In the SSS I attended they said there have been two deaths since '73.
One driver had a heart attack while driving, and the other was a
spectator standing near the course without a spotter who was hit by a
corvette.
e
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-autox@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-autox@autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of Rocky Entriken
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 5:47 PM
To: Terry Hill; 'Autocross list'
Subject: Re: Safety statistics
I've never seen any database for Solo II accident statistics, probably
because the stats are few. Don't say injury cannot happen, because it
can, and has, including fatalities. I know of three, maybe four, that
have happened in the 35 years I've been in the sport (which is a *very*
small percentage, but easily blown out of proportion). One was
spectator, one (maybe two) were drivers, one was passenger.
I've seen a number of rollovers in my time. Maybe a dozen or so. The
worst injury was a 1970 rollo of an MG Midget. The driver still had his
hand on top of the steering wheel and it got kinda mangled between wheel
and concrete. Nothing broken, just torn-up skin. The only two occasions
where I saw a driver was taken to the emergency room, they returned to
the event before it was over.
I've never seen any lesser mishap (e.g. spinouts, even curb contact,
etc.) result in injury.
I'd suggest, first, call Denver (800-770-2055) and talk to Pete Lyon or
Candice Zucker in the SCCA Risk Management office. If any numbers exist,
that's where they'd be. Be sure to get numbers on total events, total
participants per year and stand that beside total incidents. You may
even have a ratio of fewer injuries per run in solo II than injuries per
mile in highway driving. Don't try to deny that accidents can happen,
rather stress the rarity.
Second, have the SCCA Solo II Rulebook at hand, and quote liberally from
the safety sections. The ones that tell about max speed (less than
highway), rules for passengers including minor passengers, etc., to
illustrate that these events that "expose the children to extreme
danger" are in fact conducted with utmost attention to safety (we have a
Safety Steward program - the only licensed specialty in Solo II) and in
an environment that encourages safe driving.
This of course presumes that the kids in question are old enough to ride
as passengers and are abiding by the safety constraints required by the
Solo II rules.
Then you make the argument that Daddy is grossly overstating the case to
create a false impression. Solo II, in fact, amounts to advanced driver
education.
Daddy is banking on the imagery of motorsport (as a generality) as being
hazardous. The difference between perception and reality -- especially
when the specific reality is Solo II -- is enormous, and that difference
must be made clear to the court. Stock-class autocross cars going about
45 mph one at a time between pylons on an open lot is not the same as
Indy cars doing 220 wheel to wheel and crashing into concrete walls. But
to the uninitiated, they are the same thing.
--Rocky Entriken
-----Original Message-----
From: Terry Hill <thill@novaengr.com>
To: 'Autocross list' <autox@autox.team.net>
Date: Thursday, July 26, 2001 5:15 PM
Subject: Safety statistics
>One of my friends is currently engaged in a custody battle for her
>kids,
and
>her soon-to-be-ex-husband is citing the kids' autocrossing (as
>passengers) as evidence that their mother "exposes the children to
>extreme danger", which the divorce courts would obviously frown upon.
>
>I've been running Solo II events since the early 70's (when many clubs
still
>called them gymkhanas), and I've never seen anyone hurt. Anyone
subscribing
>to this list probably shares my view... the drive to and from the event
>is more dangerous than the event itself. However, my friend needs to
>cite
some
>statistics which will prove this point. Can anyone direct me to a
>compilation of accident statistics for Solo II?
>
>I'm aware that the insurance companies do NOT regard Solo II as a
>"contest of speed", and that normal insurance coverage remains in
>force, but I'd
like
>to offer some additional backing to demonstrate the safety of the
>sport.
>
>Best Regards,
>
>Terry Hill
>
>Nova Engineering, Inc.
>mail: 5 Circle Freeway Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45246
>Tel.: 513-642-3104
>Fax: 513-642-3304
>www: http://www.nova-eng.com
>mailto:thill@nova-eng.com
>=========================
>
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