[AndyJ]

Got this in email today regarding the Texas Mile which is a standing mile event. Your opinions?

"The role cage rule has been modified. Certain years
of a few makes and models of production vehicles will
be allowed to run with a 4 point roll hoop and other
safety gear. SPECIFICS to these rules can be found on
TexasMile.com by Thursday, March 8, 2007.

An additional acknowledgement/ responsibility/ waiver of
liability will be required for all participants to
sign. Furthermore, driver's must submit for approval
in advance of the event to compete under these new
rules.

SPECIFICS can be found under WILD WEST STREET CAR
SHOOT OUT on the TexasMile.com web site by Thursday,
March 8, 2007.

You have been asking for us to reconsider this rule
for the newer production cars that are built from
the factory and advertised by the manufacturers for
higher speeds. In addition, there have been magazines
that have done their own shoot-outs that are allowing
for the higher speeds. We have been listening.

NOTE: Anyone who exceeds 190 mph without meeting all
the requirements that will be posted on the web
site, will no longer be allowed to run that weekend.

CALL us for further information and for final
approval if you plan on exceeding speeds of 190 mph."

[trackbird]

A new Z06 should run in the 190's (top speed, not in the mile). Is it prudent without a full cage???? Uh....

I understand what they are saying, but I don't think I like the sound of it.

[00 Trans Ram]

Not sure I follow their reasoning.

"You have been asking for us to reconsider this rule" - So what? We ask SCCA and NASA to reconsider rules all the time. They rarely do. (Not that it's a bad thing, necessarily.)

"advertised by the manufacturers for higher speeds" - Ummm - it's called 'marketing'. Of course they say things like that.

"have been magazines that have done their own shoot-outs that are allowing for the higher speeds" - Yeah - the magazine gets some high-banked oval, and gets the car up to speed once or twice. In between, it's allowed to cool down and mechanics crawl all over it. Not exactly the same thing as running flat out through the badlands of Texas.

"We have been listening." - Yes you have . . . just not thinking.

[SVTHuh]

Ive actually been really curious about this event. Im going to have to run it someday.. That is if they accept my 4 point hoop in my 95 camaro that is advertised for higer speeds by the manufacturer... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

[AndyJ]

I was reluctant to speak out and influence the initial replies. The location for this race is 20 miles from Goliad,TX -- it is REMOTE. At least one hour from the closest Trauma Center. I was there for the fall event and the Tech Level was unsettling. The tech guy asked me if the car would do over 175 in the mile and when I said No-- tech was a joke. He couldn't find the date tag on the belts and after a full 3 seconds of looking he just gave up. When I asked if he wanted me to pop the hood, he said -- If you want to.

I was overdressed with a single layer fire suit, gloves, shoes and neckbrace. I watched a Corvette burn and even though the Safety crew responded ASAP, the driver was still in the car and had to be removed by the Safety crew. What happens if you flip at 170mph with no roll bar? Or 190mph? Christ, they didn't even look at my tires! I felt safe. I had gone faster than normal before and I trusted my equipment. Some of the street racer types I saw there were clueless.

To me, this is a clear indication marketing has overruled better reason and the Almighty Dollar is ruling-- not safety. Marketing--pure marketing. I will not be back.

[trackbird]

It's a sad day when racers seem to have better judgement with regard to safety than the sanctioning bodies. It used to be you had to jump through all the hoops to get legal for many classes, even if the requirements seemed like overkill. Now they just relax the rules until enough cars show up to make the cut.

Scary.

[AndyJ]

It's a sad day when racers seem to have better judgement with regard to safety than the sanctioning bodies. It used to be you had to jump through all the hoops to get legal for many classes, even if the requirements seemed like overkill. Now they just relax the rules until enough cars show up to make the cut.

Scary.

Kevin,

Maybe I am just being a dick but this is the second series I have chosen not to participate in. The first one is one of the Nevada ORR deals. Not the MKM series.
They staffed the ambulances without EMT's and had no Life Flite on call. The Ambulances were there --- just nobody to do anything but drive you to the hospital.

[trackbird]

That's the only reason I'd need to skip those events as well. Seems pretty stupid to me.

[02midevil]

One can not compete against the god of fate.
At about 250mph on the Salt at Speed Week one man was killed in a roll over. The cause is not really known but the salt was in rough condition and the tires may have been aired down for traction (thus possibly create an air born ballon type suspension ride when one hits a rough bump).

http://www.ecta-lsr.com/?page_id=11

I might get to crew and run on the salt this year for a 200mph car and guess what my dream of 200mph is .... After seeing my best friend with a head injury from a 4 wheeler accident try to recover with a piece of skull taken out.

One thing is for sure you sign up to run its your decision and, its better than doing it on the street. I'd def limit my mph even with a mega cage, but then again I might even try for it. The 2 kids and wife would be on mind.

[98_1LE]

Both times I went to the Texas Mile tech was decent. Same guy, I think he drove a Nissan and was a drifter. He fussed at me both times about the seep on the 10-bolt.

IIRC with the old rules, a 6-point was needed over 175mph. I ran 166 with a harness bar and 5-points.

This post has been edited by 98_1LE: Mar 11 2007, 04:08 AM