Running a capsule without straps? What is going on?

[sponsonhead]

You can Lead A Racer to Water, but you can't make him think

Here at the SRP shop, we have been following this thread with great interest. There's probably no more I can add to it that hasn't been added already, with the possible exception of a couple of anecdotes tht underscore that no one person or category has cornered the market on stupidity when it comes to lack of common sense in using safety gear.

I received an email a few months back from a person who wanted to know the price of all the safety gear for making an APBA Kilo run. Obviously, something like that is going to vary depending upon the type of boat (capsuled, non-capsuled) and category (inboard, Outboard, opc, unlimited...whatever). In this particular case, the guy was looking at a special event record with an outboard electric in a homemade, open cockpit boat, so it was pretty easy to default to general safety rule requirements based on the speed he was intending to go. I sent him a price quote based upon both what was required and what would also be highly recommended (helmet restraint, cut suit, etc). The guy wrote back and reamed me because he couldn't possibly afford the minimum of $450 for a lifejacket and under $200 for helmet, let alone all those other things 'he didn't really NEED'.

The last picture I saw of the guy, he was blasting along on some lake with a big outboard on the back of his homemade picklefork boat wearing a baseball cap, and shirtless. No word on his kilo efforts to date.

Then, there was the inboard racer who decided to build his own air mask. While there is nothing preventing someone fom doing that, the contraption that he made was not only Rube Goldberg at best, but the thing weighed about 4 lbs. I can't imagine what kind of stress that would have on your neck muscles just in a typical racing environment. And God help you if you ever got in a serious accident with it.

Finally, there was the gentleman who weighed 145 lbs but wanted a jacket that had sufficient flotation to float a 165 lb guy. He also was requesting that we put a number of pockets on the front of the jacket and on the leg bands. When I asked him what the pockets were for, it turned out he wanted to put lead in them so that he didn't have to bolt all the lead to the floor of his boat. One I convinced him that this was not only ill-advised but against his category rules, he opted for a more conventional lifejacket configuration.

The point I would like to make is that while we as racers can do as much as we can to educate non-racers who buy our stuff to wear proper safety equipment and take the necessary precautions to enjoy their toys in a safe matter, there's unfortunately little we can do to keep some folks from becoming finalists in this year's Darwin Awards. We can make and sell the best safety equipment in the world, but it does no good if a driver is willing to blow the Family christmas Budget on a new prop, but balks at the cost of a new lifejacket or a decent air mask. Some people just cannot be helped from their own lack of common sense. Sometimes, the hardest thing is to save boat racers from themselves.

Let's be careful out there.

R-19

[WebinfoAPBA]

The young man from UTAH, Puglegeci (Forgot or never knew his first name)....he was killed when his leg staps pulled through the capsule bottom and his neck was broken from hitting the top of the capsule. (45 SS kilo record run).
After his accident, the new safety rule required a five inch washer on the leg staps...

I remember him, Ron. His name was Gary Pugliese. I also remember hearing about his death but never heard what the cause was...so thanks for posting that.

Also - do you remember the Mod-100/120 racer from Vegas, Mel Champlin? I met him at my first race in Needles around 1986 and he was telling me about the new capsule he was building for his boat. Capsules were not common at all and those who ventured that direction were indeed, the very brave.

He was a privateer trying to come up with a plan to reduce the high death rates the sport was experiencing at that time (a dozen or more in just a few short years).

I was shocked to hear some months later that Mel was killed in his 'home-built' capsule -- the report I got was his gas tank had come loose and went through the back side of the capsule. Some years later another racer, Bill Joule, would experience a breach of his capsule too - when he barrel rolled and another boat's sponson came through the back board area, causing Joule paralysis.

This helped prompt new rules that there had to be more protection - not just on the sides - but also more protection around the back board area. This incident also brought on the first talks of making "break away" pickle forks - which would be mandated after a fatality some time later.

But all these experiences mean very little to the brand new racer who wasn't there to witness all those terrible events that triggered all that progress. That's where the role of the clubs (both racing and non-racing) and fellow racers and/or fellow high performance boaters come in; to make sure they understand why. And just say a prayer for those who won't follow our lead - as Pat said, sometimes they just can't be taught.

God bless all those pioneer racers who made the ultimate sacrifices that later helped improve our safety rules and helped produce better safety equipment that have saved countless others over the years.

These guys all deserve eternal praise, IMO.

[MN1]

What are the injuries from now? It seems there are too many people having back injuries.
Mark Nelson

[Ron Hill]

No Head Cover

Mel Champlin built a capsule like others were building. These early capsules had no head cover. When the boat turned over your head and neck stuck out of the capsule, and when your body was s strapped in, the water broke your neck in a heart beat.

That is what hapened to Mel at San Diego, California.

About this same time, Rex Hall lived in California and we had discussed Rex running Mod VP. Howard Pipkorn brought us a Mod VP Hydrostream with a capsule and the capsule had no head cover. Rex came over and sat in the boat...Rex looked at me, and I looked at Rex....We both said, "And what happens when you spin out and someone runs over you???" Easy, I said, "You lose your head...". Then, we said, "What happens if you turn over and your head is sticking out....and your body is strapped in??" ANSWER: You die...

We gave the boat back to Howard...It wasn't Howard's fault, because that was the design at the time...But as Marcel Belleville always said, "If it doesn't look right, it probably isn't right.." Right after that APBA issued new drawing for capsules with head cover, as APBA was also learning from accicdents....UIM was learning also...

The Irony of Rex Hall, he had a very bad accident in a 500 CC (I think it was 500) a year or so later and his neck was broken. He still carries the scars....A capsule in a 500 CC Runabout would be SMART, TODAY!

Think SAFETY!

[raceright]

[QUOTE=WebinfoAPBA;87131]I remember him, Ron. His name was Gary Pugliese. I also remember hearing about his death but never heard what the cause was...so thanks for posting that.

Also - do you remember the Mod-100/120 racer from Vegas, Mel Champlin? I met him at my first race in Needles around 1986 and he was telling me about the new capsule he was building for his boat. Capsules were not common at all and those who ventured that direction were indeed, the very brave.

He was a privateer trying to come up with a plan to reduce the high death rates the sport was experiencing at that time (a dozen or more in just a few short years).

I was shocked to hear some months later that Mel was killed in his 'home-built' capsule -- the report I got was his gas tank had come loose and went through the back side of the capsule. Some years later another racer, Bill Joule, would experience a breach of his capsule too - when he barrel rolled and another boat's sponson came through the back board area, causing Joule paralysis.

This helped prompt new rules that there had to be more protection - not just on the sides - but also more protection around the back board area. This incident also brought on the first talks of making "break away" pickle forks - which would be mandated after a fatality some time later.

But all these experiences mean very little to the brand new racer who wasn't there to witness all those terrible events that triggered all that progress. That's where the role of the clubs (both racing and non-racing) and fellow racers and/or fellow high performance boaters come in; to make sure they understand why. And just say a prayer for those who won't follow our lead - as Pat said, sometimes they just can't be taught.

God bless all those pioneer racers who made the ultimate sacrifices that later helped improve our safety rules and helped produce better safety equipment that have saved countless others over the years.

These guys all deserve eternal praise, IMO.[/QUOT

feel the need to comment here it might help with injuries-
wise man one told me Pat you give people to much credit most are stupid
every time the leadership tries to improve safety the membership cries like little babies and usually start with ---oh my God thats too expensive well
if ya can't afford safety work some more overtime to come up with the money but don't use this as an excuse and have other people not improve there own safety cause your to cheap(said it again). Bod Wartinger at the LA meeting gave the pro commisioners a talk about head room above your helmet recommended increasing to 4 inches,everyone cried,I reajusted my seat to give me 4 inches (was difficult to do) then several races into the season I fliped at Winnoa runing over 90mph(maybe even faster)had belts as tight as could be (also recommended by Bob) took a trip to the Hospital broken nose few minor cuts--then raced at Depue 14 boats entered I got 4th
overall in Top Hydro 1100cch (boat is all kevlar and carbon fiber mix as recommended in Pro rules ) boat is in perfect shape and ready for Dayton Record race. So listen to your safety personal and follow there leadership I think there the reason I am still racing and my boat is still usable. People who have fast boats and do not race I refer to my earlier comment (nothing you can do about it)

Pat Wright

[T Chance]

....A capsule in a 500 CC Runabout would be SMART, TODAY!

Think SAFETY!

But I wouldn't say "A capsule in a 500 cc Runabout" I would say "A capsule in all 500 cc Runabouts". I had a 500 cc motor at Depue, I had a runabout to put it on. But as the old saying goes: I might be crazy, but I'm not stupid., the motor stayed in the trailer.

Nobody can question Rich Krier's Championship ability to drive a Pro Racing Runabout. He tried a capsule in a 500 Pro Runabout and it didn't measure up to the non-capsule competition.

If an optional safety rule (suggestion?) makes the person non-competitive, then that person isn't going to want to do it. But, if 500 Runabouts have reached the speeds where they require a capsule, then mandate a capsule for everyone. However, it should not be a decision made by outsiders, it should be a decision by the 500 Runabout drivers.

[raceright]

But I wouldn't say "A capsule in a 500 cc Runabout" I would say "A capsule in all 500 cc Runabouts". I had a 500 cc motor at Depue, I had a runabout to put it on. But as the old saying goes: I might be crazy, but I'm not stupid., the motor stayed in the trailer.

Nobody can question Rich Krier's Championship ability to drive a Pro Racing Runabout. He tried a capsule in a 500 Pro Runabout and it didn't measure up to the non-capsule competition.

If an optional safety rule (suggestion?) makes the person non-competitive, then that person isn't going to want to do it. But, if 500 Runabouts have reached the speeds where they require a capsule, then mandate a capsule for everyone. However, it should not be a decision made by outsiders, it should be a decision by the 500 Runabout drivers.

know a little bit about this
1. talked to insurance co for APBA they have no real opinion on weather a boat is a capsule or not there insurance mostly covers spectators very limited as to perticapant coverage(so do what you want) Drivers will always
vote againast safety just nature of beast..
2.son had & still has 500 run with rossi very dangerous boat does not match
there are a few runabouts with these newer style engines RUNNING VERY WELL should be interesting to see runabouts running over 110 soon(capsule in future???).
3. If APBA safety chairman deems that a class should be capsule it will probably happen (sadly probably after some one we all like has been hurt or worse)
4. I believe that safety rules do not go out to membership but if membership wants class to be capsule they could probably force it,but highly unlikely..

Pat Wright