for people who hit the timing equipment

[zukitek]

Well,we all who were in attendance last night at the club meeting discussed the situation of our timing lights being struck twice this year now rendering that light damaged.There was a motion on the floor to demand a check for $100.00 from a participant should they lose control of their vehicle and strike the timing light (not the reflector box).

We probably are purchasing a new photocell unit and the one that is damaged will probably be repaired if it is repairable and stored as a backup unit in case this occurs again or if for any reason we have problems with timing...you get the picture.

I know that no one is going to intentionally hit the light but accident or not ,the driver should share the responsibility/liability .The unit is $500.00 so you just can't be hitting the timing stuff.As it stands right now we have under 2 weeks untill the next solo and the timing system is still as it was the day it got hit.

RR

[chuck schultz]

IIRC, that motion was defeated, but folks do need to take responsibility for damage they cause to other people's property.

[zukitek]

IIRC, that motion was defeated, but folks do need to take responsibility for damage they cause to other people's property.

Actually we didnt even vote on it since it has always been in the drivers meeting notes that folks that tearup stuff are responsible for it.

point is ...stick to not hitting what is not orange and urethane.

Seriously ...these luxurys we are afforded by the club are expensive and we need to avoid hitting them at (almost)all costs.There are no tickertape parades for FTD nor any champagne F1 podium celebations so lets tone down the last ditch efforts a bit and stop hitting the lights.


RR

[g1teg]

As long as we exclude all S2000's and BMW's we should be good...

I agree that drivers should be responsible. It would be hard to demand $500 from a driver that ruins a photocell, but they should be held accountable in some way.

[Jedi1]

alrighty then, new course design shall incorporate an almost impossible to hit timing light at the finish. Straight lines for a football field or 4 mph crawls will be the order of the day.

[Mowgli87]

Try as you may, someone will still find some way to hit those things. Look at the two incidents in question...the light appeared to be set up on the least threatened side of the finish, but usually spin-outs are quite hard to control or predict (hence the saying: "loss of control" )

I completely agree with the responsibility thing, though. Maybe not on-the-spot payment, but definitely make note of it on the day it happens and remind the driver frequently until it's paid for.

[Erv]

the last two events have been more than open enough for the lights not be hit

[dr_phatcity]

RR,

Glad you approved a F1 champagne podium for points #4

[zukitek]

It's quite honestly NOT about course design at all because both times the light got hit it was driver error...they were pushing too hard at the finish and they lost it ..... course design did not instigate the light getting hit .I gave a mulligan to driver number one because the light was actually still operational afterwards (although it could have been compromised).The second time it got hit I left it up to the present solo management to assess the situation and they did and I stand by their decision .Perhaps the light placement needs a bit more consideration

Perhaps at the risk of a few false trips we should consider moving the timing lights a few more feet out of harms way .Im not trying to single anyone out because I know niether of the drivers who hit the light meant to do it ,but, this is a big deal.

Point is dont hit it or you will pay.

[engled]

Point is dont hit it or you will pay.

Amen!

[slowautoxr]

How far apart can the heads be? Maybe "protect" the expensive part with some more cones.

[Focus]

In my (limited) experience setting them up, they'll let you know how far they can stretch. One spot will work, and a foot back from there won't work at all. If it's getting "ghost trips" then it's probably just a few inches too far apart.
The way they got hit the first time, I seriously doubt a dozen cones would have changed the outcome, but possibly the second time. We can certainly throw some more down. We have the cones. In the least, it will look more threatening than just 2 cones.

[TouringBubble]

Also, because it will happen again ... why not wrap the light boxes in a protective foam of some sort? That will absorb at least some impact and likely reduce damage when hit. The transmitter has buttons on the face, so it woulnd't be as easy to cover, but still doable.

[engled]

Also, because it will happen again ... why not wrap the light boxes in a protective foam of some sort? That will absorb at least some impact and likely reduce damage when hit. The transmitter has buttons on the face, so it woulnd't be as easy to cover, but still doable.

That is a very good idea.

[BoostedFD]

How about put the reflector box just outside the edge of the cones and the light as far back as possible. The reflector box can take the beating and even if it does get hurt a new one is alot cheaper to find/make.