Carrera GT crash at California speedway: Verdict, Best to check out the facility Options

[drgchapman]

This is an article regarding the Carrera GT crash that killed the two guys in the car.
Big award......releases are suspect. Track had some fault due to barrier placement, driver had fault, everyone had some fault as in most things in life.

Be carefull out there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

http://www.sportscarmarket.com/content/carrera

[Chris Pincetich]

I wonder how many people at the track that faithful day thought to themselves "this isn't safe" and maybe mumbled it to their friends but never got the attention of the FOC officials???

I've only attended AX events, and this muttering happens a lot. Very relevant safety observations are made, but people don't feel like actually talking to someone that matters and can make an immediate change. EVERY time someone has said "Hey Bill (insert local guy's name) that course worker is in an unsafe position" he has run out and made a change for the better. MOST organizers are not so full of themselves that they will ignore such observations.

I go to these car racing events and people are secretive, loners, full of themselves, crossing their arms, unapproachable and stuff....I'm not that type and will/have told organizers what I think. As a participant, I want a safe event and I think all others do too, and they need to help out and let organizers KNOW when something needs to be corrected.

Here's to another year of safe driving (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[jhadler]

...Very relevant safety observations are made, but people don't feel like actually talking to someone that matters and can make an immediate change. EVERY time someone has said "Hey Bill (insert local guy's name) that course worker is in an unsafe position" he has run out and made a change for the better. MOST organizers are not so full of themselves that they will ignore such observations.

And this is the important thing to remember. At a club event, regardless of the club, safety is EVERYONE'S responsibility.Just because you aren't wearing the hat/vest/radio that says you're the go-to guy for safety matters, doesn't meanyou ignore a safety issue. At club events, there are never enough people to see everything that goes on. If someone sees something they feel is unsafe, and they do nothing... What if that causes harm to them or someone else? Bring it to the attention of the event officials, and 99.9% of the time thank you for the observation and either make an effort to correct it, or at least explain to you why it isn't a hazard. Very rarely will a safety concern be brushed off by even officials. Doesn't matter if it's at an autox, DE, TT, or Club Race. Safety is everyone's job. It just so happens that the guy/gall wearing the hat/vest/radio is tasked with making that their ONLY job while they're wearing said hat/vest/radio. You on the other hand have other things to be preoccupied with. Like changing wheels, torquing lug nuts, adjusting harnesses, memorizing the course/track, and countless other things...

I go to these car racing events and people are secretive, loners, full of themselves, crossing their arms, unapproachable and stuff....

Wow. What events are these? I have yet to attend a club event (SCCA, PCS, BMWCCA, NASA) where the officials were so stand-off-ish. If I were to go to an event today and find officials like that, I'd pack up and go home. And make sure to tell whomever was interested exactly why I was leaving...

I'm not that type and will/have told organizers what I think. As a participant, I want a safe event and I think all others do too, and they need to help out and let organizers KNOW when something needs to be corrected.

Agreed. Everyone wants to leave the event with cars in the same condition they arrived in (minus some gas and tire rubber). And bodies as well. A little exhaustion is fine, but damaged limbs is NOT an acceptable risk for an event.

There is always an accepted level of risk to all car events. Autox has an accepted level of risk, DE's and TT's do to, although they're not the same level. You operate within that acceptable level of risk, and you don't have to hold your breath when the course is hot. If you, as an official, have to hold your breath and cross your fingers, then stop the event ASAP. Fix the problem and continue, or call it all off. Some clubs find that they are willing to operate with a higher level of acceptable risk than others do. It is up to the entrant to decide what they're comfortable with. There is one track club that I will no longer run with because of their attitude towards safety. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)

Here's to another year of safe driving (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Absolutely!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

-Josh2