Shaved door handles and Autocrossing

[GRNOVA]

OK, here is my dilemma, I have shaved door handles and want to race my car. My doors will not open with the ignition on. (this is a safety feature so you do not accidentally hit the fob while driving) So if I was in an accident and could not manually open the doors no one could get the door open even with a fob. I could leave the windows open or just look for some flush mounted door handles. Am I over thinking this. Just want to be safe for everyone.

[captcrash]

I do not know how often you want to race, but I knew a guy who rigged a pull cable for when he went to the dragstrip. All that he did was to take some small diameter coated cable, and he ran it around the release lever inside of the door. Then the cable ran up on the outside of the window, and then the cable ran through a piece of pvc tubing, which sat on top of the door sill right next to the window. Anyone could then pull on the piece of pvc and the door would pop open. Then when he was done at the track, it only took about 10 minutes to put everything back to normal.
Brian

[Damon777]

A friend of mine used bicycle brake cable ran through the wiring chase in the doorjamb to above the cowl under the hood (73 malibu) The end of the cable had a small hole drilled into it so you could thread the ring from a keyfob into it for a pull. He would remove the ring for security reasons to eliminate the handle.

[DRJDVM's '69]

Those sound like some pretty good ideas for a "Secondary" handle...

I've done quite a bit of autoX and in all honesty, most of the places wont care if you dont have door handles........now for drag racing or road course stuff, thats a different ballgame....

The chance of you ever having the need for an "emergency exit" at an AutoX is extremely rare.... the tech inspections are pretty "relaxed"......now for high speed road course and drag race stuff, that chance goes way up and most places are going to require it....

I plan on having some form of pull handle just in case I ever have electrical issues..... I suggest you do the same. Never hurts to have a back up plan

[Keith]

So would the temporary pull handle pass on a road course inspection?

[mpozzi]

It depends on who's handling their Tech Inspection and what their criteria is. I would recommend sending an inquiry via email beforehand so you won't be surprised if they say no. The main problem I see is the courseworkers getting you or a passenger out of the cabin easily and quickly in the event of an "off course" or medical problem. The less specialized, personal stuff on our cars that they have to think about, the better ...

Every track organization I've ever run with always has the car side glass down fully when you're running your sessions.

For autocrossing, also leave the window glass down and you'll be fine. It's rare that a car such as ours turns turtle but it can happen if the course elements lend themselves that way.

Mary Pozzi

[David Pozzi]

There are race cars with the doors welded shut, look at NASCAR. As long as the window is down, I don't see an issue. Do the inside door handles work?

[subtlez28]

I know the group I run with (Midwestern Council) specifically outlaws shaved door handles. Many of there rules are similar to SCCA.

I think the reason for this is corner workers are usually volunteers and amateurs. The easier to get you out in an emergency, the better.

Though, I definitely see Davids point about NASCAR and other racing bodies having welded doors, or no doors for that matter... I have found not all rules follow good old common sense. And trying to change a rule (even one that defies common sense) can be an uphill battle (especially when it doesn't somehow benefit board members).

[Lowend]

I don't think it's really a saftey issue. If you hit something hard enough that they have to drag you out, the doors are probably gonna jam shut anyways.

Just show up and don't say anything; I be no one notices

[DRJDVM's '69]

Most of the tech people at AutoX events are pretty laid back......I wouldnt even point it out.....be by the car and leave the doors open when doing the tech and they probably wont even notice. If they do, then be cool about it and they'll probably let it slide. Road course is a different story... they usually have employees that do the tech and have alot more liability on the line, so will be way more strict.

And yes...leave the windows down...its more fun that way anyway

[MonzaRacer]

If I did shave handles I would have a way to hook up plastic coated hood pin cable to pull from out side the door. But honestly if you wreck, windows up they are gonna use a spring loaded center punch to break the window and drag you out if not cut you out.

[GRNOVA]

Thanks for the replies I think I will look into a flush/recessed mounted handle or use some sort of mechanical cable.

[T-CHRGD]

I used to run autocross alot Before I shaved my handles. Haven't run since, but do think about it. My thoughts are that I used to run with my doors locked. I don't know if you should or not, but I didn't want the door popping open if something would happen. If the windows are closed, they have to break the glass to unlock the doors anyway. So I would leave the windows open. If you run with your doors locked, they would have to reach in to unlock them in any case. So reaching in to open the door should not be a big deal. IMO.

[Vegas69]

I don't think it's a big deal either. I can't imagine not wanting door handles. I'm to the point where I prefer function over form evertime. It's only a matter of time until something malfunctions with the windows up.

[GRNOVA]

I don't think it's a big deal either. I can't imagine not wanting door handles. I'm to the point where I prefer function over form ever time. It's only a matter of time until something malfunctions with the windows up.

That's just it if the car is running the only way to open the door is from the handle. I have even thought of giving someone the extra fob while running but that would not either because if the ign is on the fob will not work, a safety precaution so you don't accidentally hit the fob while driving.