1. Foam cap that fits the cage?
2. Tires around the top of concrete walls?
3. Age limit ? Local
4. Track Prep.
5. Driver Safety


Lets expand on these ideas.

#1 good idea! But how do you form it fit all cages? Maybe like indy car seats?

#2 Place tires on top of concrete wall edge. Up and down so more tire compression and chusioning. Tires laid flat would have less compress area.

#3 Tough call. Kids with dads money? kids that can drive but no $, .25 upgraders.

#4 Scrach the track when it slicks over. Claw it up maybe 1 inch deep. Add a little rough ness for tires to grab on? spend 10 minutes scratching the track before the main and toss a little water.

#5 Maybe Impact would help with testing various neck systems for open wheel cars? They all help but what one is the best for open wheel.


:dologob:


Lots of important Racing people pass thru the site. Maybe good ideas might become suggested rules and help make the sport safer.

[QUOTE=D.O.;69561]1. Foam cap that fits the cage?
I could see things like putting Nerfs on a shock absorber wiht a low rebound rate significantly absorbing shock and kinetic energy slowing a nose to tale significantly. Don't know how feasable it is. Cap? I don't know. If there is some significantly shock absorbing material that could wrap the cage Id be for that but the top of the car is the fastest emergency escape with drivers using high cockpit sides and nets.

2. Tires around the top of concrete walls?
More like Fences flush with tops of concrete walls or no open wheel racing. This is 2008 and cars still comming down on top of walls and exiting tracks are just unjustified or called for

3. Age limit ? Local
No but Id have them judged among peers of the track as to after say 3-5 races they are still exhibiting dangerous and careless driving as to if they can continue.

4. Track Prep.
I know of no promotor who preps his track to be dangerous on purpose. Slower and harder also means harder impact, more spins ect. Holes and ruts should at least be given attention. This does not mean cushions should be graded off or packed down unless its excessive

5. Driver Safety
The only thing I see here is some not being patient enough. Better to finish second and race again than make a risky move at least early in a race that could end a career or life. Use every saftey device available to you thats proven.


It's not my life, health or equiptment. I just want to see you guys race next week and live long productive lives.

Lets expand on these ideas.

As far as the age deal talent has little to due with younger kids in sprint cars, how much there developing body can withstand is what should be considered. I do not want to think about what this would have done to somebody younger and not in the great shape Arin is in. The longer and higher they bank the the tracks the faster these cars are going to go, the word self cleaning has been used as a reason for the banking what until while the track is cleaning its self and just happens to take a cage off of a passing car. This is not directed at anyone as I know the people running the tracks do not want to see anybody get hurt. Talk to some of the drivers just before Eldora, they want the race over as soon as possible due to the risk that track holds. I hope whoever takes over Gas City does not make it longer and add a bunch of banking adding yet another night of white knuckle racing for all involved. I also know you can get hurt at any track. Again this is just my opinion and not meant to make anyone mad.

Jerry #66j
www.joshspencer.com

why not just slow the cars down. take away horse power. hitting a wall at 100 mph has to be better than hitting a wall at 130 mph. with today's safety equipment slowing down the cars would be huge. but no one wants to slow down the cars. what do i hear, if you want to go slower go run a 305 cu in sprint or a sportsman midget, it would cost too much money, and so on.

just my 2 cents.

take up golfing?


but seriously tho... I think walls should be the main focus. Soft walls would be ideal if money wasnt an issue.

1. foam cap- not practical...likely not effective...would make an interesting test...
let's try just enforcing USAC's cage height rule (largely ignored- good rule!)
Recently heard USAC discuss this rule on the scanner and they elected not to
enforce it- that was a terrible idea! Enforce it and check it every night!
2. tires atop concrete walls- not convinced there is value (hey, who thought
rectangular steel panels with stryofoam mounts would be valuable!) There are
some improvements to fence design that might be helpful. Face it, fences and
flipping race cars are a bad combination.
3. age limit- gut tells me usually age/experience=better judgment...factual?
4. track prep- I believe ruts are the bad things...everything else is relative...
faster means harder hits
5. driver safety- head and neck restraints are not debatable, try them see which is
best for you (the new R2 looks very good on sled stats)...head nets on both
sides are needed...more consistent use of better seat tech...replace your belts
every 2 years and watch how they are installed...replace your helmet and suit
periodically...wear your FR underwear!

Look at the Stenhouse crash at Eldora...that's what the good stuff will do for you!

It is great to see a discussion like this...great feedback!

now i can add take up golfing to the list. it just keeps going.

1. How do you attach it? What happens on the second flip ?

2. Good idea, bit I keep thinking of that piece of rubber on Anderson's pit entrance. It works like a slingshot when hit.

3. Age limits. A couple more serious injuries to youngsters, the insurance
companies will do it.

4. Track prep. Promoters say a heavy track is too fast and dangerous. Others say a hard slickie is, you can't drive around a problem.In the end this comes down to the driver, to decide how much is too much.

5.I've said this a million times. You can buy a used tire, weezer motor, always , but always, buy the best safety gear you can.

The foam cap was my idea. It could be made with a can of spray foam insulation , just use a box to make the foam block or just make a foam block with wire ties to attach it to the top of the cage. You asked what about the second flip? the idea is to take as much energy out of the moving mass (the car) on the first impact and to help protect the drivers head . Also if the car has made that first impact on its top most likely the foam is now gone ,opening the exit route out the top of the car. I also think a wider cage would give more room to mount a better capsule type of seat ,or maybe a loop type of bar that would be mounted to the cage behind the driver to keep the head area of the cage farther away from the wall . Get well soon to Arin and Kenny.

after talking to some people i think the key idea is a safety inspection at the track... i honeslty dont think other than usac i have ever seen sprint car safety tech, im not trying to offend anyone but i think there is a lot more that could be done in making sure helmets were up to date, belts were sfi dated recent, belts are installed correctly, seats are mounted properly, there is enough head room between the top of the drivers helmet and cage, i mean the lis could go on and on, but like Andrew Prather and i were talking and he brought up the idea there should be a group of officials, one from each track that meet one a month, to come up with these standards, clear cars by tech stickers, all the years andy and i raced go karts out stuff was safety checked every day, i think people would be surprised how many cars arent really safe....