[2000Z-71]

Well I found out today R-compound tires can be hazardous to your health. I threw the Victoracers in the back or the truck to have them flipped and re-balanced for tomorrow's event at Phoenix International Receway. On the way back, a waste management garbage truck decided to cross all 7 lanes of 7th Street to make a left hand turn in front of me and literally drove over the hood of my F-150.

I had my seatbelt on and should be alright. I've got burns up the inside of my right forearm and bruising and cuts across my chest and stomach from the airbag deploying. I'm thinking I probably would not even have a scratch if the truck did not have airbags. I'm definately out for tomorrow's autocross. I went out to change tires and ended upo reopening some of my wounds from this morning.

I'm very concerned now about the Camaro since I sit a lot lower and closer to the wheel in that vehicle. I'm thinking the airbag deploying in that would cause even more injury than today's did. I know that there have been rumors about the SCCA having a new rule no longer allowing full face helmets in cars with an active airbag. What does the current rulebook say about disabling airbags?

[00 SS]

While I think the safety devices are great for normal cars, making them mandatory is the wrong approach in my opinion. Make them optional or put them on family sedans, minivans etc. I want the option of buying a car without the extra weight and gadgets particularly if it's not going to be a daily driver or if I'm going to use it in competition. Let people decide for themselves what level of "safety" they need for themselves and there families. Since I have no kids, the level of safety povided by a vehicle has never even been a concideration when deciding what to buy. It would probably be different if I had kids and needed a family hauler. Shouldn't I be allowed to decide what features suit my needs?