Undoing seat belts in pit lane!!

PVDA · 5 Sep 2006, 03:15 (Ref:1701998)

While I was watching most of the 500 tape last night (got 30 laps to go before I needed to sleep) I noticed many of the drivers were loosening their seat belts while travelling along pit lane for their pit stops.

Now I always thought a driver was required to keep his "Safety Equipment" intact until he "ceased racing" so were all those driver in breach of the rules??

I seem to remember several years ago they jumped on a few drivers who were seen on Racecam undoing their belts while still on the track so have they relaxed the rule so it could be done in pit lane or is this an oversight by the V8SA officials.

Personally, considering the number of near misses in pit lane, I would've thought the driver should be paying attention to driving and not trying to undo their belts, radio cables & drink hoses whilst negotiating pit lane.

Oh, and before anyone starts pointing fingers I'd like to point out both Red & Blue team drivers were guilty and I'm not looking to get people in trouble but to point out something to remind them of before Bathurst (don't want another Balaclavagate).

RotorFan · 5 Sep 2006, 04:00 (Ref:1702003)

You said yourself, they loosen the belts, not undo them. What is the biggest impact one can have at 40 km/h versus 280 km/h?

They've been doing it for years.

Average Punter · 5 Sep 2006, 05:32 (Ref:1702018)

Quote:

Originally Posted by RotorFan

They've been doing it for years...

Doesn't make it right though. Same as Ambrose's "gentleman's agreement" with the balaclavas...

If I was a team manager I'd want a ruling on this before Bathurst.

Chatters · 5 Sep 2006, 09:00 (Ref:1702106)

Quote:

Originally Posted by RotorFan

You said yourself, they loosen the belts, not undo them. What is the biggest impact one can have at 40 km/h versus 280 km/h?

That is exactly right. I've see no real danger with drivers loosening their belts when tey are in the pit lane going at 40 km/h. Hell, anyone that gets hit at that speed isn't exactly going to die anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PVDA

Personally, considering the number of near misses in pit lane, I would've thought the driver should be paying attention to driving and not trying to undo their belts, radio cables & drink hoses whilst negotiating pit lane.

Have there been any near misses in the pits in recent years? Or do I have a selective memory?

Armco Bender · 5 Sep 2006, 09:28 (Ref:1702127)

What if a kangaroo should hop across pitlane in front of them?.

saliv8 · 5 Sep 2006, 09:43 (Ref:1702142)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armco Bender

What if a kangaroo should hop across pitlane in front of them?.

as long as he has a pit pass he should be ok

Lowndesfan6 · 5 Sep 2006, 10:00 (Ref:1702152)

Quote:

Originally Posted by saliv8

as long as he has a pit pass he should be ok

And a balaclava.

Rowdy · 5 Sep 2006, 10:22 (Ref:1702169)

Make sure you watch those last 30. great racing.

Chatters · 5 Sep 2006, 12:48 (Ref:1702300)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armco Bender

What if a kangaroo should hop across pitlane in front of them?.

Well, a kangaroo would be pretty hard pressed to make it through the paddock and into the pitlane, considering it would be pretty damned scaredof those big fleshy things moving around everywhere. And a 'roo won't do much damage if hit at 40 km/h. Well at least not to the driver...

Aquarius · 5 Sep 2006, 20:32 (Ref:1702740)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chatters

Well, a kangaroo would be pretty hard pressed to make it through the paddock and into the pitlane, considering it would be pretty damned scaredof those big fleshy things moving around everywhere. And a 'roo won't do much damage if hit at 40 km/h. Well at least not to the driver...

You take all things too seriously Stephen/Storyline.

PVDA · 5 Sep 2006, 21:55 (Ref:1702791)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Average Punter

Doesn't make it right though. Same as Ambrose's "gentleman's agreement" with the balaclavas...

If I was a team manager I'd want a ruling on this before Bathurst.

At least someone on here gets the point of my post.

It looks to me like a breach of the rules and the last thing I want to see is a Balaclavagate style fuss at Bathurst this year.

Better to bring it out in the open now than at 3:30pm on the Sunday in a few weeks.

RotorFan · 5 Sep 2006, 23:13 (Ref:1702824)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chatters

Have there been any near misses in the pits in recent years? Or do I have a selective memory?

There are near misses in every single race. Its very tight in pit lane and the cars are very big.

I'm not saying its right either, but what I meant is its very widespread and been done for years so they'd have got them for it already if they were going to.

I don't think its unsafe to loosen the belts, but to be looking down while doing it is.

Average Punter · 5 Sep 2006, 23:36 (Ref:1702832)

Quote:

Originally Posted by PVDA

Better to bring it out in the open now than at 3:30pm on the Sunday in a few weeks.

...when a team owner protests about the race leader and the Stewards have to make a decision on the run.

2005 anyone?

lowdown · 7 Sep 2006, 03:58 (Ref:1703919)

To me its pointless. It takes longer to fill the car with fuel then it does to do a driver change so why loosen belts early? and as long as its done in pitt lane whats the big deal. What about how the drivers that finish the round 123 do a lap with their helmets off and doors open at about 40 ks. Storm in a tea cup. And don't start balaclavagate again there never was a gentlemans agreement on balaclavas it was to do with the full length underwear. To me it was inexcusable what he and that team did last year. Cost them the race

Harves · 7 Sep 2006, 09:44 (Ref:1703946)

I can tell you that a crash at 40kph would hurt, specially with an open face helmet, try it.

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