SCORE Journal

THE RACE TO SAFETY Looking into new and changing safety issues that can keep SCORE racers and spectators safer By Dan Sanchez Desert racers are always rebuilding engines, buying the latest drivetrain parts, and testing new suspension systems to make sure they’re ready for the next season of racing. But many often fail to do the same with their safety equipment, according to SCORE International Tech Director Dan Cornwell and other off-road industry professionals involved in selling and promoting safety products such as Jimco Inc. owner Robby Pierce, and PCI Race Radio owner Scott Steinberger offer some insight into new trends and rules that can bring an added level of safety this season. Check Your Safety Gear Regularly Steinberger came to the realization that simply purchasing and installing safety equipment on a race vehicle is not enough. “There was a recent instance when we couldn’t pull the T-handles to activate the fire suppression system on a vehicle that had an engine fire,” said Steinberger. “This was a high-end system that was installed and after several years, dirt and soot got into the release mechanism and we couldn’t activate it by hand. We finally got some wrenches That situation prompted Steinberger to recommend all racers check their equipment before each race to ensure it’s working. This is also especially true with window nets. Both Cornwell and Steinberger agree that window nets can shrink with age and be more difficult to remove, proving to be dangerous in a fire. “One of my friends was burned in a UTV that had a window net that he couldn’t remove,” said Steinberger. “The passenger got out through the front but the driver was trapped because of the steering wheel and ultimately suffered severe burns. Adding to that was the fact that he was wearing a 10-year old single layer racing suit that didn’t provide enough protection for the time he was still in the vehicle. That’s why it’s important to invest in your safety, as it only takes one time for tragedy to happen.” New Camlocks Harnesses Back In SCORE Cornwell agrees that safety equipment malfunctions due to the conditions in Baja are one of the reasons why camlock seat harnesses were banned decades ago for off-road racing. “The camlock harnesses were originally military surplus units that when exposed to dirt and moisture, got jammed and wouldn’t release properly,” said Cornwell. “This is why they were banned 40-years ago. There are new camlock systems, however, that have been developed and are used currently in off-road racing that have proven to work much more reliably and because of this we’re allowing them to be used this season.” Robbie Pierce at Jimco believes this will make a big difference in improving safety, especially during vehicle driver and passenger changes during a race. “I applaud SCORE and other off-road race sanctioning bodies for keeping an open mind and allowing camlocks safety harnesses to be used,” said Jimco owner Robbie Pierce. “They provide a huge safety advantage for the co-driver to safely get back into the vehicle and latch each point individually and quickly.” Although SCORE will allow the new camlock safety harnesses, Cornwell and Pierce suggest it’s a good idea to check and make sure they’re operational before a race. “I blow them out with brake cleaner and silicone lube once a year and they perform flawlessly,” said Pierce, who also suggests changing from the wider three-inch wide harnesses belts to two-inch wide belts. “Studies have shown that two-inch safety harnesses have the same tensile strength as three-inch wide belts and do a much better job of keeping the occupant’s hips from rotating in an accident, which can cause lower back injuries. The three-inch harnesses are using hardware for two-inch harnesses, so the change isn’t making any difference.” Fuel Cells And Numbers One of the other safety updates to happen during the 2019 SCORE season is the mandate for all Class 11 vehicles to utilize a fuel cell. “These racers had to use an OE-style fuel tank that sloshed around fuel and ultimately, it is dangerous if they get in an accident,” said Cornwell. “The fuel cells will make it much safer for these racers.” In addition to these vehicle adaptations, Cornwell also said that there will be much more emphasis this season, on improving the visibility of vehicle numbers. “Some vehicles come through tech inspection and we don’t see a number,” says Cornwell. “Having more visible numbers on the vehicles will make it much easier for vehicles to get through checkpoints and help keep track of where they are on the course.” PROPER HYDRATION “One of the biggest mistakes we keep seeing racers and teams make is not carrying any or enough water,” says Cornwell. “Some pull up to the starting line and have no water at all, and we end up pulling them out of the line.” Hydration has been a big area of study for many racing organizations, and plays a very important safety aspect in SCORE, due to the heat and length of SCORE races. Cornwell, along with many safety experts agree that every racer should carry at least two liters of water in the vehicle per person. UTVs Racers Should Consider Top Safety Gear With the growing number of UTVs in SCORE racing, both Steinberger and Cornwell agree that this trend should put racers more aware of their safety than with other vehicles, simply because they are more exposed, especially to fire. “UTVs are a great entry point into the sport of off-road racing,” says Steinberger. “But the drivers are sitting over a fuel cell and there’s a motor behind you with only a thin steel wall or plastic separating you from a fire. I think that UTV racers should be using new, top of the line safety equipment like a two-layer suit, the best helmet and restraints, full flame-out systems in the engine, additional firewalls and fire suppression systems in the cab.” While that may be easier to do for sponsored teams, it can sometimes be difficult for those who participate with low budgets. “We sometimes see racers share equipment such as fire suits and such,” says Steinberger. “Mexican racers also don’t always have access to the same type of new equipment sold in the United States.” “I think the important lesson here is that safety equipment is not so you can pass tech inspections,” says Steinberger. “Racers and teams need to realize that in other racing venues, trauma centers and emergency personnel are right there on the track. In Baja, it may take hours to get to you, so these are the things to consider if you think your old equipment is good enough.”

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