One small note: on funkhanas, the Austin Healey Club competition safety
recommendations strongly advise against any form of competition where the
driver is blindfolded. Too many unfortunate accidents have occured when a
driver got too excited, missed the brake, hit the accelerator, and wound up
in a situation he/she could not correct because of not being able to see. We
have some interesting pictures in the Healey archives of one car being fished
out of a river that was nearly 100 yards off the course due to the driver
losing control with a paper sack over his head. Can you imagine if a crowd
or building had been along that route?
Another good rule--if the navigator exits the car for some part of an event
(e.g. push a floor jack around the car) then the car can not be put back into
gear until the navigator is back in the car and has his/her seatbelt fastened
with the door closed.
Final good rule. Test each event and the complete course before opening it
to competitors.
Otherwise, funkhanas are a great, uproarious way to spend an afternoon at a
meet, with the variety of competitive events limited only by the creativity
of the organizers.
Cheers
Gary Anderson
Editor, British Car Magazine
Past President Austin Healey Club, Pacific Centre
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