Thanks for backing me (and that SSS) up on this.
The danger of lightning is greatly underestimated by the general public.
-----------------------------
Arthur Emerson wrote:
>
> CHARLES SCHULTZ <n2pua4@peoplepc.com> wrote:
> >
> >I assumed you were only using that as an example, but I
> >decided to use it as an excuse to go on a rant about one
> >of my favorite subjects - weather safety.
> [snip]
>
> >SCCA events should shut down for nearby lightning, too,
> >although there's certainly no reason to stop for rain or snow.
>
> I've been meaning to write something about this for The
> Safety Belt or some other publication for a few years
> now, but never had the time.
>
> Back in 1999, I was visiting a Glen Region (???) event
> way the heck upstate. During the day, a rather strong
> thunderstorm cell started to approach the site. The
> "just one more dry run" mentality set in among the
> competitors, but the safety steward stopped the event
> long before the storm was a danger. By doing this, he
> gave the courseworkers about 10-15 minutes' time to go
> back to the paddock and secure their stuff. I'm sure that
> the competitors on grid were complaining, and I made it
> a point to find the safety steward who made the call and
> applaud the right decision. As luck would have it, the
> storm didn't pass over the site, and it made the decision
> look bad. I still say that it was the right decision,
> and *every* SSS should pull the plug on an event at the
> first signs of visible lightning. You have to give the
> courseworkers time to secure their paddock spaces and seek
> shelter, and waiting until the gust front hits or the
> rain starts falling usually means that it's too late
> to do either in an orderly fashion. Just my $0.02.....
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