Safety gear/ Kevlar boots

[Sonny]

I have been doing a lot of thinking about my safety gear and how lucky I was That the injury's That I suffered last weekend were not worse. I don't know if anyone is interested but Here is a link to what I will be wearing on my feet when racing from now on. http://www.safetycompany.com/product...oducts_id=3476 A friend of mine owns a tree service and him and his men wear kevlar similar to what we wear as boat racers. He insists upon his people wearing these even if he has to front the cash to buy them. He claims that since they have started using them he has had no chainsaw related injurys on his employees feet.

check out the lab testing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GecC1ZI0Wk&NR=1

[Brew56]

I was thinking about the same thing today. The one thing I think we all could improve upon is our footwear. I have heard some people who are concerned about steel toed boots being too heavy and thus being even heavier in water. To me, the protection factor seems to outweigh the weight concern.

I was thinking about how we could better protect our arms and legs (and also our hands). I have seen some sleeves worn under the kevlar sleeves/pants we all wear. Here is a site that sells some very inexpensive material. There are 4 different "cut levels" with 4 being the best.

http://www.magidglove.com/Cut--Abrasion-Resistant.aspx

[sam]

Looked like a blue composite toe and looks like the same boot in this video with a real world chainsaw.

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Composite toe might serve us better than the chainsaw guys. Any heavy boot will be better than sneakers and it certainly goes up from sneakers/water mocs to the steeltoed kevlar chainsaw boots.

[blueskyracer]

This is another idea so slam away but do you think folks are wearing teathers that are to long for the kill switch. I have seen folks adjust the fuel mixture as they are cooking along. Seems a little long to me. The sooner the engine shuts down the better.

[sam]

But the cord has to be long enough to let you rope start the motor. It can be a Catch-22 situation.

On rigs with electric start or dedicated to being started by someone else, a shorter cord adds a measure of safety.

Where the cord has to be long ... we are at least protected from the boat circling around on it's former driver and from running ashore on its own: this was the original intent of the rule, decades ago.

[Hydroglobe17J]

Guys, I just hurt my knee jumping into the pool yesterday, if I stayed on my computer all I would have hurt was my vision over time. In ALL respect to all racers, it's nice to be safe but I for one do not want to race as "Robo cop". Some things are good but better left up to the driver. Sonny heal first buddy,give racing a break,per mom.
Earl

[Hydroglobe17J]

This is another idea so slam away but do you think folks are wearing teathers that are to long for the kill switch. I have seen folks adjust the fuel mixture as they are cooking along. Seems a little long to me. The sooner the engine shuts down the better.

I've seen this a lot, yes shorter is best! Sam, we can start you.

[Sonny]

Guys, I just hurt my knee jumping into the pool yesterday, if I stayed on my computer all I would have hurt was my vision over time. In ALL respect to all racers, it's nice to be safe but I for one do not want to race as "Robo cop". Some things are good but better left up to the driver. Sonny heal first buddy,give racing a break,per mom.
Earl

I hear ya Earl and I am. I was unaware of the Kevlar boots until someone showed them to me and I was just sharing with the fella's That's all. I'm not on a soap box or anything.

[Fast Jack]

Boots are made for Racin' ( Ricky B Sanatra)

Heavy boots tend to help you float vertical--- not face down.

[Dave M]

Bingo

If youa re knocked out those heavy boots won't allow you to float face up. I for one don't want to rely soley on our rescue team to get me out of the water before I drown. That is why I pay a lot of money for a lifeline race jacket. It turns your body over. Simply logic if you ask me.

And Sonny, I looked, those boots are sold each !! You would have over a grand in a pair ! I know we can do better.

Great talking to you last Saturday, thanks for the call, I know you are chomping at the bit to get back at it. Hang in there and while you are in there, design a few boats for us. Might be fun and who knows, you might hit on something !

[Sonny]

Thanks Dave, One of the things I would like to do while I'm layed up is to take a real good look at the "C" mod lay down. I have heard about a few guys struggling with the lay downs in "C" mod. We have one that seems to work very well and I am curious what if anything is different about it. I think it will be fun to figure it out. Thank you sir, I'm sure I will be speaking with you soon.

[Jerry Davids]

Sonny, how many times have I told you not to race with your Chainsaw!!!!!!!!I was thinking of you at Jesup. I'll call ya tonight. J