ttweed wrote:David Ray wrote:I remember at the last DE in SD I was waiting in the inspection line. A participant in the other line was getting inspected and didn’t have a fire extinguisher. He said it was waived because he was a “new” student. Long story short, as I recall he was allowed to run the DE without a safety device that is clearly marked as a necessity(not an option in the rules). The short story is” we have to show a valid membership card to clear inspection”, but not have the minimum amount of safety devices required in our cars? I’m puzzled?
David- No need to be puzzled. As the Tech chair for that DE event, and the person who inspected the student's car in question, I can tell you that your assumption that the student was allowed to participate without required safety equipment is mistaken. He was shown the relevant rule and given the opportunity to correct the deficiency or go home. I advised him to go next door to Lowe's and purchase a 10BC extinguisher with vehicle bracket if he wanted to participate that day. He did, and installed it, was re-inspected and approved before the 9:00am start. He would never have been allowed to run without it.
I applaud your concern for safety, but your "recollection" about the events of that day is incomplete and leaves the impression that PCA-SDR is lax in enforcement of safety provisions. This is incorrect and unfair to the Club.
TT
David:
As the Chair of the DE event I can concur with Mr. Tweed. I was made aware of the situation by the student, who was concerned about the start time, and losing track time. I told him there was plenty of time to get the necessary parts and not miss a single lap. He did what was necessary, and was in compliance. No car ran in the DE without the minimum safety requirements. As the Chair of driving events past, many a driver will tell you I NEVER bend the rules when it comes to safety, and safety equipment. It is both my personal attitude, and the policy of the PCA-SDR that safety rules are RIGOUROUSLY enforced, without exceptions. At the same DE we had a Boxter with inappropriate bolts for his 5-point harness. When we said they were out of compliance, he briefly protested that they were installed by a shop in his home town, and were acceptable in his region. WE said no. He went to a local shop, and spent the better part of the evening with the shop owner installing the proper bolts. He was
re-inspected, and passed.
Some drivers will tell you I'm "unnecessarily strict" when it comes to safety equipment, safe vehicles, and safe track designs. D@MN RIGHT! Can you be too safe? Can you be too concerned about driver's well being? I won't compromise safety for "a little more fun and advanture."
Tom Tweed, Dave Gardner, Steve Dente, Steve Grosekemper, Gary Burch, Chuck Sharp, Curt Yaws, Carl Scragg, Jad Duncan, Jack Miller, Keith Verlaque, Bob Schang, The CDI's, and many others should be applauded for their efforts to keep every event safe. Hours and hours of volunteer time behind the scenes over the years by many members have insured a safe driving program with lots of fun.
I, for one, applaud the efforts of everyone who puts safety above all else. Keep up the good work, guys and gals!
David, your concern for safety is commendable. I'm very happy to see people with eyes wide open to the issues of safety. You really can't be too safe, IMHO.
Now, back to your regularly scheduled net-surfing.......