Mark, I've raced vintage for almost 20 years, I've done as many as 15 races
in one year. I've raced all over the country and I can tell you that
suspension failure problems are extremely rare.
This is a perfect example of the cure being worse than the problem.
Are you actually suggesting that EVERY car racing in Vintage be required to
go through a suspension disassembly and inspection on an annual basis ?
The safety record of Vintage record is phenomenally low compared to any
other sport. We have fuel cells, fire systems, roll bars and fireproof
underwear. Relax and enjoy yourself. This is supposed to be fun.
Don
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Palmer [mailto:mgvrmark@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 3:24 PM
To: donqueen@inreach.com; vintage-race@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: Broken Stub Axle (Spindle) on Austin-Healey 3000
Don,
With all due respect, I just have to disagree ... yes there are probably 100
other safety items that one could do, and I understand there is a point of
marginal benefit and we don't need go as far as F1 or NASCAR. But, to my
mind, the risks involved with suspension failure are just too serious, and
the probability is significant enough (on 40 year old cars, especially), to
warrant yearly inspection.
I think annual inspection is comparable in priority to a decent roll bar,
harness, helmet, suit etc. I wouldn't race without either.
Mark Palmer
>From: "Don Queen" <donqueen@inreach.com>
>Reply-To: <donqueen@inreach.com>
>To: "Mark Palmer" <mgvrmark@hotmail.com>, <vintage-race@autox.team.net>
>Subject: RE: Broken Stub Axle (Spindle) on Austin-Healey 3000
>Date: Wed, 30 May 2001 08:35:26 -0700
>
>It's difficult to argue with someone who's technically right, but let's get
>real. Of Course it would be good to have all vintage race cars suspensions
>magnafluxed yearly. I can think of a 100 other suggestions that MIGHT help
>prevent an accident, but to suggest that someone should give up the sport
>because their car was not recently magnafluxed is simply out of line.
>
>Don Queen
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-vintage-race@autox.team.net
>[mailto:owner-vintage-race@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Mark Palmer
>Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2001 8:38 PM
>To: vintage-race@autox.team.net
>Subject: Re: Broken Stub Axle (Spindle) on Austin-Healey 3000
>
>
>Listers,
>
>Two points: whenever you experience a failure of this sort, please report
>it
>to Ely Fishkin, the Secretary of Vintage Motorsports Council. He is
>valiantly trying to create & maintain a database of vintage car failures,
>so
>that it can be used to forewarn others of common failure points. Ely's
>phone number is 303-753-1090, he has e-mail but I can't lay my hands on
>that
>address right now.
>
>Second point -- "it was magged OK eight years ago" -- EIGHT YEARS AGO?
>Seems to me you ought to be magnafluxing all the critical suspension bits
>at
>least once a season (including the ones that are supposedly not weak points
>-- and it's hard to imagine which suspension parts AREN'T critical). IMHO
>that's a minimum level of maintenance required for any form of racing. If
>for some reason you don't want to do that, you should seriously reconsider
>whether you ought to be racing at all.
>
>We often hear certain rationalizations for lesser levels of maintenance --
>"I'm not going that fast", "I don't race that often", etc etc. I view
>those as excuses, and dangerous ones. I don't have statistically perfect
>data, but over the course of attending about 100 vintage races I've never
>really seen a correlation between speed and broken parts, or race frequency
>and broken parts. A broken spindle can happen to anyone, anytime, so we
>all
>need to be vigilant (and yes, even yearly magnaflux isn't a perfect
>preventative).
>
>Mark Palmer (who broke a front hub a while back -- even tho it was magged
>at
>the beginning of the season)
>
>
> >From: Fred Crowley <oldwolf@airmail.net>
> >Reply-To: Fred Crowley <oldwolf@airmail.net>
> >CC: vintage-race@autox.team.net
> >Subject: Re: Broken Stub Axle (Spindle) on Austin-Healey 3000
> >Date: Tue, 29 May 2001 21:47:26 -0500
> >
> >I've seen this before. Not common - but it can happen. I check the hubs
>on
> >my
> >3000 after every event (dye penetrant). Denis Welch in the UK has some
> >stronger front hubs that I would seriously look into. It's a straight
> >replacement for the stock hubs - better metal and a better radius where
>the
> >stub meets the upright. Worth the money.
> >
> >Regards Fred
> >
> >"Gary Black (Hexagon Transportation Consultants)" wrote:
> >
> > > Listers,
> > >
> > > Just returned from the CSRG race at Sears Point. Thought some might be
> > > interested to learn that I broke a front stub axle. Wheel fell off on
> >the
> > > cool-down lap. No damage to driver but some body damage from the wheel
> > > passing by. The axle was crack-checked 8 years ago. Not a weakness on
> >big
> > > Healeys that I was aware of. Will crack-check the axles on a more
> >regular
> > > basis hereafter.
> > >
> > > Gary K. Black
> > > HEXAGON TRANSPORTATION CONSULTANTS, INC.
> > > 40 S. Market Street, Suite 600
> > > San Jose, CA 95113
> > > Tel: 408-971-6100
> > > Fax: 408-971-6102
> > > www.hextrans.com
> >
> >[demime 0.97c removed an attachment of type text/x-vcard which had a name
> >of oldwolf.vcf]
>
>_________________________________________________________________
>
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