In three words...
Size DOES Matter!
GT5 Minis no longer no longer run with GT1s at Road America after an incident
causing a fatality. And visibility was not necessarily a factor.
> I had thought about trying to see if VARA would let me run my 21 year old
> 1983 T-83 Red Devil F440/F500 (it is all original except for roll bar/hoop
> updates to current GCR spec) with their Open Wheel Group since the car is
> woefully uncompetitive with the current crop of SCCA F500 cars which are
> faster than most Formula Fords. But if what you are saying is true I find
> those policies to be extremely negligent.
>
> While it might be one thing to run a Spitfire along side the ground
> pounding Mustangs and Vettes if their lap times are the same the weight
> difference and strength of the Chassis would mean that the Spitfire which
> could hold it's own in a collision with a Mini, MGB, etc... would certainly
> get the short end of a tangle with a "big" car.
>
> And while some sports racers can share the track with production cars not
> all can and an Open-wheel car should NEVER share RACE track time with
> anything that big. Maybe some PRACTICE sessions but I would refuse to take
> myself out on the track with them unless it was just to do a "hardship lap"
> to check the car out after making some adjustments.
>
> I have been on track with my car when an old Can-Am car blew past me and I
> can assure you that was disconcerting knowing that the driver sitting in
> the cockpit of that car was completely unable to see me I was completely
> lower than the sides of his car - including the top of my roll bar. Heck
> if a car was sitting in an RX7 right next to me and I was on the passenger
> side of his car he would have no idea that I was even there as I am lower
> than the window opening.
>
> And while I understand that VARA takes a dim view of any contact that would
> be bitter consolation for my next of kin.
|