Leonard
01-20-2003, 12:01 PM
I just wanted to remind everybody that we should be doing more than walking the course than just memorizing it. We should also be scanning the track surface for any bits and pieces of debris that are on the track.
It is very important because even the smallest items can destroy a tire. I had a small off course incident this weekend at palm bay. (Technically not off course... just ran down a cone wall :lol:). I blew a turn at the finish and after narrowly avoiding the timing lights, ran down the cone wall at the end. My left front tire (which was about 6' off course) got a slice in it down to the cords.
After the event, I went out and walked the area I went off course at and found a small washer 3/4" in diameter that was concave and had very small scallops on the edges. It matched against the slice in my tire (even the scallops matched the grooves in the slice). It was the kind of thing you would think a car would just run over and be fine, but it got kicked up at an angle and ended one of my tires lives critically.
I'm not saying this is anyone but my fault. I over cooked it and went off course and by all means, if I had remained on course, I would have been fine. I just wanted to post it as an example of how a little tiny washer can can do some serious damage. I picked up a 2.5" grade 8 bolt at Sebring last year, but don't know that I've ever noticed anything this small before. Of course, that doesn't mean that the small stuff isn't laying around either...
I think this is a good reminder of why we should be observant when we walk the course.
It is very important because even the smallest items can destroy a tire. I had a small off course incident this weekend at palm bay. (Technically not off course... just ran down a cone wall :lol:). I blew a turn at the finish and after narrowly avoiding the timing lights, ran down the cone wall at the end. My left front tire (which was about 6' off course) got a slice in it down to the cords.
After the event, I went out and walked the area I went off course at and found a small washer 3/4" in diameter that was concave and had very small scallops on the edges. It matched against the slice in my tire (even the scallops matched the grooves in the slice). It was the kind of thing you would think a car would just run over and be fine, but it got kicked up at an angle and ended one of my tires lives critically.
I'm not saying this is anyone but my fault. I over cooked it and went off course and by all means, if I had remained on course, I would have been fine. I just wanted to post it as an example of how a little tiny washer can can do some serious damage. I picked up a 2.5" grade 8 bolt at Sebring last year, but don't know that I've ever noticed anything this small before. Of course, that doesn't mean that the small stuff isn't laying around either...
I think this is a good reminder of why we should be observant when we walk the course.