My safety ideas - please share yours

[H.A. Arnarson]

When I heard of the last junior karting fatality, I was very down on my son's racing to continue that day, and really thought about pulling the plug on the whole thing.

Ari and I then sat down and had a discussion about the deaths and accidents that had happended in the last 4 years, and I shared with him my concerns. He understood, but he still wanted to go out and kart from time to time. I don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater and overreact, and so I thought of a few things that I could do to improve his odds, while still allow him to participate in the hobby we both love.

A: First off, it seems as if the safety initiative remains with the individual, or the parents of the racer. Clearly, no single entity ensures that all karting facilities conform to the same safety standards with regards to barrier material, infrastructure clearances, runoff surfaces etc etc. It is up to me, or any number of likeminded individuals (clubs?) to act locally and try to collaborate with track operators. This is classic "buyer beware."

B: That being the case, there is little leeway within the current rule structures to allow individuals to enhance their own safety. Let's say that through great effort and ingenuity, I can come up with a roll cage system that still allows a normal junior kart to drive like a kart, weighs less than 30 lbs., and enables me to use a 5-point harness and HANS technology for the young one. What will it take to be allowed to race that kart along with cage-free karts? If I talked 5 parents into joining forces with me, would a club/sanctioning body let me run this as a local option? This would be akin to parents having the option to use full-width rear nerf bars to avoid tire/tire contact and those random launches/flips.

C: The front of the kart is one big empty slate, with several ways to enhance safety. Theoretically, there is room for a big old airbag in there. Second, it is easy to attach contact sensors on the front spoiler that would retard ignition for 10 seconds to discourage drivers not to divebomb and get wheels upon wheels.

D: Redundant brakes with two master cylinders and 2 rear rotors/4 wheel disc brakes. I'll explain it this way: I lost a brake axle key once at Moran going into turn one...

I realize that allowing open, willy-nilly experimentation on track would be foolish along with regular racing, so let's not even go there. But at this point, karting sanctioning bodies might want to be open to a well engineered, documented and tested product that might appeal to those participants who otherwise would shy away from karting.

I encourage the current makers of chest plates, steering rods, bodywork and bent tubing to consider the possibilities to create a carbon fiber/metal tubing shell that can be adapted and clamped onto current kart chassis without making them rigid. A "floating kid cocoon" so to speak. I also encourage sanctioning bodies and clubs to compromise on old paradigms and enable new safety technology to blend into the current landscape.

There have been many "karting of the future" and "kart of the future" threads on this forum, and I know this is just another one. However, it seems we get a new reason to consider these things every 6 months or so, and so the theme is never irrelevant in my opinion. Your thoughts?

[Mark Spikes]

Safety could start right here....on this Forum. Without a doubt the largest read Karting Forum in the USA...if not the World.

There should be a section that is titled, simply, "SAFETY". A place we can all go to and share our thoughts on our number one priority....Safety.

mark

[Roger Miller]

1. No question, safety is paramount.

2. What is the comparison to MX? In terms of accidents and severity of injury?

[Carlos Calderon]

Maybe you're intentionally trying to discuss community efforts to increase safety, but please don't forget the individual efforts you can make to increase your own safety. Just some thoughts:
Leatt Brace
Proper Helmet (& fit)
Better Rib and chest protector
Better high abrasion suit
Full width rear bumper
Proper kart maintenance/inspection

The rear bumper, like this one, is already legal, and I've heard increases rear grip. I think it's required in Stars this year for juniors. IMO, other series should adopt the rear bumper requirement, for all classes, like in Europe.
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Aluminos

[Ray Mcik]

Well first off , every karter needs to pass on to there club board members/ or
track owners news of any situation that has happen at other tracks that have caused injury/death, make them aware of the types of hazards that exist.

be sure of the cause of it and then how to remedy it.

Do this just before the beginning of the race season, then re-inspect midway through it.

then inspect your own track and see if these same things are present at the track .

Tires , cable fencing , chain link fencing that is old, and not secure enough to stop a kart when it is hit. or even high enough to keep a kart from fly over it.
Hay bales , are there enough to prevent a kart from passing through a hitting a hard object.

Car /truck Tire ruts along side the track edge can flip a kart instead of allowing it to slide to a safe stop in the event of a run off.

refill areas along side the track edge that have wore away .

Safety is everyones job , not just those who run the event.

Cost is a big issue now a days so try and help in being creative in helping the track owner make improvements . Raffles,50/50 drawings etc etc..

Maybe a extra fee at the gate purely for safety improvement costs and use those funds only for safety equipment.

Just a few things to think about.
do the necessary upgrade.
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WWW.OVKA.COM

[Mark Spikes]

Roger,

I will answer that.

I have some older kids. I got them involved in MX (Motocross) in the 1993 to 1999 time frame. (I was involved in it 1972 - 1979...yea, I am old). The sport became nothing more than a trapeze act from the 70's to the 90's, with the kids in the air over woops, doubles, triples. At EVERY event folks were hauled off in an ambulance....bones, spleens...etc. I could not sleep at night at times wondering what I had gotten into. MX...by far...is more dangerous.

mark

[J.J. O'Malley]

IMO, Safety in karting (racing in general) has to start with the facilities themselves.

After watching the unfortunate passing Jeff Krosnoff I will never forget what fencing/poles can do to an "open" cockpit and open wheeled racing vehicles/drivers.

Before I read about the sad news of this weekend; I was driving back from a regional race with a fellow competitor. I brought up some safety concerns I had with the facility. I asked him to imagine jumping out of the car (we were just under 80 mph). Now slide/tumble into any typical fence.

A chain fence along the straights is dangerous too. Ever see an ICC motor suddenly imploded at 80+ mph? The ones that I have seen just shoot off at acute angles. Thankfully these went away from the fences.

We then discussed another important aspect of safety: on track "driving." The race directors need to take control on what is happening on "their" track. The black flag needs to be used more often. There are some drivers that must lose control of all their sense-ability when they put the helmet on. Maybe knowing that they WILL be penalized if they continue playing bumper cars will make enough of a difference.

Or my favorite moment (open practice); a "driver" did a half spin exiting turn one (happened to be somewhat blind and at the end of the fast straight) he then decides he is done and drives against the racing direction through turn one to exit the track at the pit exit! By the way a TAG entered turn one at 73 mph. I was infuriated that I was on the track with this person.

[Dave Whittle]

Not to sound like a total jerk, I have a 12 yo racing and getting a 7 ready to go along with myself, so it hit me pretty hard when I read the article. I have been racing karts, midgets full size cars for over 20 years and I have seen my share of death and injury far to much. (Thats the reason I have a small safety equipment business on the side) But in my opinion one of the bet things you can do to make your kids safer is to talk to them about the things that happen and make them understand that this is a very dangerous sport and things can and will happen. I have told my son about every death or injury that comes to light, but I also tell him he has the best safety equipment money can buy and that is up to him to do what he can to keep it from being needed. In the years he has been racing, he has seen his share of needless injuries and miraculously walked away from accidents that people should have been seriously hurt. I have never been in favor of piling on safety projects and equipment after a freak accident which givers everyone a false sense of security. I have seen way to many things done to theoretically make it safer and ends up making everything worse due to more beating and banging because people feel safer.
All we can do is what we can to make the facilities as safe as possible, the karts as safe as possible and let the kids know what can happen.
My favorite phrase in racing is "Prepare for the worst and hope for the best, it's all we can do"

[John Denman]

Hal, you're spot on with Point A.

We've always done a site inspection prior to turning a wheel at any sprint track, as well as taken a few observation laps before coming to speed at new road courses with a follow up safety reveiw father-son.

I can recall two tracks we had issues with:
The first a west Texas track that had an unsafe fence in an area that lacked adequate "buffer". A few other parents joined in with our request and the track corrected the problem with some additional tire barriers. Not a perfect solution, but it certainly minimized risks.

The second a road course in New Mexico with two issues, the worst being a concrete wall the next being a bump on the exit of a turn. Nothing could be done other then adjusting the driver's lines to remain safe and thats how we raced. Both my son & I respected the track for the danger it presented and we discussed the fact that the danger existed. It was also stressed emphatically in the Driver's meeting, and somehow everyone listened.
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[Kris Zimmerman]

There are a lot of points here to address, I'm not going to hit them all. Cage karts exist and have their own class. Chain link fences are not safety barriers, try driving a kart through a cheese grater. Besides that on the bottom of every chain link fence is a cable to give the bottom of the fence strength, if a kart were to go under the fence the cable at the bottom ........................

I can't finish that one. I heard about KJ Sunday and have not slept well since.

I too have a youngster racing and there is only so much that can be accomplished by talking to them about safety. I haven't been to a track yet that didn't have a safety issue. I just finished something about track safety, it's not perfect but maybe after I decide to post it some people might get the point.

I'm tired of hearing "it hasn't happened yet" and "so what, racing is dangerous".

Kris

[H.A. Arnarson]

[Rick Blood]

Two points
#1 We all buy a pit pass. This is supposedly insurance from an insurance company. It would make sense that the insurer would have a set of specifications that a given track has to meet. If that were true then we might not be discussing this now.
As far as I know, these specs don't exist and there are no inspections of any track. Does that make sense?

#2 My pet peeve. We have nothing that proves any one of us is capable of making a single lap without putting everyone in the ambulance.
Mr. Egotist can buy the baddest shifter on the planet and enter a race 30 minutes later. DUH.

He can then buy his 4 year old a kid kart, sign a waiver and send him out in a field of 25 other kids. You'd be safer deciding which gang for him to join.

We need a license system.
_________________
Rick Blood
www.flowdata.net

[Chris Livengood]

Did I read license system? Oh no! Not this argument again.

Seriously, I can't even count how many times I have brought up licensing systems. I know the same is true for Rick.

The licensing system doesn't need to be a racing org. just somebody who understand the sport and issues the appropriate log books to drivers and tracks. It wouldn't be that hard. A 3rd part licensing body that could cover all willing bodies.
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[Kris Zimmerman]

Mr Arnason,

I'm not trying to shoot down the cage kart thing but karts are karts and they aren't meant to have cages. If you want my background and where I stand on track safety please read my post about track safety. I do not think that we need to attach cages, this poses a whole other set of potential problems and is not a solution. What happens if that lightweight cage collapses on your kid? My other post does not address everything that is going through my head right now as this would overload the forum. I did try to convey that I grew up in this sport, I want to see the sport as it should be and I want to see safety taken more seriously. Not one of us has the perfect answer but as a group we might be able to open some eyes and get things rolling in a safer manner and track safety is a damn good place to start. I don't care how well you wrap yourself or your kid up in safety gear, there are safety issues at tracks that those safety items won't protect you from. Let's discuss flag stands that hang over track surfaces and the possability of wheel to wheel contact. Large rear bumpers promote bumping and banging. You may however have something with the shock sensor idea, however you would have to build some kind of deflection into the bumpers and still have them do their job.

Rick,

My post on track safety addresses your item 1. Track inspection used to actually happen. But we weren't such a fractured sport then with so many governing bodies. Your item 2 is spot on. We used to have novice classes. You had to prove yourself before moving up. You were also marked with bright orange number panels and you wore an X on the back of your skid bucket for the first three races.

Kris

[Kathy Gerst]

I read about KJ Monday morning, and like Kris, it has has unsettled me. Several items listed really hit home with me, and I have become very choked up just thinking about it.

Like KJ, my son Gregory also turns 13 this June, ran a Tony Kart in the Tag 60 class last year, and is moving up to a CRG Jr Rotax this year. Just a few of the coincidences. Our motto has been, and continues to be: "Safe, Fun, Fast, in that order". I can't count how many times I am told by others that racing is not a safe sport. While I realize it has it's inherent dangers, it is all of our responsibility to try to make it as safe for all our children as possible.

Like Dave, we invest heavily in safety equipment. That is one thing I look for at the Kart Expo every year; what new better safety equipment do they offer. We have a Leatt brace and a very well fitted Simpson helmet, even though he is moving up, we as his parents are still going to require the chest protector (he has an Armadillo) along with his other safety equipment. One new thing I did find at the Expo this year is a pump thing that removes his helmet without pulling on his neck in the event of a serious accident w/ possible neck injuries.

If we see a safety issue with another driver or the track we will bring it to their attention. Sometimes that gets us a negative label from others, but that is still my baby out there.

If I see a child wearing a helmet that clearly does not fit properly or has been in an accident and hit pavement, I have went to the child's parent and told them they need to get a new one and explained why. Or if I see a little girl with hair sticking out, I remind the parent how dangerous it is not to have it tucked up & in the helmet, again explaining the dangers. We have had the same type of things brought to our attention when we have missed them, and we appreciate that others care.

Clearly we are not perfect, and we don't see everything, but we try to do our part, and pay forward what we have learned. Due to the help of others we found out that Gregory's first helmet also was not correct, and they made sure we got in the "right" helmet. Two weeks later he flipped his kart multiple times, thank God he destroyed the new helmet and not his skull. (That was Jim Russell Sr and Jim Jr that I can never repay for that one.)

We have done the same with potential track dangers, we have went to the track officials and requested changes/modifications/ and / or more safe barriers. Most of the time they are appreciative of the input and try to ensure that what needs to be done is done. A new set of eyes sometimes sees something that the regulars at that track have missed. Or maybe a safety/accident experience that one of us had seen occur at another track etc... The tracks and series that we like to race take these items seriously.

Once in awhile we go to a track where we are met with resistance. But ultimately it is our choice to race that track or not. If we don't feel it is safe, then we will pack our trailer and leave. If they don't refund our fees, it's still cheaper than what could happen. (We have learned to ask to see the track if new to us before paying). If enough people don't race there they will have to do something.

One of the most irritating comments I have ever heard, and sadly I have heard it more than once the last couple of years is "Well they will only make that mistake ONCE, then they'll learn." Specifically we have had this response to a corner that we felt was unsafe and needed a barrier and a fence at at another track that was at the end of a straight-away without a proper barrier. If that is the way the track official feels, and they do not care to fix a clearly dangerous situation, it's time to go. It has been shown that it only takes ONCE (mistake, accident, or whatever) to make it a very real tragidy. Not the right attitude to operate a track for kids. To me, at that point it is obvious that they are more concerned about making a buck off the racers that providing them with a safe track to race on. Not our kind of racing.

One thing I have wondered about and mentioned at a few tracks is why they don't use sand or small pebble gravel around the very outer edges of the track? I understand that getting sand/pebbles in an engine really bites, but if you have already used 20+ feet of grassy "run-off" and are still going out of control, I would rather pay for the engine rebuild than the hospital bill, or worse, when my son hits a fence, post, wall etc... Further purchasing sand is relatively cheap for the track. A few feet of sand just in front of an outer fence would slow a kart down pretty quick.

Further as Dave said, teach the kids. They need to be taught to check certain things on their own kart before leaving the grid; brakes work, steering works, etc.. After that go over additional safety options (ie plan for the worst); how to kill a motor (even if you have to pull the plug wire, it may shock the bu-geebies out of you, but who really needs bu-geebies), multiple safe ways to stop or slow a kart without brakes etc.. And most importantly to pull off somewhere as quickly and safely as possible if there is an issue with their kart (lugs falling off etc). I know of kids who later said they knew something was wrong, but didn't want to quit the race. Along with all of this teach them safe driving; pass cleanly and safety, follow safely, no pushing/banging etc.. While accidents can still happen if everyone is working to drive a safe clean race everyone will ultimately fair better.

Hal, thanks for starting this thread. Safety is something that every one of us needs to think about at every track/race we go to.

Again my deepest sympathy to KJ's family and all the karters who have been serious injuried or lost their life while karting.
Kathy
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Kathy
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