PROPOSED CHANGE (2/10/13): Make Rules 3 and 5 a little more clear on what is meant by Bodywork or structural protection from head on and side impact & encloses all of the drivers body parts by changing to BODYWORK OR STRUCTURAL PROTECTION FROM HEAD ON AND SIDE IMPACT AND ENCLOSES ALL OF THE DRIVERS BODY PARTS INCLUDING LEGS/KNEES SO THEY CAN NOT ESCAPE THE VEHICLES PROTECTION IN A ROLLOVER OR ANY OTHER CRASH. SIDEWALL PROTECTIONS NEED TO BE A MINIMUM OF 3 INCHES ABOVE DRIVERS WAIST.
Safety issues with some car designs that have open noses where pants and shoes are the only protection for the driver. In one instance saw tip of shoe sticking out during the race. Safety issues with drivers head and upper body being protected. In another instance saw a large car with nose cone above sidewalls of another smaller car.
Just stating my opinion, but I think rule 5 covers it. We have all seen cars that are questionable safe to drive because they didnt follow rule 5, its not the rule, it is just a matter of enforcing the rule.
The problem with some of our rules is getting all drivers, teachers, students, adults to see what is safe and think about the unexpected. Many don't think about a car going air bound and hitting them or think, 'my car is stable it will not roll over." (all cars can roll in a wreck if it bumped into a curb!) Because of this we often have arguments with teachers/students who don't see why knees have to be protected when they are above the height of the tires or any other frontal protection because they are not going to roll their car. Or why they need to have sides more than 2" tall to protect a driver in a crash since the driver is inside the car and it has a nose cone that covers their feet in case of a crash. What we are trying to do is make it easier for 'stupid people' to follow the rules. Why does McDonald's and everyone else have to warn people on coffee that "Caution contents may be hot" because some stupid person put a cup between her legs while driving and scalded herself and sued; AND SHE WON!!! The world is full of people that don't understand life and have no common sense. We need to make the rules so they can understand and hopefully follow them! I agree the rules make great sense to me but I have been at races for over 20 years and have had way too many arguments with people who don't get it.
