Midget side panels.
 

Maybe I've not been paying attention, But when did they allow the small opening on the left side as well?

If you land upside down, fire, fuel leaking, hot oil pouring in, two ways out are better than none.

And to go with that question; how does it make the racing any better. Way more negatives than positives.

Re: Midget side panels.
 

I like being able to see a driver wheel a car but with the safety advances the driver is more concealed than in years past. It was fun watching Conner Daly hustling his midget in his bright green uniform last weekend.

closing up the left side of the cockpit is NOT a "safety advancement". It is a brain fart. Somebody thinks it might make him .001 sec quicker; or keep somebody from taking a video and seeing which shocks are getting adjusted. Or reason of the hour, but absolutely not a safety advancement.

Re: Midget side panels.
 

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
Maybe I've not been paying attention, But when did they allow the small opening on the left side as well?

If you land upside down, fire, fuel leaking, hot oil pouring in, two ways out are better than none.

So I can't speak for everyone else, but when I added them to my sprint car, it reduced the glare inside my shield. Therefore I added them full time.

JJ Hughes

I'll bet Simpson can give you a WAY safer way of getting rid of glare.

Re: Midget side panels.
 

Personally speaking I'm going to be adding a horizontal bar and fiberglass panel or aluminum to my car on the left side. Not as drastic as a lot of people do, but above my elbow a little bit. It's going to fit in within the rules and then some and if someone has a problem with it, they can go buy their own car and do what they want with it, but having a left side open like this is not very safe.

Also before anyone says anything I measured and 3D model tested on the computer. At least with my application a vertical safety bar to do as much as a horizontal would due to protect. The Vertical bar would make a smaller gap to get in and out of, compared to horizontal bar.

Re: Midget side panels.
 

I don't think anyone was complaining about the extra bars...it's the panels that are added that many ticket buyers don't prefer...I understand they keep arms in the car and rocks out, but I agree it would make it harder to get out, if they extend beyond the bars (vertical or horizontal).

Re: Midget side panels.
 

Originally Posted by jdull99:
I don't think anyone was complaining about the extra bars...it's the panels that are added that many ticket buyers don't prefer...I understand they keep arms in the car and rocks out, but I agree it would make it harder to get out, if they extend beyond the bars (vertical or horizontal).

Reason I've brought up adding bars is I've had more people complain about bars, mainly horizontal ones on my car then about body panels on it. Except side sun visors, I always hear complaints about them. Mine are only 3 1/2-4 inches though, they're allowed to be longer, but I don't go any lower then top of my seat. I got lots of complaint's with this red car having a bar and a sun visor.

Re: Midget side panels.
 

Originally Posted by HDbill:
closing up the left side of the cockpit is NOT a "safety advancement". It is a brain fart. Somebody thinks it might make him .001 sec quicker; or keep somebody from taking a video and seeing which shocks are getting adjusted. Or reason of the hour, but absolutely not a safety advancement.

I was just trying to be PC about calling the side left side panels safety advances. TBH I do not like them, but my butt isn't in the car, and some people will come on here and get very upset if you mention removing some of the side panels.

I ran the left side closed on my midget. But it is open on my sprint. So i dont have any preference. But

1. Do you guys not feel like if you NEEDED to get out of a car that you could rip the panel out of the dzus button?
2. I would guess the average driver can still fit through the side window most of the time. (In a sprint car atleast. Midget with a side visor might be too small)

When I get to watch races throughout my night I personally never look at people working the wheel, however when I'm sitting with some one that's new to racing, that is the first thing I tell them to look at. So I understand. I dont feel like it has an impact on the racing so unless you can find a significant safety advantage or disadvantage in running one then i feel like it doesnt matter either way. Its a good spot to sell advertising. Personal preference. Just my thoughts about it.

USAC Belleville Nationals
A few years ago I had to take off L&R side visors They were not allowed I said they could help keep a wheel out Then took them off
Things change So what about a electric powered midget ?

Re: Midget side panels.
 

Watching Bakersfield tonight, which appears to be a lovely little track, but most of the left sides of the cars are pretty open. Some are more closed up but I guess that's the way body styles are now. I don't believe that left side panels hide shock adjustments and such things. It look like Larson's cockpit is pretty open for anyone to see. Its just all a matter of preference today. Now onto the racing!!!!!

Re: Midget side panels.
 

Yeah well there was just a big fire and the guy trying to get thru the little side wasn't having much luck knocking it down, The guy who got to the left side did knock it down quick. Yes, the driver was in the car the whole time. Luckily he's fine.

I get it, rocks, wheels etc can get in, But rescuers and fire fighters need too as well. With both sides having a six inch window, not much to work with.

Just seems to add danger than reduce it.

Overall the bodies have gotten out of control and Charles you’re right. They need to get it regulated

Things change So what about a electric powered midget ?[/QUOTE]

Seems like I remember one being built out in Cali years ago and an article covering it in , I believe it was Circle Track

Re: Midget side panels.
 

Main problem I see with the midget panels now is the side panel/arm guard and the sun visor is 1 piece and not 2. I purposely run zip ties on side visors so the visors aren't to rigid and will bend out of the way. Also zip ties can break with enough force. Car I just bought has dzus tabs on for the side visors, but I will not be using the tabs and will be zip tying them on.

Re: Midget side panels.
 

I kinda feel that when it's your arse in the seat, and your hand in your wallet, it's your choice on the car. But what do I know....

Re: Midget side panels.
 

Your point is well taken. But that kind of thinking is what caused it to take so long to get cages on the cars and full containment seats. Some fans don't come back after their kids watched a driver get hurt. If all of those side panels were "easy off"; the problem would be much less. But most are fastened to not come off. THAT is a problem for a driver that needs to get out of a car on its top. nobody needs to get trapped in a fire.

Re: Midget side panels.
 

My mistake, The driver in the incident last night did recieve several burns and is getting treatments. Prayers of a speedy recovery.

Re: Midget side panels.
 

Originally Posted by hoscalecody:
Main problem I see with the midget panels now is the side panel/arm guard and the sun visor is 1 piece and not 2. I purposely run zip ties on side visors so the visors aren't to rigid and will bend out of the way. Also zip ties can break with enough force. Car I just bought has dzus tabs on for the side visors, but I will not be using the tabs and will be zip tying them on.

This is my point, The side panel, side skirt and side visor on the drivers side, one piece and impossible to get into our out of the drivers side. We've seen that for several years on the right side. But like that incident last night, The fire can't be fought from the top even if it lands or stops on it's wheels. And the driver needs a second way out if it lands upside down with fuel, scalding water or oil pouring on him/her.

Not much on the zip tie Idea either, but I get it. They may last a couple nights on a visor but vibration and forces will cause the part to actually cut them. Im not actually talking about a side visor.

Re: Midget side panels.
 

Originally Posted by HDbill:
Your point is well taken. But that kind of thinking is what caused it to take so long to get cages on the cars and full containment seats. Some fans don't come back after their kids watched a driver get hurt. If all of those side panels were "easy off"; the problem would be much less. But most are fastened to not come off. THAT is a problem for a driver that needs to get out of a car on its top. nobody needs to get trapped in a fire.

But, it's a great idea to weld in more bars that cant be removed(WOO cage bars)
?

Re: Midget side panels.
 

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
This is my point, The side panel, side skirt and side visor on the drivers side, one piece and impossible to get into our out of the drivers side. We've seen that for several years on the right side. But like that incident last night, The fire can't be fought from the top even if it lands or stops on it's wheels. And the driver needs a second way out if it lands upside down with fuel, scalding water or oil pouring on him/her.

Not much on the zip tie Idea either, but I get it. They may last a couple nights on a visor but vibration and forces will cause the part to actually cut them. Im not actually talking about a side visor.

The car that caught fire, the whole left side was open, except for maybe a 3-4 inch side visor. Which was a separate piece from the sail panel dzused on though.
Also on the zip tie aspect, this picture is only time we've had a zip tie break and a panel fall off, for the visors. The front visor fell off and 1 zip tie broke on the right visor. The tail tank cover ripped off because the fiberglass ripped apart (Which went flying about 40ish feet in the air.) Same with the hood starting to fall off. This was 3 flips in and flipped 3 more times after.

This is a catch 22. Basically it comes down to preference for the driver. It is a safety feature. True it does make it nearly impossible to get out if you’re upside down but it also contains the arms and keeps things out. I personally watched a winged car blow a left rear and the tire came in the cockpit, wrapped around the drivers arm and nearly ripped it off. There are a lot of variables. Much more to it than what you find appealing.

Re: Midget side panels.
 

I don't remember saying anything about welding in more bars. But I have no problem with them IF the driver can get out. And arm restraints should be adjusted to keep arms in the car in case the driver becomes unconscious. I am a big fan of whatever changes are necessary to keep the nose of a car out of the top of a cage when a car is on it's side. I just don't want anybody hurt for any reason racing my favorite race cars.