Making a sprint car safe

smckeown · 18 May 2007, 21:32 (Ref:1916305)

It occurs to be i've spend a lot of money on my track car (soon to be sprint car) in terms of handling, power and on essential safety.

Where can you find more information in terms of good safety tips, I mean on how to make your car even safer in the event of an accident/fire etc.

Relevant items I have so far:

cage (FIA comp[liant, welded and professionaly fitted)
harnesses (FIA compliant, 6 point and professionally fitted)
cockpit fire extenguisher
fia cut off switch

cheers
sean

Sheila M · 18 May 2007, 21:41 (Ref:1916315)

Quote:

Originally Posted by smckeown

It occurs to be i've spend a lot of money on my track car (soon to be sprint car) in terms of handling, power and on essential safety.

Where can you find more information in terms of good safety tips, I mean on how to make your car even safer in the event of an accident/fire etc.

Relevant items I have so far:

cage (FIA comp[liant, welded and professionaly fitted)
harnesses (FIA compliant, 6 point and professionally fitted)
cockpit fire extenguisher
fia cut off switch

cheers
sean

Try the Blue Book - Section L applies to sprints.

Dennis.Doyle · 19 May 2007, 11:04 (Ref:1916631)

Sheila is right the Blue Book is the essetial first step, but there are a whole load of other things that aren't in there that scrutes suggest, make excellent sense and cost almost nothing. A few examples:

Pay attention to mounting the roll cage so it won't punch through the tin, i.e. thick plates with 90 degree angles to stiffen them.

Get rid of everything you can that is flammable (carpets, underseal, sound deadening, under-bonnet oil film etc.)

If the petrol tank ruptures make sure you won't end up in a bath of petrol. This can nclude stuffing the A, B, and/or C pillars with car washing sponges or cavity wall foam insulation - not perfect, but buys you some time.

Ensure the battery isn't going anywhere in a multiple-G accident & the live terminal will be well insulated after it's been battered.

Given time, any accident that can happen will happen.

There's tons more things you can do - so over to the rest of you to share that knowledge.

smckeown · 19 May 2007, 12:03 (Ref:1916661)

I certainly will have a good read of the blue book. Just looking for goot tips over and above this etc.

Along the lines of plumbed in extinguisher vs hand held etc..where to aim the jets etc

here are pics of my car for reference

http://www.track-monkey.co.uk/images...ash_wiring.jpg
http://www.track-monkey.co.uk/images...06/engine1.jpg
http://www.track-monkey.co.uk/images.../harnesses.jpg
http://www.track-monkey.co.uk/images...70406/size.jpg
http://www.track-monkey.co.uk/images...ild/spray1.jpg

smckeown · 19 May 2007, 12:05 (Ref:1916663)

just thought fo some more questions:

Currently I have a bell open face helmet, in my 205 is there any need to go full face ? Are the neck braces worth using ? i'd assume so. Also in terms of seat style, there seems to be many more seats o nthe market now with those arms at head height. I was thinking of selling my 2 sparco evo seats and buying 1 more expensive seat with such arms etc

cheers
sean

blackx · 19 May 2007, 19:48 (Ref:1916845)

Some of the cars I see have a definate problem with a loose nut behind the wheel

Sorry......Not much help really am I

Sheila M · 19 May 2007, 20:27 (Ref:1916860)

Quote:

Originally Posted by smckeown

just thought fo some more questions:

Currently I have a bell open face helmet, in my 205 is there any need to go full face ?

Depends on whether you would prefer paying for a private plastic surgeon over an NHS one if you manage to head butt the steering wheel in any incident you may have.

Seriously, I LOATHE open face helmets as they offer little protection should you be unfortunate enough to have an incident that pitches you face first at the steering wheel. A full face helmet would also give you a little more protection in the event of a fire.

Quote:

Originally Posted by smckeown

Are the neck braces worth using ? i'd assume so.

Depends on which type you are referring to. I'm seeing more and more sprinters using HANS devices which, although terribly expensive, may save you from a severe injury in the event of a serious incident.

Quote:

Originally Posted by smckeown

Also in terms of seat style, there seems to be many more seats o nthe market now with those arms at head height. I was thinking of selling my 2 sparco evo seats and buying 1 more expensive seat with such arms etc

I can't really comment on seats - I would suggest buying one which suits your driving style and which is comfy.

When and where are you planning to start your sprinting?

bentimingstrut · 19 May 2007, 21:03 (Ref:1916872)

The best advice a could give in all my years of motorsport is to drive within your limits and dont worry to much about your times.They will take care of themselves.

Dennis.Doyle · 19 May 2007, 21:51 (Ref:1916887)

Quote:

Originally Posted by smckeown

I certainly will have a good read of the blue book. Just looking for goot tips over and above this etc.

Along the lines of plumbed in extinguisher vs hand held etc..where to aim the jets etc

here are pics of my car for reference

http://www.track-monkey.co.uk/images...ash_wiring.jpg
http://www.track-monkey.co.uk/images...06/engine1.jpg
http://www.track-monkey.co.uk/images.../harnesses.jpg
http://www.track-monkey.co.uk/images...70406/size.jpg
http://www.track-monkey.co.uk/images...ild/spray1.jpg

Would that bottle in the wiring image be nitrous? If so, they won't like it.

redturner37 · 19 May 2007, 22:02 (Ref:1916891)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis.Doyle

Would that bottle in the wiring image be nitrous? If so, they won't like it.

Looks like an oil pressure accumalator to me DD.

smckeown · 20 May 2007, 08:13 (Ref:1917061)

nitrous no chance...accumulator yes

b1ackcr0w · 20 May 2007, 08:55 (Ref:1917077)

On the subject of the full face helmet, I'd say yes absolutely. If you're unlucky enough to be in a smash where your windscreen goes, you don't want all the glass in your face. It's a case of they only have to work for a fraction of a second, but a fraction of a second that could alter the course of the rest of your life.

rescue dude · 21 May 2007, 08:50 (Ref:1917751)

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackx

Some of the cars I see have a definate problem with a loose nut behind the wheel

Who you talking bout Willis?

rescue dude · 21 May 2007, 08:55 (Ref:1917760)

I think the best thing you can do is talk to people who run similar cars to yourself.

I can recommend a chat to a Mr Pinder who runs a 205 in mod-prod. His car is very well sorted and he knows what he's talking about as he's been a customer of ours and has learnt his lesson.

A Hans device is a good though expensive investment.

blackx · 21 May 2007, 13:26 (Ref:1917986)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rescue dude

A Hans device is a good though expensive investment.

Having read most of a book called Rapid Response personally I wouldn't race without one

webbo · 21 May 2007, 13:41 (Ref:1918000)

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackx

Having read most of a book called Rapid Response personally I wouldn't race without one

Ive just ordered one, once i thought about it i had to get one.......if something happened and i hadn't got one, i would be saying to myself "spent a fortune on a car and i wouldn't spend a small amount (in comparison) on a safty item".

Last year a local young lad racing Ministocks had an internal decapitation as a result of an accident. Luckily he was one of the 20% who make a full recovery. I know he was young and his neck prob isn't as strong as an adult...........but freak accidents do happen !.

blackx · 21 May 2007, 13:45 (Ref:1918003)

Quote:

Originally Posted by webbo

Ive just ordered one, once i thought about it i had to get one.......if something happened and i hadn't got one, i would be saying to myself "spent a fortune on a car and i wouldn't spend a small amount (in comparison) on a safty item".

Last year a local young lad racing Ministocks had an internal decapitation as a result of an accident. Luckily he was one of the 20% who make a full recovery. I know he was young and his neck prob isn't as strong as an adult...........but freak accidents do happen !.

Well done webbo....

The ones I have been reading about sadly made no recoveries :-(

webbo · 21 May 2007, 13:52 (Ref:1918009)

They seem to be mandatory in alot more forms of motorsport each year. I can see in 5-10 years that they become mandatory in all forms of motorsport(although the price would need to come down for that).

bentimingstrut · 21 May 2007, 14:54 (Ref:1918063)

Why should something so simple made out of cheap materials be so expensive??

webbo · 21 May 2007, 14:56 (Ref:1918066)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bentimingstrut

Why should something so simple made out of cheap materials be so expensive??

Its for Motorsport.............licence to print money !!

Lord Summerisle · 22 May 2007, 09:18 (Ref:1918589)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rescue dude

I can recommend a chat to a Mr Pinder who runs a 205 in mod-prod. His car is very well sorted and he knows what he's talking about as he's been a customer of ours and has learnt his lesson.

Yip - he put an arrow on it to say 'this way up' just so they know when rescue arrive bleary eyed from their kip

blackx · 22 May 2007, 09:23 (Ref:1918595)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Summerisle

Yip - he put an arrow on it to say 'this way up' just so they know when rescue arrive bleary eyed from their kip

Mainly bleary eyed cause all the caravan parking spaces have been nicked by tents so we have to travel there and back each day

Lord Summerisle · 22 May 2007, 09:33 (Ref:1918604)

excuses, excuses...

you can park on the building bases... can't pitch a tent on there with only 1" of turf to get your pegs into.

blackx · 22 May 2007, 09:46 (Ref:1918614)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Summerisle

excuses, excuses...

you can park on the building bases... can't pitch a tent on there with only 1" of turf to get your pegs into.

Building bases

The one that is full of wood ya mean...

Lord Summerisle · 22 May 2007, 11:56 (Ref:1918696)

didnt stop the rescue crew last meeting... and Tim this weekend from parking his camper on there.

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