't matter that you're on the track at Shannonville or just crusing down some small back street. You never know.

I'm not sure of the exact stats but I think I remeber someong mentioning that over the past 9 years that have been a total of 4 roll overs in Solo 1. Considering that 3 of them all happened last year, that's a pretty good record.

Everyone in Solo is very safety concious. Helmets and mandatory. Roll bars are required for convertibles and encouraged for tin tops. We've got fire extinguishers at each marshalling station and an ambulance on standby. The Solo committee is very focused on minimizing the risk.

Those "other" events that you mentioned. I've seen my fair share of them and if you come out to some Solo 1 events this year you will see some more. There are sometimes people who rent the track in the evening at Shannonville and it is amazing what you see there. The worst thing I saw was a guy going full force through turn 1 at Fabi. He had a passenger standing up through the sunroof with a video camera in hand shooting the cars coming up behind him. Unbelieable.

FYI, I've just added an update to Chapter 4 that details what the Solo 1 committee has done as a result of those events to ensure that we are more prepared. I think it's important for everyone to know that the Solo committee is on top of things and doing a fine job.

[Taylor]

Rules for open topped cars this year are a rollbar that extends 2 inches above the drivers helmeted head in a proper seating position.

This is near impossible with many stock setups, but the rules DO allow a rollbar that is as "close as possible" to the top of said cars Hardtop option.

This means Z3's and S2K's integrated roll over protection is NOT sufficient enough to compete this year. You must get a rollbar and possibly the hardtop if you still want your convertible top to operate with the rollbar in place.

An unfortunate but necessary and fair requirement IMO. (Without these things in place, most of us would keep making unecessary risks).

I stopped running my S2000 after watching the Miata go last year. Not because I saw soooo much money crashed away. :) but also because I was 2 inches ABOVE the rear hoops WITHOUT a helmet. Sure the windsheild is strong.. but how strong? Not willing to risk it.

I'm pleased to say the incidents didn't deterr me from racing, it was just a nice big wake up call to be smart about the choices I make with regards to my safety. Luckily the two cars that did hit the bails had roll over protection and no one was injured.

It's sad it took that incident to do it for me, but I guess this is human nature. Most don't believe it till they see it. Safety requirements ROCK.. they save us from ourselves. :)

[Taylor]

Course I guess I'm preaching to the choir eh? :)