Jack, thank you for your view, and well stated enough to disappoint me that I didn't have to use my cryptic code deciphering ring. My only point was that all rules should be treated the same and as they are all there for a reason(and even though the more important ones are more safety oriented.. the reason is not always as it appears of why a rule exists or how it is administered). Either take them by their written word or take them by the reason they were written(certainly not very hard to figure out on the average article). Why state something that's now followed, and then require something that's not stated?
Licensing parameters at SCTA seem to be no less strict then the ECTA(more so on the contrary), yet the ECTA appears to have more reason(quicker thought and ability needed) to require handling capability testing for anyone allowed to power that vehicle for the weekend(that would be anyone or everyone).
3 things that I agree with an/or think should be taken into consideration are...
#1:
"Slow Speed" maneuvering should be required more then anything imo, as we allow full use of all race vehicles and anyone that wants to drive one in and around the pits, shutdown, registration and staging. Not to mention that we have NOWHERE that either restricts race vehicles from being under their own power in a given area, or that restrict others from being an a given area that race vehicles are allowed.
As far as I know... I 'm the only one that has ever required any entrants to show slow speed manueverability on thier open wheeled motorcycle.
#3:
"At Speed" licensing could be monitored by(I know, more volunteers) mid track(at the turnouts) spotters(and the tower as usual). It's odd that those that are most concerned with the track seem to get concerned with the area of acceleration(1/8th to 1 mile mark) when ALL incidents have been from the traps down and the close calls have been in launching from the start line). I think the "At Speed" testing would prove to be thee least of our issues(as everyone that does this will agree that twisting the wick is the easy part of the run). Where this part really matters and is hard to test for is a clutch lockup(it's happened plenty), a blown motor(it happens too often), a deer(it happened), a bird(it happened x3), a rabbit(it happened), or a mis(or badly)placed cone(it's happened x2 minimum), a chain wrap, a bolt form a sprocket, etc, etc- this is the stuff that will test someones actions/reactions.
#2:
"Shutdown" ability might show anything from speeds at a couple points in shutdown, body positioning as the vehicle slows, track position at different points and where the head is looking the entire time(just a few of the things WE will be concentrating on at this point). This is surely the most detrimental and problem prone area of the run. The only thing that makes this just slightly less important imo then #1 is that a mistake here most likely takes only you out, where as a Slow Speed(#1) scenario above shows probability of involving spectators, crew members, children, etc(reruns of Death Race 2000 are visualized here).
There have been 5 bikes down that I'm aware: 3 of them doing less then 10mph coming out of shutdown onto the return road(2 short, 1 long), 1 coming into/thru/and out of the traps at 165+/-mph,
and 1(the latest) in shutdown doing between 55 and 80mph.
Yet we're discussing whether to give someone a piece of paper to show they ran what they already know they ran?
How about we see who has a VALID license(like the book says), or even the ability to obtain a license, or the ability to even slowly move and park a vehicle(since that has to be done to even get into and out of the pits and onto the track). There was a truck at this meet that smacked another truck hard enough in staging to slam his tailgate shut from the fully down position(scared the shit out of me and I was glad I wasn't standing at that tailgate). Licensing? Making one single pass in a 10mph window does not show shit imo(and that's all the current realworld requirement is).
If you would be kind enough to guide me towards Bob Leggieo's phone number, I would like to call and gain as much of his knowledge as I like gaining yours.
Thank you Jack, your words are taken very seriously and appreciated,
Todd
Shane,
Check page ten of your rule book. It matches the last section of the SCTA rule which allows you to run up 49mph from your D to C or from your C to B license, and 74mph going from your B to A license, and 99mph from your A to AA license. Which by the way(at SCTA)... can be mailed in to do so after the meet has passed(yeah man... all ya need is mail a copy of your timing slip).
Todd
