Moparts
drag racing: obvious safety gaps
Posted By: Scott440
drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/14/09 06:24 AM
prior to the 60s, seatbelts and helmets were sometimes missing from motorsports. now, it seems like an obvious safety gap...to even THINK otherwise is insane. we get a chuckle out of seeing leather racing helmets in old photos.
well, after seeing a few drag wrecks, i gotta say there are still some obvious things missing:
1-bigger, softer barricades ... hay bails, water filled drums ... with or without a guard rail. just get rid of those concrete walls! how about 4 rows of water drums on each side of the track, spaced. and space them a few feet apart to give the car more gradual deceleration. and make the drum easy to split open -- water or fire slurry couldn't hurt a car on fire.
2-soft center divider along the entire strip so a crazy car doesn't take out his competitor (especially when the competitor is slightly behind). so it obstructs visibility for the fans -- even a 48" high wall sitting in a 12" deep trough could delay the cross over a second or two. shame on you sanctioning bodies -- if you've left this out for fan visibility, you've been getting away with murder.
3-fluid catch pan/tray under the engine. how many times has something broke loose, spewing lubricant or coolant conveniently ahead of the rear tires. it could help with aerodynamics (smoother airflow under the car) and eliminate costly downtime (ridding the track of fluids).
4-if a car has a parachute and is not reasonably close to the center of his lane, or tire pressure drops way low, or a fire occurs, there should be an electronic auto-deploy of the parachute. i'm sure with today's technology, the signal to deploy could be sent remotely by track equipment. OK, this concept is a bit elaborate, but definitely worthy of some trials.
while you're at it, apply these concepts to other forms of auto racing.
items 1-3 may be present at *some* strips today, but if drag racing is around in 2050, they will be universal, and people will laugh at 2010 safety standards.
Posted By: jcc
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/14/09 11:38 AM
1. "Softer" walls have a tendency to catch a vehicle, and at 150+ mph, you really don't want that.
2. Center divider wall is a great idea for safety, and has been discussed over the years
3. I would think a catch pan would give a false sense of security, and cause a bigger problem at the top end with larger amount of fluids, fire, etc
4. An active secondary remote control,chute deployement control by teams crew chief, is not real complicated nor expensive and not likely to have too many negatives, and has merit IMO
Posted By: Steve1118
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/14/09 01:09 PM
The concrete walls are a must.
The problems with the old "softer" systems they used in the past is they would give, act like a spring, and the car would bounce off and be catupulted either across the lanes and into the other barrier, or back into the racing surface.
You want something you can "ride" to a stop without it pushing you into an even worse situation.
Posted By: sixpakdodge
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/14/09 03:23 PM
They already have engine and transmission diapers designed to catch fluids. Also, the chute deployment is already done in Top Fuel and Funny Car.
Posted By: Scott440
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/14/09 05:16 PM
Quote:
1. "Softer" walls have a tendency to catch a vehicle, you really don't want that.
if you are driving the "other" car that's EXACTLY what you want. your car could be perfect and still be totaled. if you're driving the squirrel car, you want the softest landing possible. maybe the water drums should only be filled 25% to prevent ricochet.
Quote:
3. cause a bigger problem at the top end with larger amount of fluids, fire, etc
a pan to catch oil is more dangerous? pls tell me you're just kidding.. i'm not sure a diaper is even enough with all the hoses near, but not on the engine.
Posted By: Dave Watt
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/14/09 05:38 PM
Quote:
a pan to catch oil is more dangerous? pls tell me you're just kidding.. i'm not sure a diaper is even enough with all the hoses near, but not on the engine.
Just think if you had a fuel line rupture/leak during a run and not know it. The catch pan would fill with fuel and could cause an inferno.
Posted By: Mr.Yuck
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/14/09 05:43 PM
3-fluid catch pan/tray under the engine. how many times has something broke loose, spewing lubricant or coolant conveniently ahead of the rear tires. it could help with aerodynamics (smoother airflow under the car) and eliminate costly downtime (ridding the track of fluids"
Not really sure how you do that...they already have diapers....a pan? not sure how that would work, it would just roll or slosh out of it.
Posted By: Scott440
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/14/09 05:52 PM
Quote:
The concrete walls are a must.
The problems with the old "softer" systems they used in the past is they would give, act like a spring,
You want something you can "ride" to a stop
then keep the cheesey guard rail (or replace w/hay) and put water drums behind them...just get rid of the concrete. what about sawdust or plastic pebbles instead of water. or even put a trough of water on the sides of the track. if i dropped a cat from a 10 story building, i bet you it would bounce more on concrete than a shallow pool of water.
it's possible, but VERY hard to drown in 6" of standing water...
putting a slurry or water trough down the center would not obstruct the fan vision at all. but then, you have to clean the slurry off the track after each crash. with the water, you could blow dry it and get it off much faster than an oil slick.
if you had the option of a water trough down the center, would you take it? (not being theoretical, i'm really asking). if the other guy had a really nasty spill, he could potentially splash water in front of your tires, but on the other hand, maybe the speed is so great that he just ends up washing the side of your car for free.
why did hay bails disappear...they seemed like effective soft systems and they definitely don't promote ricochet? they were in place in the early days of sports car racing. have a few cars/people died because the hay just didn't look "high tech". i hope not.
for the record, I think concrete at the start/burnout box is reasonable.
Posted By: Mr.Yuck
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/14/09 05:54 PM
75/80's ends in a corn field, that's almost like a hay bail.
Posted By: Scott440
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/14/09 06:03 PM
i bet if one track required a tray the safety record would blow all the other tracks away. a lot of ways to prevent sloshing...seal the back/front, require some maxi-pad-like lining in the bottom. remember, a leak generally does not dump 6 qts down all at once.
perhaps some tiny ventilation holes in the tray would keep the gas fumes flying rearward....the fumes are more dangerous than the pool. OK, the tiny holes might leak some fluid, but not enough to bring down the entire car. am i the only one who has seen several nice cars destroyed because of a fluid leak ahead of the firewall? it seems like it.
Posted By: Scott440
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/14/09 06:12 PM
Quote:
75/80's ends in a corn field, that's almost like a hay bail.
good enough...
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/14/09 06:15 PM
Quote:
prior to the 60s, seatbelts and helmets were sometimes missing from motorsports. now, it seems like an obvious safety gap...to even THINK otherwise is insane. we get a chuckle out of seeing leather racing helmets in old photos.
well, after seeing a few drag wrecks, i gotta say there are still some obvious things missing:
1-bigger, softer barricades ... hay bails, water filled drums ... with or without a guard rail. just get rid of those concrete walls! how about 4 rows of water drums on each side of the track, spaced. and space them a few feet apart to give the car more gradual deceleration. and make the drum easy to split open -- water or fire slurry couldn't hurt a car on fire.
2-soft center divider along the entire strip so a crazy car doesn't take out his competitor (especially when the competitor is slightly behind). so it obstructs visibility for the fans -- even a 48" high wall sitting in a 12" deep trough could delay the cross over a second or two. shame on you sanctioning bodies -- if you've left this out for fan visibility, you've been getting away with murder.
3-fluid catch pan/tray under the engine. how many times has something broke loose, spewing lubricant or coolant conveniently ahead of the rear tires. it could help with aerodynamics (smoother airflow under the car) and eliminate costly downtime (ridding the track of fluids).
4-if a car has a parachute and is not reasonably close to the center of his lane, or tire pressure drops way low, or a fire occurs, there should be an electronic auto-deploy of the parachute. i'm sure with today's technology, the signal to deploy could be sent remotely by track equipment. OK, this concept is a bit elaborate, but definitely worthy of some trials.
while you're at it, apply these concepts to other forms of auto racing.
items 1-3 may be present at *some* strips today, but if drag racing is around in 2050, they will be universal, and people will laugh at 2010 safety standards.
Have you ever raced anything?
Posted By: Scott440
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/14/09 06:21 PM
have an e body pink slip to bet?
Posted By: TrxR
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/14/09 06:23 PM
As far as the walls go maybe something like nascars safer barrier as it takes up some of the hit but still lets the car slide down it. I think the diaper does just as good of a job as any pan would. A center barrier is also a good idea in theory but would make it difficult for the timing system and give the squirly car less area to save the car.
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/14/09 06:24 PM
Quote:
have an e body pink slip to bet?
\
I have a top alcohol dragster pink slip to bet.
E bodys are for enjoyment on the street.
Posted By: slippery440
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/14/09 06:27 PM
Posted By: Blown71X
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/14/09 08:56 PM
Quote:
I have a top alcohol dragster pink slip to bet.
My money is on Gary 
Posted By: 8secDart
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/14/09 09:45 PM
Is this guy for real.It's all I can do now to go racing.This stuff cost money.Some say but it's your life.I say no It's my way of life.Dude,put your pannies on and go in the stands.
Posted By: TS3303
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/14/09 11:17 PM
had to check to see if I was on Nitromater with fans recommending rules. I'll keep the concrete walls and the diaper on my cars is fine also. Thanks for your concern.
Posted By: blairboy3
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/15/09 12:04 AM
Quote:
i bet if one track required a tray the safety record would blow all the other tracks away. a lot of ways to prevent sloshing...seal the back/front, require some maxi-pad-like lining in the bottom. remember, a leak generally does not dump 6 qts down all at once.
Which proves a diaper is enough protection for what may happen. Diapers give, and the ones I've seen have a kevlar material for balistic protection... a pan wouldn't. So, what would stop a snapped piston & rod going through a block from going right on through the pan, or a grenading transmission for that matter.
I can see not having a concrete barrier @ the END of a track, but not from the sides. Like some have already said... at those speeds, a "soft" rail could catch the nose of more cars causing them to catapult over the railing 
Posted By: @#$%&*!
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/15/09 12:04 AM
Quote:
1-bigger, softer barricades ...
Hard impacts are rare when you're travelling parallel to the wall.
2-soft center divider along the entire strip so a crazy car doesn't take out his competitor
crossing the center line is common and usually the only casualty is a foam block or two. Two vehicle accidents are very rare.
(-- even a 48" high wall sitting in a 12" deep trough could delay the cross over a second or two.
How are the Jr. Dragsters going to see each other? How would other pipe-rack divers judge the finish line?
3-fluid catch pan/tray under the engine.
Diapers are being phased in, have been for a while.
4-if a car has a parachute and is not reasonably close to the center of his lane, or tire pressure drops way low, or a fire occurs, there should be an electronic auto-deploy of the parachute.
Yeah, I want someone pulling the chute on me when I still have a chance to win, flames or not. You're allowed to use the whole lane, if necessary.
Go back to running for president, Ralph (Nader)
Posted By: dave571
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/15/09 12:11 AM
Quote:
have an e body pink slip to bet?
I don't see where you've raced anything, in this answer.
Is this a yes or a no?
As for safety gaps, the NHRA rules have evolved over time. They have evolved with the cars and the sport. Are they perfect? Of course not. Neither is any other motor sport.
Posted By: dusturbd340W5
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/15/09 12:26 AM
Well I am sure I will get flamed for this but I fell they try and push to much safety down my throat now I don't think I could stand any more of it.
Posted By: Lil Wedge
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/15/09 11:01 AM
If you really want safety, Why don't we just go electric cars, put a big slot down both lanes. And if that isn't enough, just go remote control and stand on the starting line.Boy now that would be exciting!
Posted By: Steve1118
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/15/09 11:22 AM
"had to check to see if I was on Nitromater"
You are so right!! Those wannabes are clueless over there.
Posted By: cgall
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/15/09 01:22 PM
This topic covers exactly what WJ has been talking about in his rant at NHRA. They have mandated big $$$ modifications to the top end of the national event tracks to appease the nitro racers, while the issues of water seepage continue to plague certain tracks.
None of that fancy aircraft catch net, automatic ignition and fuel shutoff, parachute deployment, or as has been suggested here, SAFER walls, are necessary for the Pro Stock or Sportsman racers.
If they had slowed down those cars 5 years ago like Big Daddy and many others have suggested (one magneto and one fuel pump), the racing would be just as good on a quarter mile running 5.0's.
Posted By: DCM71cuda
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/15/09 05:19 PM
Troughs of water on either side of the lanes....I think I'll pass on that idea.
Safer barriers??? They are not designed for low angle impacts, which typically occur on a drag strip. Also, the SAFER system is specifically made for the size/weight of the car on the track. Tracks that host IRL and NASCAR events modify the barrier for each race. The challenge of a having a system that could 'work' for a 200 mph ProMod, a 300 mph Funny Car, and a 120 mph Super Stocker would be pretty difficult.
It is nice to protect the racers, but a big function of having concrete walls is to protect spectators. Concrete walls are the best option to contain the car to the racing surface.
You want a small pit or divider down the center of the track??? I can think of nothing better to instigate a rollover.....anybody ever go to Warner Robins, GA where they used to have a grass median??
You want a catch/barrier system of sawdust and haybales??? In a sport where one of the KNOWN risks is an out of control car on fire??? I think I'll pass on that one also.
Posted By: Scott440
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/16/09 03:27 AM
i drag raced at lacr and once at fontana. my current car is strictly for road racing. i'd love to road race against your rail for it's pink slip can you trailer it 1,100 miles.
...too much attitude here given the lack of background.
i saw someone nearly lose his belvedere at fontana last year and take out another car last year...that made me think i need to add a tray (center divider to keep cars apart is not applicable, but makes sense). his oil leak was at the filter and put it on the left rear slick...he lost control, bounced off the wall and came just inches within his competitor. i really *hate* the concrete barriers at fontana. i will never again offer a suggestion -- i didn't realize how offensive it was.
Posted By: Scott440
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/16/09 03:37 AM
Posted By: CMcAllister
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/16/09 03:48 AM
Not offensive, just a lack of reality. Belly pans and diapers exist and are in use. You want one, build it and put it on your car. Auto chute release in use on fuel cars. A center divider with a water trough? I don't know what to say about that, be a little tough to fender race somebody in the lights. Hay bales? What would that look like after someone hit them at 200+? No concrete walls? Have you ever seen a car torn to pieces because it got up on an old fashioned guardrail and started to roll? Do some more research, spend some time at the track and try again.
Posted By: Scott440
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/16/09 04:18 AM
Quote:
Not offensive, just a lack of reality. Belly pans and diapers exist and are in use. You want one, build it and put it on your car. Auto chute release in use on fuel cars. A center divider with a water trough? I don't know what to say about that, be a little tough to fender race somebody in the lights. Hay bales? What would that look like after someone hit them at 200+? No concrete walls? Have you ever seen a car torn to pieces because it got up on an old fashioned guardrail and started to roll? Do some more research, spend some time at the track and try again.
so for the driver in the accident (see link)... what do you think could have been done to make the mechanical failure a minor incident only.
Posted By: G_bob
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/16/09 04:25 AM
Quote:
Quote:
Not offensive, just a lack of reality. Belly pans and diapers exist and are in use. You want one, build it and put it on your car. Auto chute release in use on fuel cars. A center divider with a water trough? I don't know what to say about that, be a little tough to fender race somebody in the lights. Hay bales? What would that look like after someone hit them at 200+? No concrete walls? Have you ever seen a car torn to pieces because it got up on an old fashioned guardrail and started to roll? Do some more research, spend some time at the track and try again.
so for the driver in the accident (see link)... what do you think could have been done to make the mechanical failure a minor incident only.
Would probably have to see video of the whole thing to make a determination of that. He wasn't on a track with concrete barriers, but rather old style posts and rails. He's on the grass side of the rail, so somehow he went over. Maybe front end, or a tire caught one of the posts and sent him flipping whereas he could have slide along a concrete barrier.
As said, hard to say without seeing the whole thing.
Maybe a diaper (did he have one?) would have kept water/oil off the tires. 
Posted By: Scott440
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/16/09 04:33 AM
i agree concrete wall wasn't an issue on that one...but his car was mangled (i think he hit the scoreboard).
i really am open to your ideas and whatever the 'perfect wall' is -- maybe could be used in nascar.
my understanding is the forum is for all forms of racing. if i'm wrong, just tell me.
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/16/09 11:56 AM
quote]i drag raced at lacr and once at fontana. my current car is strictly for road racing. i'd love to road race against your rail for it's pink slip can you trailer it 1,100 miles.
I've towed over 100K miles all over the country in the last 19 years. I've raced everything from a low 9 sec drag bike to a 5.49 ET TAD. 1100 miles is nothing.
NHRA has been studying safety for 50+ years, I beleive it's as safe as it can be right now without slowing down the cars. What fun would that be?
I think your ideas are way out there and not realistic.
In 2003 I hit the wall head on at 240 MPH and got out of the car on my own with no injurys, Thank God and the NHRA. Part of the reason I crashed was because of water coming up through the track and dips in the pavement, same day 5 other cars crashed in the same lane including Jason Line in Greg Andersons pro stock car. Been there, done it! It was my choice to go down the track that morning. NHRA closed that track early that year and repaved it.
Just got back from a 5000 mile road trip a month ago, I was in Kings Beach,Truckee Ca,Reno, Vegas, Colarodo Springs, Grand Canyon. I would have raced you in my street car just for fun.
Bonneville Salt flats
Red car is mine.
Posted By: jcc
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/16/09 02:19 PM
And I might add, using water anywhere near the track for safety really doesn't work IMO. Ever seen a 150 mph hydro skip multiple times and then dig into the water when out of control. Not pretty. And hitting water at high speed is a lot like concrete. Additionally it would likely spray the track in the other lane ruining his day. And 6" of water can drown someone. Imagine 6" of water being scooped up at hign speed by an upside down car with its windshield blown out. AT Mororos years ago on the road race course a sport car flipped upside down and slid thru the wet mud off course. The drivers compartment filled up with mud and he died before they could remove the mud and extract him.
The safest track likely would be 2 high concrete walls teflon lined only inches wider then the car and totally counterproductive to typical racing
Everyone now gets to choose how much safety they desire, or don't race.
Posted By: justinp61
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/16/09 08:39 PM
Most of the safty gaps I've seen at the race track were between the racers ears.
Posted By: Adobedude
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/16/09 09:20 PM
Quote:
Most of the safty gaps I've seen at the race track were between the racers ears.
Posted By: DCM71cuda
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/16/09 11:38 PM
Quote:
...too much attitude here given the lack of background.
I think my background in this area is well substantiated.
Water will not be used unless contained in a barrel.
Your Studebaker crash: The best way to prevent that crash is to prevent the mechanical failure. From the pictures shown, you can't tell much other than most of the rolling done by the car was on the grass and not the track. You can see the car was not on the guardrail anywhere near where it came to rest.
Posted By: cheapstreetdustr
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/17/09 12:34 AM
Quote:
prior to the 60s, seatbelts and helmets were sometimes missing from motorsports. now, it seems like an obvious safety gap...to even THINK otherwise is insane. we get a chuckle out of seeing leather racing helmets in old photos.
well, after seeing a few drag wrecks, i gotta say there are still some obvious things missing:
1-bigger, softer barricades ... hay bails burn rapidly , water filled drums hose down the track ... with or without a guard rail. just get rid of those concrete walls!nope keep car pointed down track to deflect blow. how about 4 rows of water drums on each side of the track, spaced. and space them a few feet apart to give the car more gradual deceleration.did someone mention all the issues water will create? and make the drum easy to split open -- water or fire slurry couldn't hurt a car on fire. yea but a simple little outa groove excursion and track is down for hrs drying/cleanup.
2-soft center divider along the entire strip so a crazy car doesn't take out his competitor (especially when the competitor is slightly behind). so it obstructs visibility for the fans -- even a 48" high wall sitting in a 12" deep trough could delay the cross over a second or two. shame on you sanctioning bodies -- if you've left this out for fan visibility, you've been getting away with murder. "what"
3-fluid catch pan/tray under the engine. how many times has something broke loose, spewing lubricant or coolant conveniently ahead of the rear tires. it could help with aerodynamics (smoother airflow under the car) and eliminate costly downtime (ridding the track of fluids).
yea and be a huge source of fuel for a fire
4-if a car has a parachute and is not reasonably close to the center of his lane, or tire pressure drops way low, or a fire occurs, there should be an electronic auto-deploy of the parachute. i'm sure with today's technology, the signal to deploy could be sent remotely by track equipment. OK, this concept is a bit elaborate, but definitely worthy of some trials. until i get the garage door opener code and deploy your shoot mid track in the other lane...oooops.....sorry dude.
while you're at it, apply these concepts to other forms of auto racing.
items 1-3 may be present at *some* strips today, but if drag racing is around in 2050, they will be universal, and people will laugh at 2010 safety standards.
i got something that will fix all of this..just attach said race car to a track or rail like a monotrain...that would be the safest...NOT!
or better yet..lets just race in the vertual cars they trailer in..the ones the KIDDDIES wait all day in line for....that would be safe!!!!
Posted By: nhramark
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/17/09 01:04 AM
When I saw this topic I had a few other ideas:
Pro Stock, Comp Eliminator, etc, DO NOT need a guy standing directly in front of the car during the burnout. Let that car get the least bit out of shape and you have a dead man. If you can pilot a 6 second car, you should be able to complete a burnout on your own.
Funny car crews should NEVER be allowed to reach their arms under the rear fenderwells to wipe the tires while that car is pulling up to the line. I don't want to see two guys lose both arms because of a throttle or clutch malfunction.
Downtrack safety crew, EMT, track manager, SOMEBODY should have full control of when next pair of cars go down the track. The starter should have NO authority to send cars down unless the downtrack person has given the "all clear." I have seen several times when a broken car was still on the track with the next pair coming right at them. No excuse for this at ANY level of racing EVER.
Also NHRA national events should allow maybe half the people at the starting line then they have now. Remember Doug Herberts starting line explosion? Scott Weis had one too a couple years ago. No way all those people are needed up there.
Posted By: Evil Spirit
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/17/09 01:12 AM
Before we re-invent the wheel, can I point out the obvious? Many of the problems at the track could have been caught with a thorough tech inspection. Broken stock axles in classes that require aftermarket. Lost wheels from missing lugs/studs. Fires from too much rubber line. Accidents in pits from missing neutral switches. At almost every track antifreeze is a no/no, but they never check for it in tech, then the track complains about it when it gets dumped on the racetrack. At this point I can't see why we need more rules to not get enforced, and tracks sure aren't going to spend money when it's the racers fault that their cars got damaged.
Posted By: Scott440
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/18/09 04:04 AM
for the studebaker, a simple tray like this is all i had in mind:
http://www.divergent.org/mikes.vws/images/R32/skidplate/plate_on_4.JPGif the track merely recommended a tray and the stude turned it down, then yep, his bad luck. BUT i would feel bad if someone turned down a tray and took out the guy in the next lane who put the time/$$ into his racecar.
i guess fontana has concrete walls because the sandy desert is not there to "decelerate" you like lacr or willow springs.
i read all your comments and you make a good arguments (even mentioning gaps that wouldn't cost anything to change, eg. procedures). Thanks.
In retrospect, the thread title is too "authoritative" and I didn't mean it that way.
Posted By: 68KillerBee
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/18/09 04:48 AM
Like someone else said, I think they have safety stuff as good as they can right now.
I've never raced, so maybe I'm off, but everyone knows that there is a chance they can wreck their car, opponents car, or even die doing this. But people are still going to do it because it's exciting. Just like sky diving, I'm guessing you think people should do that and land in a field of cotton and wear pillows
.
But I've never raced on a track, so maybe I'm "off".
Posted By: cgall
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/18/09 02:29 PM
The Studebaker crashed because an oil line for the turbocharger came loose. A diaper or bellypan may or may not have prevented the crash, depending on the location of the pump/filter. So the safety gap was an oversite in assembly or maintenance, very difficult to police.
There are no diapers for the radiator, master cylinder, or differential, any of which could leak on the track if an oversight in maintenance occurred.
Many Comp eliminator cars are being built with bellypans instead of diapers now. The pans are effective on a car that has a dry-sump oil pan and upswept headers. Most Mopars have a deep wet-sump oil pan and chassis headers, making a bellypan unworkable. It is difficult enough to fit an engine diaper on one with a stock K-member and draglink.
One of our local tracks decided to mandate diapers on all cars 9.99 and faster. The car count in Super Pro dropped dramatically. Of the 50 or so cars they get on Saturday nights, about 40 of them are dragsters.
Posted By: Scott440
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/19/09 03:37 AM
Quote:
, I'm guessing you think people should do that and land in a field of cotton and wear pillows
of course not, that's absurd. but there is something called a secondary/reserve chute. it's not mandatory so no one is forced to spend the extra $$$, but some people who opted out have obviously died as a result.
Posted By: SomeCarGuy
Re: drag racing: obvious safety gaps - 09/19/09 05:12 AM
Quote:
.
Downtrack safety crew, EMT, track manager, SOMEBODY should have full control of when next pair of cars go down the track. The starter should have NO authority to send cars down unless the downtrack person has given the "all clear." I have seen several times when a broken car was still on the track with the next pair coming right at them. No excuse for this at ANY level of racing EVER.
.
I raced at Edgewater in Cincy ONE time. I went in the tower and ripped the "management" a new one over sending cars down while other cars were still on the top end.
There were lots of ricer types there that day I for one didn't want one coming at their full 80 MPH capablity if I had a problem. I did see a broken down car at the top end get a set of cars sent at him before he even got out of the car, sitting right along the side of the groove.
I held up a TNT run to let cars clear and the starter about lost his mind- he even sent the other car on down the track while I was pointing at the top end where cars still were going.
When I told the management how damn stupid it was to be sending the cars on down like they were they couldn't have cared less.
Wonder why I never went back there 
