OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car to air on SPEED

[tazzz25906112]

^5 Bret I'll be the guy following you around the track pal ,,, well maybe this year I might just get around it more than once LOL... Hey if you can't poke fun at yourself and laugh life is getting to serious right,,, that said I'mn coming for ya this year bud LOL...

[Yoda4561]

I think once you start getting into rollcages and the like, you get away from the whole concept of "ultimate street car". Maybe a better idea to set up chicanes with cones or something to limit top end speed?

[gearbanger]

I agree with that. Screw roll bars, and 5 point harnesses, fire suits and all that. That is not a street car event.

[tellyv]

Most of these cars built on this forum and others have way too much power, you being smooth is better that having gobs of horsepower and I agree that many people here are novice drivers and it sure would be a good thing to promote more safety, if you can afford the car you should be able to afford a drivers suit and a cage! I am an ex circle track driver and went to the motorstate deal and pushed my cuda way past the cars ability and just got lucky I could control it! I know theres people like me that have bigger balls than brains so I think alittle more safety is'nt a bad thing.

[Yoda4561]

Safety is important certainly, but this is supposed to be a street car event. Cages and 5 point harnesses are for purpose built track cars. There's gotta be a better way of setting up the event to keep things within the safe limits of shoulder belts and non caged chassis. That, or just accept that it's inherently dangerous, much like any motorsport, with its own dangers and pitfalls.

[Vegas69]

There is nothing stopping us from wearing a fire suit. I bought one before my first time out on the road course. It was mandated by the sanctioning body. It was only 100 degrees at spring mountain that day. Safer, means less speed.

[wicked68]

Safety is important certainly, but this is supposed to be a street car event. Cages and 5 point harnesses are for purpose built track cars. There's gotta be a better way of setting up the event to keep things within the safe limits of shoulder belts and non caged chassis. That, or just accept that it's inherently dangerous, much like any motorsport, with its own dangers and pitfalls.

Then you need to drop the road race portion or have a pace car that you follow or a speed limit on the track that will not allow someone over 100 mph on the back straight.

It would be a real black eye on our sport to allow someone that is an amature to run balls out with safety gear and have something catastrophic happen that kills someone. We would look like a bunch of idiots. Can you imagine if the guy in the corvette roadster with no roll bar rolled it after a blow out on the back straight? There would be a RIP thread on this board and real firestorm surrounding optima and the event organizers. I dont think that is what they want.

Scope it to the 0-60- and the autocross and then you can pull it off with no safety requirements at all.

[wicked68]

Most of these cars built on this forum and others have way too much power, you being smooth is better that having gobs of horsepower and I agree that many people here are novice drivers and it sure would be a good thing to promote more safety, if you can afford the car you should be able to afford a drivers suit and a cage! I am an ex circle track driver and went to the motorstate deal and pushed my cuda way past the cars ability and just got lucky I could control it! I know theres people like me that have bigger balls than brains so I think alittle more safety is'nt a bad thing.

agreed - great point.

[Yoda4561]

Can you imagine if the guy in the corvette roadster with no roll bar rolled it after a blow out on the back straight? There would be a RIP thread on this board and real firestorm surrounding optima and the event organizers. I dont think that is what they want.

Scope it to the 0-60- and the autocross and then you can pull it off with no safety requirements at all.

Certainly something for the organizers to consider next time they start picking cars for the event. A speed limit on the back straight, or maybe make that portion of the course a mid-high speed slalom would work as well. I just don't want to see this become a "vaguely street legal because it has DOT tires and turn signals" tube chassis + fire supression systems mandatory invitational, because then you may as well not bother with it. Helmets and firesuits I'm cool with.

[Finch]

The way this is all going everyone will need to bring their own attorney to the track. It is not always somebody else’s responsibility to keep me safe.


Now I just need to find an attorney that can drive and helps me work on the car and I wont even have to show up.

[wicked68]

Certainly something for the organizers to consider next time they start picking cars for the event. A speed limit on the back straight, or maybe make that portion of the course a mid-high speed slalom would work as well. I just don't want to see this become a "vaguely street legal because it has DOT tires and turn signals" tube chassis + fire supression systems mandatory invitational, because then you may as well not bother with it. Helmets and firesuits I'm cool with.

agreed

The way this is all going everyone will need to bring their own attorney to the track. It is not always somebody else’s responsibility to keep me safe.


Now I just need to find an attorney that can drive and helps me work on the car and I wont even have to show up.

its not really that - quite frankly I dont think anything legal is involved here - no one is going to sue anyone if something happens to them - its just a matter of being responsible to those that are less experienced - there is a level of pressure for the lesser cars and less experienced drivers to push themselves and their equipment and this is where you get into possible issues. That is where its a good thing for the more experienced people to scope it in so you don't get in trouble while you are learning. the chances of something happening are pretty low if you ask me - but all it takes is once and its regretful - unless you have covered your bases and then you dont feel bad about it as if you encouraged people into it without regard to proper procedure.
Like Brett - I have seen people die in real life - I used to go on volunteer fire fighter calls with my room mate and have seen deadly car accidents (dui) where the guy died right there as he was being worked on. He wasnt wearing his seatbelt in a head on - on the freeway. it was pretty gory. I also used to do volunteer diving for the aqaurium here in atlanta and we had to go through all the rescue and EFR and life saving courses so I am probably a bit more in tune than many.

I am sure the organizers will make sure its as safe as it can be. There is no way to make it 100% but doing the best to make sure its solid is a good thing and setting a good example is also a good thing especially when its televised - we need to set a good example.

[Steve1968LS2]

The way this is all going everyone will need to bring their own attorney to the track. It is not always somebody else’s responsibility to keep me safe.


Now I just need to find an attorney that can drive and helps me work on the car and I wont even have to show up.

That's why Europe has things like the N-Ring.. because they understand the term "personal responsibility"

[wicked68]

That's why Europe has things like the N-Ring.. because they understand the term "personal responsibility"

well europe is definately not about personal responsibility with their socialism that is so widespread - especially in germany.

but I do agree with you.

Another thing that would help is a checklist to interested participants with recommended safety equipment and potential consequences to the driver if its not implemented. Then someone can read it and if they choose to drive naked in an open top vehicle with nothing else and they signed the waiver with full details of what could happen - then of course no one is going to feel like they were led astray.

at that points its do whatever you like - I am all for that as long as full information has been presented and signed off on.

"roll bars - this is the recommended minimum set up......if you dont have this and you are in a rollover - which can happen at high speeds you will have a high probability of dying or not walking again"

fire suit - you will likely die or be turned into the stay puft marshmallow man after he is lit on fire by the ghostbusters if your car catches on fire which can and does happen from time to time.

this is my libertarian side coming out. As long as everyone has been informed way in advance so they have enough time and they know the risks and requirements as a standing course of business then go for it.

[Vegas69]

This thread went in the toilet. While I agree with some of the ideas, I'm sure as this hobby grows some of these things will be implemented. The first thing you do is sign a waiver before you pull into the race track. I for one don't believe in the government or a sactioning body protecting me from myself. I'd like to think I'm smart enough to figure out what's in my best interest.

[Finch]

well europe is definately not about personal responsibility with their socialism that is so widespread - especially in germany.

but I do agree with you.

Another thing that would help is a checklist to interested participants with recommended safety equipment and potential consequences to the driver if its not implemented. Then someone can read it and if they choose to drive naked in an open top vehicle with nothing else and they signed the waiver with full details of what could happen - then of course no one is going to feel like they were led astray.

at that points its do whatever you like - I am all for that as long as full information has been presented and signed off on.

"roll bars - this is the recommended minimum set up......if you dont have this and you are in a rollover - which can happen at high speeds you will have a high probability of dying or not walking again"

fire suit - you will likely die or be turned into the stay puft marshmallow man after he is lit on fire by the ghostbusters if your car catches on fire which can and does happen from time to time.

this is my libertarian side coming out. As long as everyone has been informed way in advance so they have enough time and they know the risks and requirements as a standing course of business then go for it.

I am all in favor of the personal responsibility and enter at your own risk policy. That is way it should be and if you’re scared stay home and take up basket weaving.

All this talk of limiting speeds, eliminating certain aspects of the event etc will ruin it. You will end with people who will never participate in these types of events making the rules in the name of Safety since it is a trump card.

[JEFFTATE]

NO RULES !!
Except courtsey to other participants ( and a street car.)
Remember , the optima folks "invite" the participants.
So , no dingleberries will be invited..
Only real participants.
This is no poser event.
No crybabies or fingerpointers are allowed or invited.
No potential lawsuit weinies will be invited either..

[shortrack]

This thread went in the toilet. While I agree with some of the ideas, I'm sure as this hobby grows some of these things will be implemented. The first thing you do is sign a waiver before you pull into the race track. I for one don't believe in the government or a sactioning body protecting me from myself. I'd like to think I'm smart enough to figure out what's in my best interest.

There's nothing wrong with kicking ideas around in a civilised manner....

As far as the safety goes these cars are not Chevettes with automatics....IMO building a car as fast as these and intending to drive it at its limit on an open track with no regard to safety other than what came stock in a 69 Camaro is not particularly......smart. I used to race Superbikes on a National level up here and personally know(knew) two guys who are no longer with us.....trust me it is not a place you want to go.....a chicane on the straight or at least a roll bar is a good idea

[Finch]

NO RULES !!
Except courtsey to other participants ( and a street car.)
Remember , the optima folks "invite" the participants.
So , no dingleberries will be invited..
Only real participants.
This is no poser event.
No crybabies or fingerpointers are allowed or invited.
No potential lawsuit weinies will be invited either..

I second the no dingleberry rule

[Steve1968LS2]

NO RULES !!
Except courtsey to other participants ( and a street car.)
Remember , the optima folks "invite" the participants.
So , no dingleberries will be invited..
Only real participants.
This is no poser event.
No crybabies or fingerpointers are allowed or invited.
No potential lawsuit weinies will be invited either..

I third this rule..

[Steve1968LS2]

well europe is definately not about personal responsibility with their socialism that is so widespread - especially in germany.

but I do agree with you.

I was talking about their lawsuit laws.. you can crash when driving on a racetrack and then sue the track because you were overdriving.

You can here..