[Fot] Recent accidents and such

[Bill Tobin]

Mark: well stated! I agree 100%.
I also wear a 3 layer suit and underwear. I got my HANS the week after Uncle 
Jack's crash.
Most of my money goes for safety upgrades.
Trying to be safe! And still having fun!
Bill
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Diesel Performance Parts - Info" <info at dieselperformanceparts.com>
To: <fot at autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2014 10:29 AM
Subject: [Fot] Recent accidents and such


> To the complete FOT Membership,
>
> Please take this e mail as it is intended and not how it may come across. 
> E
> mail is a terrible medium for how messages are received sometimes as you 
> have
> no human interaction etc etc.
>
> The issue at Lime Rock is horrific, mostly because the family and friends 
> are
> the true losers. Plus it was potentially avoidable with the correct safety
> gear. I am placing no blame on anyone. Heck, I might not make it home 
> tonight
> with Nashville traffic, but you can bet I am defensive and will be belted 
> up
> to make my odds as good as they can be. Being in a 7000 pound truck ain't
> gonna hurt either.
>
> As most of you know the old white Spit broke and axle 2 years ago and took 
> a
> 180 roll over to the right and then 3.5 complete roll overs to the left,
> that's correct to the left. Ending up on my head. I have the actual video 
> and
> when you frame by frame it is actually changes direction due to the roll 
> cage
> digging into the soft Savannah sand. I can also see my head snap a couple 
> of
> times due to the Hans doing its job. That Spit had a full cage vs just a 
> roll
> hoop. Now I know a LOT of you have hoops that are braced and such and are
> probably totally fine. I however am a chicken and want the full safety of 
> 4
> uprights and complete bracing. As it turns out the complete cage on the 
> car
> was tweaked into a parallelogram after the accident.  What would have 
> happened
> if it had been a well-constructed hoop only.....who knows and I for one 
> don't
> intend to find out.
>
> I am not the fastest driver and don't have the best motor, however I used 
> a
> Hans 2-3 years prior to them being required, I wear a three piece and 
> undies,
> yeah it's hot get over it. I got a 3 nozzle fire system and a 6 point best
> system. All of this is a PITA and a waste right up until you need it. Sort 
> of
> like insurance just a waste of money...right????
>
> I am not a preacher here, just care about all of you nutty vintage drivers
> (yes even those that beat me on a regular basis) and need to vent about
> safety. NONE of us is getting a ride with Penske anytime soon. We spend 
> money
> like drunk sailors on parts and pieces for the car, the tow vehicle and 
> the
> trailer to haul it all in, shouldn't the driver have the same luxury?? The
> safety gear is actually quite economical and if cared for lasts a long 
> time
> (unless you get fat!!! I have to get that new suit!!!) so spend the money 
> and
> have it installed by a pro that knows what they are doing ( AKA 
> Earnhardt's
> belt angles) and then go out with the confidence of surviving most 
> anything
> that would happen.  I did and I did survive, wasn't even that sore the
> following days.
>
> I got a decent  business, an 8 year old a wife of almost 31 years and a 
> pretty
> great deal going on this ole earth and I suspect most of you do too or you
> wouldn't have the time/money to go race to start with.  So get that car
> prepped right in relation to safety, get the right safety gear and USE it 
> each
> and every time. I want all of you around so eventually I can beat your ass 
> on
> the track. I can't do that if you are not with us any longer.
>
> Ok enough ranting I think I got it out of my system. For those of you that
> actually know me I hear you saying " Yeah right...he'll ramble on 
> forever".
> Hope no one takes this as blaming anyone for the recent incidents. 
> Remember
> too that Lime Rock is a small track and relatively slow as compared to VIR 
> or
> Atlanta too. Think of that as you "study" your safety gear and how good it
> needs to be based on the track/speed you can attain.
>
> As the old saying says:
> "How much is your butt worth to you and yours"?????????????????????
>
> Mark Craig
> Diesel Performance Parts, INC.
> 411 Allied Drive
> Nashville, TN 37211
> 866-455-7788 Phone
> 615-834-9923 Fax
>
> www.dieselperformanceparts.com
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