257 Don’t Let the lack of rules guide your safety In Track Day events on road courses, I believe the rules are too lax. The requirements are definitely behind what pro level sanctioning racing bodies require for driver & other participant safety. There are solid reasons based on experiences that racing sanctioning bodies require fire suppression systems, full containment seats, HANS devices, multi-layer Nomex fire suits, SFI rated helmets, specific roll cage designs, Nomex underwear, shoes, gloves & more. I believe if we’re going to build track cars with race car level power & handling … and race level speeds … and drive them fast on race tracks … we need race car level safety. It’s your life we’re talking about. In my 35 years of racing, I’ve seen a lot of cars wreck because of part failure. I take car safety decisions … and precaution from proper maintenance & car preparation …. just as seriously as driver safety gear. Many guys don’t and blame “bad luck.” It’s usually not. These are fun to say … when spoken like Jeff Foxworthy saying … you might be a redneck • If a cheap rod end fails causing suspension failure … and you crash … that’s not bad luck. • If an old bolt breaks because it was cycled too much, causing suspension failure … and you crash … that’s not bad luck. • If a bearing designed to handle forces from a G70-14 tire … fails with big, grippy tires & you crash … that’s not bad luck. • If you lose your brakes because they weren’t designed for track abuse ... and you crash … that’s not bad luck. • If an inferior ball joint breaks causing suspension failure … and steering loss & you crash … that’s not bad luck. • If a suspension bracket cracks at the weld & goes un-inspected … then breaks & you crash … that’s not bad luck. • If the engine is worn out, or built shabbily, and blows up … putting oil under the tires & you crash … that’s not bad luck. • If the transmission is worn out, or built shabbily, and blows up … putting oil under the tires & you crash … that’s not bad luck. • If the rear end is worn out, or built shabbily, breaks & locks up … backing you into the wall … that’s not bad luck. There are typically six causes of crashes: 1. Part failure … tire, bearing, brakes, steering, suspension, engine, etc … doesn’t matter what. 2. Driver mistake/human error. 3. Driver pushed & drove past limits of set-up, grip, etc. (Not the same as human error, as you intended to push the limits) 4. Someone hits you from the side or behind. 5. You hit another car because you couldn’t avoid their chaos. 6. You hit something else … avoiding their chaos. When you read this … I hope you realize you are not in control of everything that happens on track. Simply driving at 9/10’s “to be safe” is not insurance against 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6. You cannot prevent all the causes of wrecks. So if you’re going to run on race tracks, you need to be prepared to crash, regardless of cause or fault. Don’t let the lack of rules guide your safety!  Build your car like your life depends on it. It does.  Build your car to protect you in crashes. You probably will.  Buy full containment seats & HANS devices to add a level of protection in crashes.  Build your car to protect you if it catches on fire. It may.  Buy a top quality helmet, multi-layer Nomex driver suit & other driver gear to protect you in that fire. This is your life we’re talking about. Build the damn car to protect yourself ... for you … and for your family. Roll Cages