Wes,
The BMW incident was what came to my mind initially. What I didn't know was
whether he missed it intentially (apparently so) or just didn't see it. My
thoughts ran along the same line as John's - put the net at the very end of the
coursre as a last ditch (I know, bad pun) effort to stop before the mud or
ponds. As for visability, maybe you could use large red balloons like on the
dirt. (don't make them purple or Keith will aim for them)
Ed
Wester S Potter wrote:
> Hi,
> The catch net was placed about four-tenths of a mile from the dike the one
> year when it was used. It's been a while and I think a diesel truck did use
> it but I could be wrong. The one streamliner that probably should have used
> it, didn't, landed in a pond where there was a hole in the dike at the time.
> The hole has been filled in now and that's one of the reasons we don't do
> two way record runs on the "short" course. There was a well marked lane to
> the net but perhaps it was too abrupt a turn even then for someone going
> fast enough to need the net. If we go to the longer course you can be sure
> that the net will be about half a mile from the end of the dragged course no
> matter how long the course may be. It's an extreme measure intended to only
> be used as a final option when every thing else has gone wrong, i.e. all
> chutes blown, no brakes, moving too fast to make the needed turn to parallel
> the freeway for a mile or so to stop.
> The net is heavy strapping with large parachutes in canisters on either end.
> It's supported on pvc pipe just high enough off the ground to be visible but
> it is about four feet high
> and strong enough to hold up with a good hit. The problem is that there may
> be trouble even spotting it with some very restrictive canopy's. It can't
> be too near the course and can't be too far off the course or it is
> worthless. Only an extreme measure for stopping and it would need a very
> cool driver who thinks fast to really get the best use out of it.
> I don't think Camaro drivers need to worry ... the term "like a ton of
> bricks" indicates something heavy just stopping in one spot rather quickly.
> Wes
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