Race car speeds street car safety are most of us crazy?
08-04-2010, 12:53 AM
#41
Drifting
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With the accidents reported here at driving events seems it is getting out of hand on speed vs safety. I mean no cage is just crazy. 
Through no fault of your own you could be spinning and rolling even driving 8/10ths due to dropped fluids, blown tires, mechanical failure, or some idiot next to you.
New ZR-1's modded 427's 600 rwhp is common now where they surpass sister cars that do real racing.
Depending on the stuff designed in a street car is just a fantasy. I see accidents on the street at 50 mph and there are bodies everywhere and fatalities.
How comfortable do you feel?
Through no fault of your own you could be spinning and rolling even driving 8/10ths due to dropped fluids, blown tires, mechanical failure, or some idiot next to you.
New ZR-1's modded 427's 600 rwhp is common now where they surpass sister cars that do real racing.
Depending on the stuff designed in a street car is just a fantasy. I see accidents on the street at 50 mph and there are bodies everywhere and fatalities.
How comfortable do you feel?
At HDPE's your chances of getting T-boned by another car are less than on the road. A roll cage is protection against another car intruding on your personal space, but not realistic for HDPE's.
I run a FRC with no cage. It has the standard halo and I have added a containment seat, 6 point harness, HANS device, and of course a helmet.
This will protect me from the majority of problems I might face. Nothing is ever certain in life so 'in shallah'.
When I raced wheel to wheel, I had a roll cage. If I race again, I will put a roll cage in this car.
08-04-2010, 01:16 AM
#44
Race Director
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Personally, with 4 times the energy flying around, I'll take the back seat or maybe strap into the trunk and let the front parts of the car take the first few moments of deflection/deceleration. Mass up front is good!
08-04-2010, 01:36 AM
#46
08-04-2010, 01:36 AM
#47
Melting Slicks
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I now have a race car with a cage that to most is probably overkill, and I have and use every bit of the safety equipment available.
After crashing hard a couple of years ago I realized that I don't bounce that well anymore.
08-04-2010, 02:19 AM
#48
Only thing you should ensure is your life insurance, short term, and long term disability cover whatever track event you are in.. IMHO
Originally Posted by longdaddy
I disagree, my home track has 150-160mph kink where we lose at least a couple of cars every year. some roll. I know someone who rolled 6 times. He was doing this corner at 160mph. He had a roll bar and walked. Try that with a factory roll hoop and A pillar.
Ever seen a car loose control, get t-boned, flipped by another car, and slammed into by another 2 cars at highway speeds? It's the volume of cars that I think level the playing field.. but I am willing to say I may have skewed thinking.
Originally Posted by longdaddy
nothing on my commute comes close to that level of risk unless someone if being outright homicidal/suicidal out there.
At least on a track, most of the folks are paying attention and trying to pay attention and do things correctly. And those being unsafe should get squared away or shut down. Again, not saying this is always the case, but should be the rule not the exception.
08-04-2010, 02:21 AM
#49
I came to the conclusion that there really wasn't such a thing as a SAFE dual use car.
I now have a race car with a cage that to most is probably overkill, and I have and use every bit of the safety equipment available.
After crashing hard a couple of years ago I realized that I don't bounce that well anymore.
I now have a race car with a cage that to most is probably overkill, and I have and use every bit of the safety equipment available.
After crashing hard a couple of years ago I realized that I don't bounce that well anymore.
08-04-2010, 03:37 AM
#50
Melting Slicks
I was an avid AutoXer, and was happy enough with my roll-hoop and 6 point harnesses. Then I did a few track days and got hooked, bad. As such I just had a full cage (T1 "style" with NASCAR bars on both sides), fire suppression system, and legit race seats put into my car (along w/ bolt-in harnesses vs. the "snap in" setup I previously had). Sure, it's not really a street car anymore and that's a bummer... but it's entirely worth it to keep myself safe. I'm ordering a new Helmet (I was using a cheapy ~$100 HJC for AutoX) and a DefNder shortly too.
If I can spend the big coin on a 600 RWHP motor (which I did) I damn well better be ready to spend the money on safety! All together, the cage, seats, harnesses, fire system, new helmet and DefNder are "only" going to add up to around $8k I think. That is honestly not that much money, and I know plenty of people who have spend far more on go-fast parts and won't spend a dime on safety.
-TJ
If I can spend the big coin on a 600 RWHP motor (which I did) I damn well better be ready to spend the money on safety! All together, the cage, seats, harnesses, fire system, new helmet and DefNder are "only" going to add up to around $8k I think. That is honestly not that much money, and I know plenty of people who have spend far more on go-fast parts and won't spend a dime on safety.
-TJ
08-04-2010, 07:40 AM
#51
Team Owner
Thread Starter
I feel comfortable, but life is short anyway.
At HDPE's your chances of getting T-boned by another car are less than on the road. A roll cage is protection against another car intruding on your personal space, but not realistic for HDPE's.
I run a FRC with no cage. It has the standard halo and I have added a containment seat, 6 point harness, HANS device, and of course a helmet.
This will protect me from the majority of problems I might face. Nothing is ever certain in life so 'in shallah'.
When I raced wheel to wheel, I had a roll cage. If I race again, I will put a roll cage in this car.
At HDPE's your chances of getting T-boned by another car are less than on the road. A roll cage is protection against another car intruding on your personal space, but not realistic for HDPE's.
I run a FRC with no cage. It has the standard halo and I have added a containment seat, 6 point harness, HANS device, and of course a helmet.
This will protect me from the majority of problems I might face. Nothing is ever certain in life so 'in shallah'.
When I raced wheel to wheel, I had a roll cage. If I race again, I will put a roll cage in this car.
no clue how you containment seat works with no cage?
08-04-2010, 07:44 AM
#52
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Roll cage and a containment seat will help hold your body in place. But a huge hit will still slosh the bodies insides all to pieces. and the internal injuries and bleeding, wont live long.
Do what ever you can to avoid a contact. Spin the car, bump and scrap against the wall to dissipate energy as much as possible vs a solid hit.
Do what ever you can to avoid a contact. Spin the car, bump and scrap against the wall to dissipate energy as much as possible vs a solid hit.
Last edited by AU N EGL; 08-04-2010 at 07:48 AM.
08-04-2010, 07:45 AM
#53
Team Owner
Thread Starter
If it is so safe on track why is a days rack insurance so high? I mean my car cost 1200 a year to insure on the road and probably 300-500 per day on track with a 5000 dollar deductible vs 500 on the street?
Figure all the cars at a track event and all the miles they do then see how many accidents there are. You would never see that many accidents on the street per miles. If you did the roads would be constantly clogged with wreckers. If you think it is safer on track you are just kidding yourself.
Drive around the street at 60 mph with n belt and you may not like it, do 165 with no belt and see how you feel.
If you feel safer on track do you wear a helmet on the street?
Figure all the cars at a track event and all the miles they do then see how many accidents there are. You would never see that many accidents on the street per miles. If you did the roads would be constantly clogged with wreckers. If you think it is safer on track you are just kidding yourself.
Drive around the street at 60 mph with n belt and you may not like it, do 165 with no belt and see how you feel.
If you feel safer on track do you wear a helmet on the street?
Last edited by John Shiels; 08-04-2010 at 07:54 AM.
08-04-2010, 07:48 AM
#54
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Roll cage and a containment seat will help hold your body in place. But a huge hit will still slosh the bodies insides all to pieces. and the internal ingeries and bleeding, wont live long.
Do what ever you can to avoid a contact. Spin the car, bump and scrap against the wall to dissipate energy as much as possible vs a solid hit.
Do what ever you can to avoid a contact. Spin the car, bump and scrap against the wall to dissipate energy as much as possible vs a solid hit.
08-04-2010, 08:25 AM
#56
Team Owner
Thread Starter
08-04-2010, 08:26 AM
#57
Drifting
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You should do some shopping....
The company I use is great and they are far less.
Insurance is for agreed upon value. 30k ('99 C5) on my car was $140ish for the weekend with a $1500 deductible. They insure many sanctioned track days for almost all the clubs in the NE.
08-04-2010, 08:28 AM
#58
Racer
I can end this thread
yes, all of us are crazy. in the end none of this makes any sense from a safety or financial stand point. if it did, it wouldn't be any fun
yes, all of us are crazy. in the end none of this makes any sense from a safety or financial stand point. if it did, it wouldn't be any fun
08-04-2010, 08:39 AM
#59
Team Owner
Thread Starter
John,
You should do some shopping....
The company I use is great and they are far less.
Insurance is for agreed upon value. 30k ('99 C5) on my car was $140ish for the weekend with a $1500 deductible. They insure many sanctioned track days for almost all the clubs in the NE.
You should do some shopping....
The company I use is great and they are far less.
Insurance is for agreed upon value. 30k ('99 C5) on my car was $140ish for the weekend with a $1500 deductible. They insure many sanctioned track days for almost all the clubs in the NE.
Last edited by John Shiels; 08-04-2010 at 08:41 AM.
08-04-2010, 08:42 AM
#60
Team Owner
Thread Starter
yes but the ones more prepared are less crazy. I put the 4 point bar in my car before my first event in 1999.