77 replies to this topic

[Parity]

Wow, that last lap was amazing. Great driving and congratulations.

[38bfast]

Very nice run Justin. Your patience is amazing.

[Todd Green]

Here is my in-car from Sunday.  All the stupid driving decisions aside, we always seem to have the best racing.

 

Really nice driving Justin! (Both in car control and decision making).  That was a treat to watch.

[Bench Racer]

Very nice run Justin. Your patience is amazing.

 

^ Absolute patience with positive results in return. Thanks for the ride, WOW!!!
 

[Keith Andrews]

Congrats to Todd on another strong win.  Justin great drive.  What a quality drive!

[FTodaro]

I have debated if i should post regarding this weekend, no one like to discuss their costly mistakes. This weekend cost me a very good car. the good news if any, is I just need a Tub and a cage and i will swap the rest over. Just another 150 man hrs and it will be back.

 

I want to talk about safety for a moment, thanks to all my friends who have called and emailed. I took a big hit but ok, not even a sore neck or back. It is amazing.

 

However i did get a torn urethra ( tube from the bladder to the PP) because i did not have the Sub strap and lap belts adjusted correctly.

 

I have Schroth 6 point belts where the cam is attached to the sub belt. I noticed during qualifying that the cam was higher on the left than right and that it had pulled up some riding to high such that the lap belts were not real tight on the thighs, When i hit the cam got the PP pretty good and i felt some numbness for a few seconds. Then started bleeding from the PP.

 

So I could have avoided all consequences if i had made sure that the sub belts were adjusted such that the lap belts are tight on the Thighs.

 

However those of you who are not so well endowed can disregard LOL.

 

 

Congrats to Todd, Todd and the other podium finishers, especially my friend Justin. Can you believe we started out at the same time, He has talent, I am just  a poser. .

I

[JRHille]

Frank -

 

Really good to hear you're okay after that big hit.  You're one tough dude.

[Jamz14]

The only way it's going to stop is if it is indentified and penalized. Penalized hard.

I have written paper many time to mostly come back "racing incident" IMHO a racing incedent is when there was no way possible to avoid. Like getting into oil, mecanical failure, act of God and such. All authors can be avoided by not being as aggressive and situational awareness.

This is a big problem that has been talked about over and over again but nothing changes. This is an issue that has to be mandated from the top down in SCCA.

Carnage certainly does not atract new blood to our beloved sport.

I disagree. A racing incident is one where it is understandable in how the drivers got into it. Not a situation where it is impossible to avoid.

[Jim Drago]

I have debated if i should post regarding this weekend, no one like to discuss their costly mistakes. This weekend cost me a very good car. the good news if any, is I just need a Tub and a cage and i will swap the rest over. Just another 150 man hrs and it will be back.

 

I want to talk about safety for a moment, thanks to all my friends who have called and emailed. I took a big hit but ok, not even a sore neck or back. It is amazing.

 

However i did get a torn urethra ( tube from the bladder to the PP) because i did not have the Sub strap and lap belts adjusted correctly.

 

I have Schroth 6 point belts where the cam is attached to the sub belt. I noticed during qualifying that the cam was higher on the left than right and that it had pulled up some riding to high such that the lap belts were not real tight on the thighs, When i hit the cam got the PP pretty good and i felt some numbness for a few seconds. Then started bleeding from the PP.

 

So I could have avoided all consequences if i had made sure that the sub belts were adjusted such that the lap belts are tight on the Thighs.

 

However those of you who are not so well endowed can disregard LOL.

 

 

Congrats to Todd, Todd and the other podium finishers, especially my friend Justin. Can you believe we started out at the same time, He has talent, I am just  a poser. .

I

You are funny! Glad you are OK.

[Bench Racer]

I disagree. A racing incident is one where it is understandable in how the drivers got into it. Not a situation where it is impossible to avoid.

 

And James, I disagree with you. Many SCCA seasoned drivers have been in situations when/where the other driver does not have the race car under control and or has no intent of allowing the other race car racing space. Standard SCCA protest operating procedure/protest response, It Was A Racing Incident. Now if one were to read and understand the SCCA protest procedure and the SCCA "Rules of the Road" it would be understood the SOM shall use the GCR rules/words for a protest response the same as the protester shall use the GCR rules/words. Please find for me the words "racing incident" within the SCCA GCR.

 

It's their standard that doesn't fly when the SCCA GCR is used correctly.

 

Please don't mix and match the SCCA GCR rules with other org rules.   
 

[MPR22]

I have debated if i should post regarding this weekend, no one like to discuss their costly mistakes. This weekend cost me a very good car. the good news if any, is I just need a Tub and a cage and i will swap the rest over. Just another 150 man hrs and it will be back.

 

I want to talk about safety for a moment, thanks to all my friends who have called and emailed. I took a big hit but ok, not even a sore neck or back. It is amazing.

 

However i did get a torn urethra ( tube from the bladder to the PP) because i did not have the Sub strap and lap belts adjusted correctly.

 

I have Schroth 6 point belts where the cam is attached to the sub belt. I noticed during qualifying that the cam was higher on the left than right and that it had pulled up some riding to high such that the lap belts were not real tight on the thighs, When i hit the cam got the PP pretty good and i felt some numbness for a few seconds. Then started bleeding from the PP.

 

So I could have avoided all consequences if i had made sure that the sub belts were adjusted such that the lap belts are tight on the Thighs.

 

However those of you who are not so well endowed can disregard LOL.

 

 

Congrats to Todd, Todd and the other podium finishers, especially my friend Justin. Can you believe we started out at the same time, He has talent, I am just  a poser. .

I

Thank you for posting.  I think many of us take for granted that having a harness on will keep us from getting hurt.  With your injury and Willies injury in the last few weeks fresh on my mind adjusting the belts properly will be a must do on my check list session.  They work great when properly used.  

 

Sorry about your car and your injury, happy to hear you are doing better.  

[Jamz14]

Bench, I didn't provide you with anything to disagree with that is covered by the GCRs. I gave a PERSONAL definition, and responded to a PERSONAL definition of "racing Incident" . And as you pointed out, racing incident is not defined  by the GCRs.

 

I responded to someone saying that a racing incident is when nothing a driver can do can prevent an accident. I stated that my definition of racing incident is when it is understandable and not offensive in how a driver got into a situation.

 

I know you want to find all the answers in the GCRs. That makes guys like you and me feel good when we can refer to a rule. But the GCRS will never cover every scenario. Some things are just racing incidents and happen because we are racing!! This is especially the case for the fact that critical decisions must be made in fractions of a second. You do not have time to think of something in terms of whether it is covered by the GCRs. You have to think in terms of immediate response to a situation.

 

For instance; at the start we are going 3-4 wide at a track like fontana. I am in the middle and I notice someone move towards me suddenly from the side and move to my other side to avoid being hit. I do not make contact with the guy that initially veered into my space but in reacting to it I hit the guy next to me and we both go out of the race while the guy that made the initial move gets off scott free and continues his race. The contact between me and the other guy is "understandable" in that the natural reaction when seeing something coming at you is to move away. And I may not have the time or presence or mind to to think about my response and how it might affect anothers race. The contact between me and the other driver is a racing incident. The behavior of the other driver that drove off is covered by the GCRs. And mine might well be covered by the GCRs too. But it would be a very very fine point being made. But regardless if you agree with me or not, my goal is to avoid contact with another driver period and I would be willing to bet that is your view as well. That is my goal, that is my desire. If I fail at then then penalize me if you find fault and call it a racing incident if you don't. Doesn't change one bit that I am disappointed that my actions caused damage to anothers race.

[DrDomm]

Frank, ouch!  I just crossed my legs and cringed.

 

Sorry about your wreck.  I lay low at the races, but I was looking forward to saying "hi" to you and hopeful to see you do well.  I'm still appreciative of the advice you gave me at Mid-Ohio a couple of years ago.

 

Anyway, I'm in the same boat as you thanks to a small mistake and the guardrails at Watkins Glen.  My new donor is getting a cage now, and I'll spend the next 6 months or so getting it ready for next year.  Good luck, and glad you're ok!

[B(Kuch)Kucera45]

Frank sorry I'm late to the party but I'm glad to here you're ok.

Do you have any video or pictures of your car that you would like to share with us ?

[Johnny D]

of your car

I'm glad you included that.

[Rob Burgoon]

I have debated if i should post regarding this weekend, no one like to discuss their costly mistakes. This weekend cost me a very good car. the good news if any, is I just need a Tub and a cage and i will swap the rest over. Just another 150 man hrs and it will be back.

 

I want to talk about safety for a moment, thanks to all my friends who have called and emailed. I took a big hit but ok, not even a sore neck or back. It is amazing.

 

However i did get a torn urethra ( tube from the bladder to the PP) because i did not have the Sub strap and lap belts adjusted correctly.

 

I have Schroth 6 point belts where the cam is attached to the sub belt. I noticed during qualifying that the cam was higher on the left than right and that it had pulled up some riding to high such that the lap belts were not real tight on the thighs, When i hit the cam got the PP pretty good and i felt some numbness for a few seconds. Then started bleeding from the PP.

 

So I could have avoided all consequences if i had made sure that the sub belts were adjusted such that the lap belts are tight on the Thighs.

 

However those of you who are not so well endowed can disregard LOL.

 

 

Congrats to Todd, Todd and the other podium finishers, especially my friend Justin. Can you believe we started out at the same time, He has talent, I am just  a poser. .

I

 

Frank, thanks for sharing specifics of getting the belts wrong.

 

Wishing you and your equipment a speedy recovery.  (racing equipment)

[JRHille]

Does anybody know where to find pictures from this event?

[TJKearney]

I took a small number from turn 9 on Saturday (like 10 or so...).  I can post them later tonight.....but I'm no Danny Steyn.  Some are good....most are just "ok".

 

PS - I did see a credentialed photographer in the same area, so someone with better equipment (and better access) was there snapping away.