Bad Stats. Rocky is more correct: This year alone two deaths from heart attack,
years past that I know for sure: one driver AND a passenger.
Mike D
In a message dated Thu, 26 Jul 2001 6:55:12 PM Eastern Daylight Time, "Eric
Salem" <eric@mail.brown911.com> writes:
> 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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