Hi All, I am a little confused as to why you can change any part of a buggy on the track (that may have damaged the car and made it unsafe) but you are not allowed to take fuel out on the track if you run out. I can understand asking for permission and as long as a recovery person is with you to make it safe why can't your crew take fuel out to you? We all mis calculate from time to time. Allowing 5-10 liters of fuel out on the track has to be safer than towing a car up a race track.
I understand that in the pit area fuel refilling should be done with the utmost safety, eg special area, specific safety equipment, motor off, etc. However if you run out of fuel on the track, filling in my opinion it should be allowed. I have seen on more that one occassion where refueling on the track was not allowed and observed (motor bike competitors) having drink bottles of fuel hiden under their leathers. Now I think that is very dangerous.
if you break down on the track you can only repair the car with what you have in the car otherwise it is classed as outside assistance and you will be dq'd anyway. I think as it stands if you get permission from the director you can take fuel out and i think this is neccessary to keep control of where and when refuelling occurs. Its not just cars and crew to consider but farmers and crops in many occasions with relation to fires occurring
-- Edited by king kong on Wednesday 14th of July 2010 06:12:25 PM
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GETTING OFFROAD RACING THE RECOGNITION IT DESERVES
My humble opinion is that refueling has always & should always be one of the most basic reasons for a pit stop, in the pits, in all forms of motor racing. Any flexibility in this could lead to on track pre-arranged hot fuel stops. An opinion only, then again I have never run out of fuel on the track either.
Just so we don't get off the topic, i personally have never run out of petrol either (up until the weekend) and have always allowed more fule than nessasary however with a new car, new motor and change to a known track managed to mis calculate by approx 20k's. My point isn't that you should be able to plan fuel stops out of the pits but more that it is upto the race director to say if you can take 10 liters of fuel out to your stopped car. I think this can allow for favoritism (no that that happened in this case). Why isn't there a set rule / procedure for this event. Maybe it should be that under no circumstances that you can put fuel in your car outside of the pits. If that was the case then you move the problem to recovery towing you in (at the discression of the race director). All in all I think the race director has alot on his plate on race day. A set ruel / procedure would make this process so much easier for competitors and officials. By no means am I having a go at anybody I guess think you need to know the rules of the game you are playing.
Farmers crops should be absoloutly cared for and considered at every race. Not sure how this relates to sombody who has run out of fuel and car is sitting still for many minutes while you get permission from the race director to take out fuel. This process will always take time.
Sorry I should clarify my comment a little better the major safety issue with refuel is obviously fire. If this is done trackside away from the structure of the pits with fire extinguishers and marshalls there is more chance of a potential fire becoming out of control hence taking into consideration farmers and crops. I agree maybe a rule a little more clear cut could help but I still think it needs to be pretty tightly regulated
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GETTING OFFROAD RACING THE RECOGNITION IT DESERVES
I have never run out of fuel but I do not expect to be able to refuel my buggy out on the track either. The issue I see is the risk of fire and damage to crops and also the buggy.
Just look at how long it took Brad Prouts Jimco to burn to the ground. The other issue is the safety of the crew. He was approximately 10km from the last check point, but by the time they arrived there was nothing for them to do. The rules state that all occupants are to be out of the vehicle. How is this going to be managed if you are not near a marshal. Yes we are all racers and should be capable of ensuring that confirm with the rules but there are some people who will try and stretch the rules.
If refueling is allowed on the track then a marshal with extra extinguishers should be present.
I agree, either ban it completly or allow it, not a bet each way! This just allows for confusion. I just bring up the point as I thought it was allowed with the directors being informed. Obviously there is no clarity in this rule. I have never seen anybody refused. If you don't allow it then people will just sneak out their own fuel and method of getting home
If a trackside refuel, with permission, with safety precautions etc is allowed, presumably that competitor would not be continuing racing at least for that lap otherwise we are back to the possibility of all sorts of protests from those who did calculate & pit accordingly.
My opinion it is refuel only in the pits or refuel area. If atrackside refuel is allowed then the vehicle is to retire from the race. If you look at some of the longer races they allow a 10 minute window for refuelling between laps which is not counted in your overall time. If you do not know how far you go on a tank then stop each lap and measure the amount used then refuel and go again. Eventually you should be able to calculate how far you can go.
17 votes out of 400 odd hits, 50 /50 split no wonder officials have a hard time with the rules. I guess we all are only interested when it has affected us!
