Harness and Seat rules for 2008

[hmeeder]

Ok, here’s the issue:

It became very obvious at the last AX that not enough people really took the time to thoroughly review the new rules for 2008.

Call it compassion, pity or a very late Christmas present, but we allowed a “one time” exemption for the first event of the year, since it was very clear that many drivers at the January 26th AX came unprepared for the new season.

I would like to make sure that no one gets disappointed because they are not permitted to participate on February 10th due to failing our safety inspections. Believe me, I would hate to have turn a single person away, but we are committed to enforcing the Zone 8 rules. We didn’t write them, but we are in the position of having to be the bad guys and making them stick. The safety of all of our members is our highest priority and we are tasked with protecting the club by protecting you.

Also, we don’t get to decide when to not follow those rules. Occasionally a rule will have “gray areas” or perhaps not be written clearly enough to make sure that there is no doubt as to its intent. However, all of the rules that we gave a pass on this last Saturday are very specific as to their intent and requirements.

Please, please read the rules and understand that they were proposed, reviewed and accepted many, many months ago.

The greatest concern was with the seatbelt/seat/harness rules which can be reviewed in section XIII here Zone 8 Rules.

The seatbelt/seat/harness rules were actually originally introduced in the 2007 rules, and have been available for review, consideration and amendment for well over a year and a half. The time to present arguments to change them was in June of 2007.

Having said all that, we do understand that there are financial impacts of having to comply with all of these rules. It is the main reason that they were posted a full year in advance; to allow participants to plan ahead for the coming competition year. That unfortunately didn’t work as well as we would have hoped. Also, in the case of some cars with value as a collector vehicles it becomes a particularly thorny issue to change out the original seatbelts or factory seats in order to come play with the rest of the club. We know it is difficult to decide what to do.

Steve Grosekemper is looking into the options that may be available, but there may not be many other ways to go. Please watch the forum for what he comes up with.

Again, please review the rules so you know what to expect for the rest of this competition year.

My apologies for the long post and I’m sure there will be responses as to how the rules impact us all. It’s too late to change them, but it certainly will be healthy for us to get it off our chests!

Thanks and don’t throw things at us.

Your “Q” Events Tech Chairs
Herb Meeder and George Taylor

[ronaldtrotter]

If you won't let us throw things at you, can we throw them at our rules chair. After all they are the guys getting the big buck to meet,publish and discuss rules changes.
Why should we be kept from running just because we didn't read the rules. Why would we as individuals accept the blame when we could lay it on you. That's what makes this kind of thing fun.



Thanks for all you guys do.

Ron

[thunderbox]

Looking at your avatar... You should be more worried about fire protection than belts and seats. But I guess rules are rules... I'll get rid of my hemp macrame belts and lawn chair that came out of my VW bus (I thought that German was German) and get something better. Thanks for the reminder.

[Dan Chambers]

Looking at your avatar... You should be more worried about fire protection than belts and seats. But I guess rules are rules... I'll get rid of my hemp macrame belts and lawn chair that came out of my VW bus (I thought that German was German) and get something better. Thanks for the reminder.

Where'd the hemp come from? Or as an old Jamaican friend use to say: "Hey bradda, you should be smokin' not yo car!"

[John Straub]

Herb....how about a fire system.


SOOO.....how many members do you think this seatbelt/seat/harness rule affects?

[ttweed]

SOOO.....how many members do you think this seatbelt/seat/harness rule affects?

John-
I don't know how many the other inspectors saw on Sat., but I personally talked to at least 3 or 4 people in tech out of the 30 or so I inspected that were impacted by the rule changes, so I am guessing maybe 10%? If it was a TT/DE inspection, the number would have been higher. Some of the people running 5-points w/ halo straps, etc., had their original OEM 3-point belts in place, still, so they have sufficient restraints for autox, but if they are not running S or SS class in a TT/DE they will not pass.

TT

[John Straub]

Well...I'm not saying this is a good or bad thing(other than cutting participation)at this point, but it seems to me that someone goes out buys a safety related item for their car(More power to them!), but then they think everyone should.

Is it something that is really needed for doing DE's or TT's?

Or should it be more for "Club Race" stuff?

Just asking...

[993Panzer]

We've been through this whole do we or don't we need the safety equipment. Basic replies include not for S or SS classes to there's no way I'll instruct a TT car with 3 point belts. Personnaly I'm very pro safety but I am sympathetic to the cost especially if someone lays out money for belts and seats etc for one or 2 TT's and decides it's not for them. They have spent a fair amount of money to learn they don't like it.

There seems to be no simple or fair answer.

So much for reiterative retoric that says nothing.

[Jad]

One point, this in NOT the time to question the rules, that was the last year when they were up for debate and comment. Now, since no one questioned them then, we live with them this year and maybe question them for next year at the appropriate time instead of after the season starts.

[John Straub]

Dave...I like that.

[ronaldtrotter]

We've been through this whole do we or don't we need the safety equipment. Basic replies include not for S or SS classes to there's no way I'll instruct a TT car with 3 point belts. Personnaly I'm very pro safety but I am sympathetic to the cost especially if someone lays out money for belts and seats etc for one or 2 TT's and decides it's not for them. They have spent a fair amount of money to learn they don't like it.

There seems to be no simple or fair answer.

So much for reiterative retoric that says nothing.

Hey are there any of those people out there who bought seats and don't like it. I'm in the market for seats for the 944.

Also Dave did you get my shirt XL?

[thunderbox]

We've been through this whole do we or don't we need the safety equipment. Basic replies include not for S or SS classes to there's no way I'll instruct a TT car with 3 point belts. Personnaly I'm very pro safety but I am sympathetic to the cost especially if someone lays out money for belts and seats etc for one or 2 TT's and decides it's not for them. They have spent a fair amount of money to learn they don't like it.

There seems to be no simple or fair answer.

So much for reiterative retoric that says nothing.

Hey are there any of those people out there who bought seats and don't like it. I'm in the market for seats for the 944.

Also Dave did you get my shirt XL?

Maybe he got you this one.


Or this one.

[993Panzer]

Hey are there any of those people out there who bought seats and don't like it. I'm in the market for seats for the 944.

Also Dave did you get my shirt XL?

Ron if I get my new seats in you can look and see if you want my Sparco Evo II's that I'm taking out. I hope to make the swap this weekend.

I did bring back a few shirts from Daytona. I'll bring them with me to the AX on the 10th. They are all XL and say "I think Dave's Great!!!"

[Kim Crosser]

They are all XL and say "I think Dave's Great!!!"

Of course, the quote is accompanied by a picture of the speaker - Carson Kressley. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

[ronaldtrotter]

I'm interested just let me know. If I get a shirt then Dave is great.!!!!!!