I've seen way more torrid conversation about speed and safety at
autocross than I would like <g>. I've even been subjected to some
criticism in this area. Way too much of the "concern" about top speed is
subjective BS. We recently had a course here in Atlanta that a competitor
in a GS car claimed he was hitting 70 mph on. The course designer has a
CP car with 600 hp that tached at 62 mph in that same section. Drivers
often forget that those sticky tires are often shorter than stock which
give wildly optimistic mph readings on the speedo. Undoubtedly it FELT
like he was well beyond 70 mph.
Here's the deal. Autocross (Solo II) is "relatively" safe compared to
wheel to wheel racing or even Solo I type events. However, if it was
totally safe (to the degree that some desire on team.net) we wouldn't
even have to wear helmets and seat belts. And few if any of us would want
to participate.
The element of danger is ever present and something we really need to
respect and keep formost in our minds. In my 13 years experience I have
witnessed 3 instances of car damage from hitting objects. NONE of these
incidents occured because of speed in excess of the rules. Let me be
specific:
A low speed event in a small lot had a 90 degree turn following a slalom
at about 35 mph. 25' past the turn was a curb. My future wife, blew the
turn in an EP Datsun 510 and jumped the curb into the bushes.
A Miata traversing a 45 mph set of offsets overcooked it, did a tank
slapper and nudged into a concrete light pole at about 5 mph.
A BMW 320is with R1s got loose in a 7 cone slalom (speed about 35 mph),
didn't give up the run, tried to get back to the cone and flipped (driver
received a minor scratch).
None of the incidents occured because of course design that was unsafe or
outside the rules. Autocrossing, though relatively safe, still has its
dangers. Let's never forget that.
Upper limit speeds on a course aren't a real problem IF it is done in a
straight line followed by a nice straight braking zone for the next
corner. Many course designers mistakenly believe that throwing curves in
a straight will slow things down, but many times these "offsets" are much
more dangerous than that wide-open straight. I too watched some 50 mph
offsets at Topeka that produced some of the wildest spins, tank slappers
and ugly car maneuvers I've ever seen. I was glad none of the Miatas got
upside down!
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