Howdy,
On Mon, 29 Mar 1999, Benjamin D Thatcher wrote:
> A low speed event in a small lot had a 90 degree turn following a slalom
> at about 35 mph. 25' past the turn was a curb. My future wife, blew the
> turn in an EP Datsun 510 and jumped the curb into the bushes.
>
> A Miata traversing a 45 mph set of offsets overcooked it, did a tank
> slapper and nudged into a concrete light pole at about 5 mph.
>
> A BMW 320is with R1s got loose in a 7 cone slalom (speed about 35 mph),
> didn't give up the run, tried to get back to the cone and flipped (driver
> received a minor scratch).
>
> None of the incidents occured because of course design that was unsafe or
> outside the rules. Autocrossing, though relatively safe, still has its
> dangers. Let's never forget that.
Well, I didn't see any of the indicents you're talking about, but from
what you've described I would certainly call the 1st course (curb jumper)
unsafe and maybe the second (pole collector).
I'm sure everyone thinks I'm a wus and whiner or whatever, but bottom line
I don't think it should be possible to hit something if you make a
mistake in an autox. Now, if I make a mistake, don't bail out and try to
save it and then smack something, its my fault. If I make a mistake,
spin, and hit something, that's the course designer's fault.
I don't care much about speed and agree with what a few folks have written
regarding safe high speed courses. Bottom line, in my mind, is that a
course isn't safe unless a driver can make a mistake (while on line) and
slide or spin to a halt without hitting something. That isn't the only
factor, but its a pretty major one. A driver should have to make at
least two mistakes (start to spin and try to save it when they should give
it up, etc.) to hit something. If your lot doesn't allow that, then find
a different lot.
Totally MHO I realize.
Mark
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