Wow, I skip out on a day of team.net and look what happens.... This'll
probably seem repetitious at this point, but I think it's important. If
you don't feel like reading, just "delete" now.
First off, I want to say that the rules are there for a reason. The
rules are not written to spoil our fun, they're there to -preserve- it.
The written limit of 60's for S and SP is decidedly faster in reality
than the 70mph limit previoulsy imposed on all cars. It's entirely
possible for an AP, much less AM, car to go well above 70 mph (or even
80) on a course that still adheres to the limit for S and SP cars. Is
that in and of itself safe? No. The course design itself is a crucial
element. It's very easy to have a chalenging and exciting course that
keeps us in the red zone with our tires on fire and the speedo reaching
for the stratosphere, and still have it safe. It's also possible to have
a 'boring' course that never exceeds 40 mph and have it tremendously
hazardous to many cars and drivers. On the flip side, it also equally
possible to have a knee-knocking adrenelin-pumping challenging course
that never exceeds 50mph and have it quite safe. While a 70+mph course
can be incredibly hazardous.
***
Safety Stewards and Course Designers -need- to work together.
Preferably before the first cars ever get the green flag. There are
guidlines in the SIIR that are very usefull, but prudent thinking
(Andy's favorite word) is vital in making a fun and safe course. "Can a
car get far out of shape here?". "Can that same car get in trouble if it
does?". Simple, easy questions that can make all the difference between
a thrilling day of autoxing and somber day of finger pointing.
***
The construction of the rules are there to give us guidelines on course
design. This is partly to help us all bring our cars and bodies home in
the same condition they arived in. It is also to give the SCCA a basis
for protection. We live in an overly letigious society. It sucks, but
that's what it is. If, god forbid, someone were to injure themselves in
an incedent on course, and someone feels like pointing a finger of blame
at the SCCA, the club MUST be in a position of being able to say that
all -reasonable- actions were taken to mitigate the risk. We could all
loose if something bad were to happen and someone felt like employing an
"ambulance-chaser" to exploit that.
Can we make it so that nothing -ever- happens on course? Not likely,
and even if we could, it would bore us to tears. Risk is inherent in
everything we do, even crossing the street. Can a car rollover occur
even when all of the rules are adhered to? Yes, it can. But it is much
less likely to occur.
If you feel that in order to have fun, you need to see triple digits or
be burried in thrid gear in a vette, then perhaps SCCA autox is not for
you. There are lots of driver's ed programs across the country that will
allow a car to go much faster than what Solo2 speeds allow. But keep in
mind that the increase in risk is not linear as speeds increase. The
momentum a car has at 75mph is significant, much much more than then
same car at 45mph. Suspensions become more stressed and will tend to
bottom out more easilly and then bad things can happen. Spins will last
longer, and if you hook a tire in the dirt, bad thigns can happen. And
in the instance of a mechanical failure, it's alot easier to recover at
45mph than at 75mph.
The SCCA has made a concerted effort to make sure we can all have fun
at what we do, and hopefully continue to do so for many many years. If
you feel like the rules for the SCCA are too restrictive, then go play
with someone else, there are lots of clubs out there that aren't as rule
concious as the SCCA is. Porsche Club events and Corvette club events
can very easilly have much faster courses and still call them autoxes.
They have a set of rules that allow that. The size and member population
of the SCCA sets it up as a pretty big target, and as such the club
needs to be able to say that all -reasonable- measures are being taken
to assure that the event happens without incedent.
Ok, I've prattled on enough now. If you managed to read through all of
this blathering, and still feel like contributing to this thread, by all
means please do. :-)
And John, I'm sorry if you feel that most SCCA autoxes are too slow or
'boring' for you. But we all have to play here equally.
-Josh2
SSS Colorado Region.
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