Track Safety
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,222
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk VA
Track Safety
This has been on my mind since Sunday and I was wondering what everyone else thought. I was at a test and tune on Sunday afternoon and outside of the hardcore purpose built drag cars, no one with street cars were wearing helmets. I can understand that for the 15+ sec. ricers, but there were guys there running as low as 11 seconds without any safety gear, where I’m running in the 13s and wearing a full face helmet. Is that normal, and I’m being uptight for sticking with the safety stuff or was that just a relaxed track. I see nothing wrong with doing something a little dangerous, but I recognize the danger and take steps to protect myself, even if there is only a small risk with a 13 second car, things can happen.
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Re: Track Safety (Lancer033)
Helmet for me.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
Likes: 14
From: Somers NY
Re: Track Safety (REDGAR)
Helmet for me
There was just a thread about that here !!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,222
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk VA
Re: Track Safety (Red96Coupe)
[QUOTE] I bet 99.9% of the guys on this forum have seen or heard of a 12-13 sec car losing right at the 60' & hitting the wall !!!QUOTE]
I almost did that my 1st time out, 2nd run down the 1/4 mile and the car almost got away from me on the start, and for some dumb reason i stayed in it. Either way, i was going to stick with the helmet, i was just wondering if that was normal.
I almost did that my 1st time out, 2nd run down the 1/4 mile and the car almost got away from me on the start, and for some dumb reason i stayed in it. Either way, i was going to stick with the helmet, i was just wondering if that was normal.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
Likes: 14
From: Somers NY
Re: Track Safety (Lancer033)
[/QUOTE]
I almost did that my 1st time out, 2nd run down the 1/4 mile and the car almost got away from me on the start, and for some dumb reason I stayed in it. [/QUOTE]
There is a perfect example !! Ask yourself WHY what did you expect to gain? A lot of "new" racers will do exactly what you did.
1st they don't realize the difference in ET that spinning will cause,
2nd they think it looks "macho" it does to other "rookies" but knowledge racers think you are showing off, or have "No Idea what You are Doing"!
You made the correct decision to wear a helmut, now learn WHEN TO GET OFF THE GAS remember you do not have the financial backing of a Top Fuel Team.. if you do please CALL ME ASAP :D
I almost did that my 1st time out, 2nd run down the 1/4 mile and the car almost got away from me on the start, and for some dumb reason I stayed in it. [/QUOTE]
There is a perfect example !! Ask yourself WHY what did you expect to gain? A lot of "new" racers will do exactly what you did.
1st they don't realize the difference in ET that spinning will cause,
2nd they think it looks "macho" it does to other "rookies" but knowledge racers think you are showing off, or have "No Idea what You are Doing"!
You made the correct decision to wear a helmut, now learn WHEN TO GET OFF THE GAS remember you do not have the financial backing of a Top Fuel Team.. if you do please CALL ME ASAP :D
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,222
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk VA
Re: Track Safety (Red96Coupe)
You made the correct decision to wear a helmut, now learn WHEN TO GET OFF THE GAS remember you do not have the financial backing of a Top Fuel Team.. if you do please CALL ME ASAP :D
If i had the financial backing of a top fuel team, i would not be running in the 13s
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,175
Likes: 86
From: State of Confusion
Re: Track Safety (Fuzzy Dice)
One off-season, after I'd won a decent amount of $$$, I invested in a fire-jacket to compliment my Bell full-face brain-bucket.
Seeing as how my Z28 ran 'just' 13-flat/12.80s at the time, a few fellow racers 'laughed' at me, wearing a fire-jacket.
I simply said, " OK; when YOU guys are on fire, don't expect ME to come save your sorry azzes..."
If those dumb ****** don't wear helmets, consider it 'THINNING-OF-THE-HEARD'...
Seeing as how my Z28 ran 'just' 13-flat/12.80s at the time, a few fellow racers 'laughed' at me, wearing a fire-jacket.
I simply said, " OK; when YOU guys are on fire, don't expect ME to come save your sorry azzes..."
If those dumb ****** don't wear helmets, consider it 'THINNING-OF-THE-HEARD'...
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
Re: Track Safety (Glensgages)
Honestly? I think many of us wear helmets only because it is a strict rule at the track. Not sure what's up at your track. I don't wear a helmet when I drive on the highway, and I really think it is more dangerous out there than at the track. Statistically, I don't know what the risk is, and how much a helmet helps... I blissfully wear an open-face helmet, but then I read about somebody shattering a windshield and having glass pellets bouncing off their facemask... MJ
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 8,145
Likes: 1
From: Bradenton FLORIDA
Re: Track Safety (MNJack)
The biggest risk to a 13 second or slower car can be the 10 sec car in the lane next to you. If he get's loose & takes you out you will be happy you have a hemet, fire jacket, etc! :thumbs:
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,175
Likes: 86
From: State of Confusion
Re: Track Safety (TLewis4095)
The biggest risk to a 13 second or slower car can be the 10 sec car in the lane next to you. If he get's loose & takes you out you will be happy you have a hemet, fire jacket, etc! :thumbs:
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,222
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk VA
Re: Track Safety (Glensgages)
The biggest risk to a 13 second or slower car can be the 10 sec car in the lane next to you. If he get's loose & takes you out you will be happy you have a hemet, fire jacket, etc! :thumbs:
:thumbs: :yesnod:
:thumbs: :yesnod: