Safety Inspections

[David Weaver]

I have witnessed two accidents this year caused by failures in the steering system. In one incident a clip on the steering bar broke and recently at Winona (see photograph taken by Teri Ziemer of Mile Thirlby) the steering cable broke near the steering wheel in a 500 runabout. In each case the driver had absoultely no warning that something was wrong and no time to react.

So please, take a few extra minutes to inspect your steering system completely. If in doubt, replace all worn or old components. How long has that steering bar been in place (we saw one break in the turn 2 years ago on a capsule hydro at the nationals)? How old is the cable? When ws the last time you tightened the nuts on the turn-buckle?

Thanks and Safe Racing

[Kev43V]

Good point David
I also saw a situation that concerns me. A J driver over the weekend was involved in a crash in milling. His boat flipped and the teather was long enough that it did not disconnect. I did not check it after but i suspect it is to long. This accident really should not of happend. both drivers were watching the clock and not looking for other boats. they both were headed for lane 1 at the first bouy in turn 2. they both got there at the same time. and neither driver ever saw the other one

[bill hoctor]

Saftey

Mainley 125's.....Remember Billy Allens clevis pin at Ocoee &&&& John Maddrell's pully at Inverness [Hernando] Lots of VIBRATION !!!!!!! Pulled Billy in at Ocoee...One of John's pit stooge's at Hernando...........See eveybody this weekend at Frostproof.....Regards....Bill:

[Bill Huson]

Where is tech inspection?

Good point David
I also saw a situation that concerns me. A J driver over the weekend was involved in a crash in milling. His boat flipped and the teather was long enough that it did not disconnect. I did not check it after but i suspect it is to long. This accident really should not of happend. both drivers were watching the clock and not looking for other boats. they both were headed for lane 1 at the first bouy in turn 2. they both got there at the same time. and neither driver ever saw the other one

Short tethers should be caught by pre-race inspection, you know, the one where you get a safety sticker slapped on the dash. And ratty steering cables and hardware as well. When I switched to aramid fiber cable the New Jersey inspector questioned me at length over the useability of such cable, and he checked it many times that weekend for signs of wear and tear. The "rope" cable was great, and so was the continued inspection.

I seem to recall the safety inspection stickers were good for a year, maybe we should change that to a month.